PLC Splitter Chips and Its Importance in FTTH
PLC splitters combine output ports of different optical power levels with low insertion loss, high uniformity and low polarization dependent loss. They are mainly used in PON deployments.
Compared to fused fiber splitters, PLC splitters are smaller and demand less installation space. This makes them an ideal choice for applications where space is limited.
Product Introduction
PLC Splitter Chip is a passive optical component that distributes the optical power of an input signal into multiple output signals. It is one of the most important components in FTTH. It is widely used in central office and terminal equipment of GPON, EPON, BPON, and FTTx networks to realize the splitting of optical signals.
PLC splitters use a planar waveguide to divide the optical signal. They are more complex than FBT splitters, but they can support a larger number of splits (1×64 or higher). The PLC splitter also has a better wavelength uniformity and insertion loss than the FBT splitter.
Depending on the package form factor, PLC splitters can be divided into several types. Bare fiber type PLC splitters leave bare fiber ends on both sides, so they are easy to cold splice or weld with pigtail cassettes and test instruments. They can also be installed in splicing closures and fiber optic transfer boxes. Mini-tube type PLC splitters are compact, using a stainless steel tube for fiber output. They are usually used for situations in which disassembly is not required.
The North American market has benefited from the growth of Fibre to the Home (FTTH) trends, and as a result, the demand for PLC Splitter Chips has been growing rapidly. The increasing need plc-splitter-chips for these products in FTTH, CATV Network System, and other applications will further drive the market.
Product Description
PLC splitter chips use Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) technology to divide the optical signal into several output ports. It is a key component in Passive Optical Networks (PON), allowing multiple users to share a single network interface and boosting ROI for service providers.
The chip is used for optical power allocation between central office and customer premises in FTTx and FTTH networks. It is available in different port numbers based on the requirements of subscriber conditions and cable lengths. It has low insertion loss, low polarization dependent loss (PDL), and high port uniformity.
It is produced by PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition), FHD (flame hydrolysis deposition), and ion exchange processes on silica glass waveguide. The product has a small size, low cost and good uniformity, making it suitable for large-scale production. In addition, it can be stacked with other components such as AWG (arrayed waveguide grating) chip and acoustic coupler chip to form optical modules.
The PLC optical splitter is a passive device that allows multiple users to share a single fibre network interface and boosts ROI for service providers. It maximises a fibre network’s user capacity and is suitable for FTTR (Fiber to the Room) applications. The demand for non-uniform optical splitters is expected to increase significantly as FTTR is expanded. The report provides a thorough analysis of the market and identifies the most promising players.
Product Applications
PLC splitters are commonly incorporated into FTTH projects to distribute a single optical signal to many households. They are commonly used in centralised or distributed Passive Optical Network (PON) architectures and can be deployed at the manufacturing fiber optic passive components OLT or on ONUs. PLC splitters have a wide range of output ports and can be tailored to suit specific applications.
The chip type PLC splitter uses semiconductor technology to grow a layer of splitting waveguides on a quartz substrate with one input port and N output ports, with the two ends of the chip coupled to the input and output fiber arrays respectively. Depending on the output ratio, up to 64 branches can be achieved on a single chip.
A bare fiber PLC is commonly used in FTTx projects because it leaves bare optical fibre on all its ends and can be easily spliced by the network engineer. This is a cost-effective solution for FTTH distribution because it requires less cable installation space and can be installed in a variety of FTTx equipment including fiber optic splicing closures, optical splitter combination boxes and plug-ins.
A blockless PLC splitter looks like a bare PLC splitter but has a stainless tube package that protects the input and output fibers and allows the installer to choose between connectors at both ends of the device. This design reduces downtime caused by incorrect connections. The insertion loss of a blockless PLC is also lower than that of a bare fiber PLC.
Product Packaging
The PLC splitter (full name Planar Lightwave Circuit Splitter) is a passive component used to share the optical signal from one central office to multiple subscribers in FTTH networks like GPON, EPON and FTTx. It uses silica optical waveguide technology to distribute the optical power. We have a wide range of PLC splitters to meet different subscriber numbers and PON architectures. The PLC splitter chip is available in different split ratios from 1×2 to 64 to meet the diversified needs of fiber optic communication systems.
Besides single mode PLC splitters, we also have a variety of fanout and blockless types to meet the requirements of various applications. Our bare fiber PLC splitter leaves bare fiber on all ends so that network engineers can splice it freely. Moreover, it is easy to install in fiber optic splicing closure.
Our blockless PLC splitter has the same appearance as a bare fiber one, but it is sealed in an ABS plastic box with a cable inlet on the front. It is a perfect solution for fiber distribution cabinets and provides more reliable protection during installation. We also have a variety of fanout PLC splitters that include 0.9mm buffer fiber and length of ribbon fiber terminated with fanout kit behind the PLC chip. They are offered in different split ratios and connector/packaging options.