Spectral characteristics of fiber couplers for FTTx networks

Abstract

This article deals with spectral characteristics measurement of fiber couplers which are used for FTTx networks. Due to WDM systems we are able to communicate with several wavelengths at a time. In xPON systems the data transmission runs at wavelengths 1310 nm, 1490 and 1550 nm, in case of using singlemode fibers, or at 850 nm and 1300 nm in case of using multimode fibers. The target of this work is a testing how the individual parameters of fiber coupler behave whether broad spectrum light source is connected to the input. In sum it was measured four most often used fiber couplers, fiber coupler in port configuration 1x2 with coupling ratio 50/50%, fiber coupler in port configuration 1x2 with coupling ratio 30/70%, fiber coupler in port configuration 1x2 with coupling ratio 10/90% and fiber coupler in port configuration 1×4 with coupling ratio 4×25%. For these fiber couplers it was set insertion losses, coupling ratios, homogeneities and total losses by using a broad spectrum light source. The results are valuable information for companies which deal with optical networks.