An optical splitter, such as a PLC splitter or FBT splitter, is a passive optical device used to divide or split an input optical signal into multiple output signals. It allows a single fiber optic input to be distributed to multiple destinations or devices.
The operation of an optical splitter depends on the specific technology used, the following is the general operation of a PLC splitter:
1. Input Signal: The splitter receives an incoming optical signal through its input port. This signal carries information in the form of optical pulses and is usually transmitted over a single optical fiber.
2. Splitting Mechanism: Inside the beam splitter, the incoming optical signal is directed to a planar light waveguide (PLC) chip. The PLC chip is a flat waveguide-like structure made of silicon dioxide or other materials with high optical transparency.
3. Optical Waveguide: The PLC chip contains a series of optical waveguides, which are thin channels that direct and manipulate light within the chip. These waveguides are designed to split the light signal into multiple paths, each leading to an output port.
4. Power Distribution: Light passing through the optical waveguide is distributed among the output ports according to the desired beam splitting ratio. The split ratio determines the relative power level of the output signal. For example, a 1:8 splitter divides the input power equally into eight output signals.
5. Output Signals: The output signals leave the splitter through their respective output ports. Each output signal carries a fraction of the total power of the input signal, maintaining the same information content as the original signal.
Both PLCs and FBT splitters are used in a wide variety of applications such as Fiber to the Home (FTTH) networks, Passive Optical Networks (PONs), and other fiber optic systems that need to distribute signals to multiple destinations.
