PLC Splitter: Main Components, Packaging Forms and Advantages

Main Components of PLC Splitter

• PLC Chip: Manufactured using semiconductor technology processes (such as photolithography, etching, etc.), the splitting function is integrated into the chip.

  
  

• Optical Fiber Array: Using a V-groove substrate, a bundle of optical fibers or a ribbon of optical fibers are installed on the substrate at specified intervals to form an array.

  
  

• The PLC splitter mainly consists of a chip and an optical fiber array, where the optical fiber array is coupled to both ends of the chip.

Common Packaging Forms of PLC Splitter

Bare Fiber Splitter

The bare fiber splitter is the simplest and most commonly used type of PLC splitter in FTTX projects. This type of PLC splitter leaves optical fibers at all ends. Therefore, network engineers can freely splice them according to the application. Additionally, the bare fiber PLC splitter occupies only a small amount of space during wiring, allowing it to be installed inside a fiber optic splice closure, providing distributed signals for FTTH.

Miniature Steel Tube PLC Splitter

A steel tube PLC splitter looks like a bare fiber splitter. The main difference from the bare fiber splitter is that the steel tube PLC splitter uses a compact stainless steel tube for encapsulation, usually terminated with fiber optic connectors.

Miniature Plug-in PLC Splitter

The miniature plug-in PLC splitter is currently widely used in FTTx projects, particularly in the distribution of FTTx network users. When space requirements are low, the miniature plug-in PLC splitter offers quick installation, aiding in the deployment of FTTS projects.

Advantages of PLC Splitter

PLC splitter can evenly distribute light, distributing the signal evenly to users. The number of channels can reach up to 64, making them widely used in passive optical networks to maximize the user capacity of the optical fiber network. The demand for non-equally distributed splitters has also increased with the development of Fiber to the Room (FTTR) technology. Additionally, due to their compact structure and small size, they do not require much installation space and are commonly used in various distribution boxes.