Month: February 2019

All about Optical Isolators and Where to Buy Them

The fiber optic isolator is a two way or two-port micro-optic device built along with SMF28e fiber or Hi1060 fiber. This device guides optical light in one single direction and prevents it from reflecting and scattering in the reverse direction. These isolators feature high isolation, low insertion, and great environmental reliability and stability. They are best used for suppressing reverse reflection in fiber lasers and many other fiber optic systems that are based on high-performance lasers.

The polarization insensitive optical isolators are designed and manufactured to match Telcordial standards. The device gets its capability to handle high power from epoxy-free optical path design and a unique manufacturing process. These devices are highly characterized by superior perforce at low cost while providing high reliability. Polarization insensitive optical isolators have widely been used in transmitters, Raman amplifiers, fiber lasers, DWDM systems, EDFAs, and other fiber optic communication equipment to suppress backscattering and reverse reflection.

Features

Optical path epoxy free

Low Insertion Loss

High return loss

High isolation

Low polarization sensitivity

High stability & reliability

Applications

Fiber optic amplifiers

Fiber optic systems testing

CATV fiber optic links

Fiber optic LAN systems

Telecommunications

Where you should buy them?

Most probably you have bought certain products from online stores with the help of the internet. Similarly, you can buy these isolators from a reputed and reliable manufacturer and supplier and if you require these in large quantities you can buy from online wholesale retailers of these isolators.

Why you should buy them online?

The online market is highly versatile especially when it comes to buying electronic equipment like these polarization insensitive optical isolators. Moreover, a majority of suppliers would be having other supportive components for sale that are used in fiber lasers and various telecommunication based applications.

Following is the list of some other components used in fiber laser applications

1.0μm Polarization Beam Splitter-Combiner

1.0μm 1×2(2×2) Fused PM Fiber Standard Coupler (Single axis working)

1.0μm 1×2(2×2) Polarization Insensitive Fused PM Fiber Standard Coupler (Both axis working)

1.0μm Polarization Maintaining Filter Coupler (1×2/2×2) (Both axis working)

1.0μm Polarization Maintaining Tap Coupler (1×2/2×2) (Fast axis blocking)

980/1030 & 980/1064nm PM Fused WDM

980/1030 & 980/1064nm PM Filter WDM

1.0μm PM Faraday Mirror

1.0μm PM (2+1) x1 Pump & Signal Combiner

1.0μm PM (6+1) x1 Pump & Signal Combiner

1.0μm PM Mode Field Adapter

1.0μm PM Cladding Power Stripper

1.0μm 1×4, 1×8 PM Filter Coupler Modules

1.0μm Polarization Maintaining Mechanical Variable Optical Attenuator

All of these including more are widely available on the internet. All you have to do is to choose your supplier wisely and rely on the one which assures you that you will receive good quality components. A good reason to shop for them online is that you will notice that the online market is highly cost-effective and there are chances to get components at a reasonable price, that also less than the offline market.

Four Factors to Consider While Buying In-Line Polarizer

Also, known as fiber optic polarizer, an in-line polarizer is indeed a remedy to obtain better quality polarized light for data transmission and light guiding applications. Fiber optic in-line polarizer is ideal to use for medical, networking and military devices because unlike unpolarized light, the polarized light can travel through optical fiber without significant losses and distortions over large distances. Due to their potential use in a vast variety of applications, their demand is increasing rapidly. But before going to a local store or buying an in-line polarizer online, one must know what factors should be considered before making a purchase.

Four Factors That Affect the Performance of In-Line Polarizer

Insertion Loss:

Insertion loss is the most significant factor which decides the quality of light. It refers to the loss of the light signals while traveling in and come out of the optical fiber or you can say a given circuit. The lower value of insertion loss means the higher quality of polarized light. Want to have an idea about the value of insertion loss for in-line polarizer? Alright! The value of insertion loss is usually 0.3 dB (typical) and 0.5 (max.) for 1310 to 1550 nm wavelength and for 1064 nm, it is 0.4 dB (typical) and 0.6 (max.).

Bandwidth:

You will need fiber optic polarizer of different bandwidths for different applications. Thus, according to the application, you need to decide that which optic polarizer and fiber can accommodate the desired bandwidth. While operating wavelength ranges from 630 nm to 2000 nm, the value of bandwidth ranges from ±20 to ±50nm. For your reference, there is a table from which you can determine the bandwidth for your application based on operating wavelength.

Operating Wavelength  (nm) Bandwidth (nm)
630, 850, 980 ±20
1064 ±40
1310, 1550 ±50
2000 ±30

Size of in-line polarizer:

In most of the applications, small-sized polarizers are preferred as they would need less space and space is usually a constraint in any electronic device. Moreover, smaller polarizers also prompt low insertion loss. Thus, I would also recommend you to use a smaller polarizer; unless and until larger one is a necessity for your application.

Extinction Ratio:

Another prominent factor to choose the best quality in-line fiber optic polarizer for any system is the extinction ratio. It is the ratio of transmission of desired polarization to undesired polarization or we can say that this is the ratio of two optical power levels of the digital signal. It can be expressed in three forms i.e. fraction, dB and percentage.

Poorer values of ER lead to increase in Power Penalty (PP), also worsen Bit-Error-Ratio (BER) and also reduce the benefit of increased power. Thus, you should consider in-line polarizer with high extinction ratio. For lower wavelength, typical ER is 30 and min. ER is 23 while for higher wavelength (>=1030 nm), values should be 28 and 25 respectively. These values are just for having an idea about ER value. ER also varies with SM and PM output. Thus, choose carefully.

By now, I hope, you have gathered the necessary knowledge and facts which you should always consider before buying in-line polarizer.

Advantages Optical Fused Coupler, and How to Buy Perfect Optical Fused Coupler

Communicating is much easier and faster today, thanks to technological advancements such as optical fused coupler – a powerful medium used to transmit signals to transfer the message from one point to another in fast and hassle-free way. Optical fused coupler or fibers are used in a wide range of electronic devices – from radio, mobile phone, CATV, optical communication system, to testing instrument.

The optical transmitter can be a LASER, coherent light source or a light emitting diode.  And the actual propagation of light through the optical fiber is based on Maxwell’s equation.

The cables or couplers can be used for a wide range of applications – ranging from long distance telemetering to speedy information transmission from one node to another within a building.

There are many advantages of using optical fused couples or fiber over ordinary wires such as:

  • Not affected by electromagnetic interference
  • There is no or very little fiber crosstalk. Therefore data security is maintained
  • Multiplexing of large number of signals is possible as high frequency bandwidths can also be used
  • Provide safety in hazardous areas
  • Much more convenient as compared to other wired mediums
  • Less ground loop problems are present in such transmissions.

There are different types of optical fused couplers which have latest advanced features. Some of them include:

  • Low excess loss
  • Low PDL
  • High stability and reliability

Also, the couplers come various colors. There are twelve colors the couplers can be availed of. These colors have their own specification known to technicians handling them. This is what makes the use of the cables or couplers easy and reduces the chances of wrong use.

The couplers use less power compared to normal wires and thus they are cost effective. Also there is less degradation of signals with the optical fused couplers.

Buying fused optical couplers

Given number advantages, the optical fused couplers have seen significant increase in the demand over the last few years in China. As a result, there are many suppliers that offer fused couplers. Also, you can buy optical fused couplers online in China as many optical fibers suppliers are online and have a website to allow customers to buy online.

Buying couplers online has many benefits. First, it saves lots of time you spend on traveling to visit a dealer. The second key benefit is that you can access many suppliers at the same time. This gives you a choice to choose from several options. And what is the most important: you can do a price comparison which ups your chances of buying optical fused coupler at the best price.