Fault analysis: optical performance investigation of fiber connections with imperfect physical contact.
We investigated the insertion and return losses of optical fiber connections with various air-filled gaps. Such gaps might occur when a fiber connection using physical contact unexpectedly fails, resulting in imperfect physical contact. The optical performance of these fiber connections depends on wavelength and gap size. We revealed that the measured optical performance of fiber connections with an imperfect physical contact, i.e., with an air-filled gap, might deteriorate to ~18 dB for insertion loss and 9.4 dB for return loss at worst.
Passive components in the subscriber loop
The status of passive optical components for optical fiber subscriber loop systems is reviewed in the context of the most often discussed architectures. These architectures and the passive component types and functions are described. It is shown how the components are meeting the key functional requirements of interconnection, furcation, and filtration. A logic flow to the evolution of the architecture which is based on the expected development of the passive components is indicated. >
Passive components for the subscriber loop
An overview of the passive components that have been developed by Technologies for subscriber loop applications will be presented. The paper will cover new products and technologies that have allowed to introduce passive components that will allow optical services to be cost-effectively delivered to the subscriber. The types of devices discussed will include the low cost Subscriber Loop Coupler and the new singlemode monolithic multiport coupler arrays. The paper will highlight the volume manufacturing process that is used by to fabricate the Subscriber Loop Coupler as well as the wavelength-flattened non-50/50 splitters that have been developed for passive optical networking. Characterization of the monolithic multiport coupler arrays will also be presented. Specifically the broadband (wavelength-flattened) operation of the monolithic 1 x6 and 1 x7 couplers across the 1 250 to 1 600nm window will be covered. Applications in which the new monolithic coupler arrays and the Subscriber Loop Couplers can be used in the local loop will also be discussed.