The simplest couplers are fiber optic splitters. The fiber optic splitter, also called beam splitter, is used to split a fiber optic beam into several beams at a certain splitting ratio. A fiber-optic splitter is a device that takes a single fiber optics signal and divides it into multiple signals. Fiber optic splitter is one of the key components in FTTH. Fiber optic splitters can be terminated with different kinds of connectors, the main package could be box type or stainless tube type, one is usually used with 2mm or 3mm outer diameter cable, the other is usually used with 0.9mm outer diameter cables. Based on working wavelength difference there are single window and dual window fiber optic splitters. And there are single mode fiber splitter and multimode fiber splitters. Typical connectors installed on the fiber optic splitters are FC or SC type.

Fiber Optic Splitter Features:

Single Mode, multimode, and PM fiber types;
Multiple port configurations, custom length and cable diameters;
Various splitting ratios, 50:50 to 1:99;
Tube type or Box type, PLC fiber optic splitters or Fused fiber optic splitters;
PC, UPC, and APC fibre optic connectors;
Available with FC, SC, ST, LC, and MU connectors.

Single window fiber optic splitter is with one working wavelength, dual window fiber optic splitter is with two working wavelength. For multimode fiber, the term means that the fiber is optimized for 850 nm and 1310 nm operation. For single-mode fibers, the term means that the fiber is optimized for 1310 nm and 1550 nm operation. For single window fiber optic splitter, its working wavelength usually is one of the above said wavelength.

Depend on the technology used, there are FBT (Fused biconical taper) splitter and PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) fiber splitter. FBT splitter is a traditional type with over 20 years history, it is a mature products. It is low cost and easy to make, but fused fiber optic splitters optical loss are sensitive to wavelength and this is big disadvantages. The PLC Splitters are developed based on silica glass wave-guide process with reliable precision aligned fiber pigtail. PLC fiber optic splitters are small size and wide working wavelength, they are more reliable, suitable to use in passive optical network fiber optic splitting.

Major differences between PLC splitters and FBT splitter
1. Technology behind FBT Splitter and PLC splitter.
FBT splitter: Fused biconical taper, this is traditional technology to weld several fiber together from side of the fiber.
PLC splitter: Planar waveguide is a micro-optical components product, using lithography, the semiconductor substrate in the medium or the formation of optical waveguide, to achieve branch distribution function.

2. Disadvantages and advantages between FBT and PLC.

We supply both FBT splitter and fiber PLC splitter, with SC, FC, LC, ST, UPC, APC,PC,etc connectrors. single window, dual window,fiber optic couplers.