Month: November 2019

Top Features and Applications of In-line Polarizers

When it comes to data transmission and light guiding applications, you can rely on fiber optic cables. They play a vital role in constituting a complete network that is used for transmitting data over long distances at a wide range bandwidth. Fiber optic technology is considered to be ideal for medical, networking, military, electronics, communications, and various other applications.

Though light waves (polarized or unpolarized), can travel through optical fibers with ease, losses are experienced with unpolarized light. Unpolarized light waves travel with significant losses and distortions especially for long distances and this can be detrimental for transmitting information.

To avoid such issues, fiber optic polarizers are used because they can provide the strongest and cleanest output signal.

In this blog, we will explore what these fiber optic polarizers are, what features they have, and where these devices are used.

What is Fiber-Optic Polarizer?

Fiber optic polarizers are small pieces of cable placed in-line with fiber that helps in polarizing the incoming light wave/signal. Fiber with controlled polarization yields output with maximum intensity and bandwidth without disturbing the velocity.

The term that is quite popular with fiber optic technology is in-line polarizer.

In-line polarizers are specially designed to pass the light with specific polarization while blocking the orthogonal polarization. They help in the conversion of unpolarized light into polarized light with a high extinction ratio.

Generally, the standard configuration used for these polarizers is single-mode fiber for input and polarization-maintaining fiber for output.

Features of In-line Polarizers

The salient features that define high quality in-line polarizer are as follows:

  • Low insertion loss
  • Very small in size
  • High extinction ratio
  • Excellent reliability
  • High power handling ability
  • Very affordable
  • Superior performance

Available Versions of In-line Polarizers

The two versions of in-line polarizers are available in the market:

Pigtailed In-line Polarizer

This version of in-line polarizer comes with ~1 m long fiber pigtails with a 900 µm tube. The benefit of using pigtail in-line polarizers is that they are more economical and provide the user with added length for use in the fiber optic system.

Bulkhead In-line Polarizer

This in-line polarizer version is widely famous for being rugged. It does not have any pigtails. Since there are no pigtails, this makes polarizer handling easier. There is no need to worry about handling fragile fibers. Besides, it comes with the advantage of removing polarization disturbances caused by pigtails.

Applications of In-line Polarizers

  • Analysis of polarization
  • Monitoring and control of polarization
  • SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) Monitoring
  • PMD (Polarization Mode Dispersion) Monitoring
  • PER (Polarization Extinction Ratio) Monitoring
  • Polarization interferometry
  • Spectrum filtering and control
  • Fiber laser mode-locking

If you also need in-line polarizer for your application or have any query related to it, contact a reputed online in-line polarizer supplier to ensure high quality or gain insights.

High power isolators: their major types, applications, and workings!!

Isolators are basically types of switching devices that work to make sure that a circuit is not totally triggered to perform the preservation. They are also recognizable just like isolation switches that isolate the circuits. These switches are very much used in the distribution of electrical power, industrial areas, etc. Besides, the high voltage type isolation such as 1064nm High Power Isolators are used in substations for allowing isolation of tools like circuit breakers, transformers, and so on.

Different types of high power isolators:

The high power isolators are majorly classified into three types:

  1. Single break type isolator:

In a single break type isolator, the arm contact is divided into two elements namely the male contact, and female contact. The arm contact moreover shifts from its place because of the post insulator rotation upon which these arm contacts are attached.

  1. Double break type isolator:

The double break type isolator typically consists of three loads of post insulators. The middle one holds a tubular or flat male contact that can further be turned straight by a quick spin of the middle post insulator. The spin can be done by a lever method at the bottom side of the post insulator and is related to the manual operation of the isolator.

  1. Pantograph type isolator:

The pantograph type high power isolator permits the current switchgear installation, and also requires the least space as compared to the above two. A pantograph isolator includes a post insulator and an operating insulator.

The workings of power isolators:

Working with an electrical isolator is very easy and it can be operated in different ways such as semi-automatic, fully-automatic, and manually operated. They are also sometimes used as switches that can be closed and opened based on the requirements and demands. However, many times, electrical isolators are also used in a fixed position permanently so as to keep the isolation such as in transformers, electrical transmission lines, and grid stations.

Major applications of an isolator:

The primary applications of the isolator include the following:

  • Isolators are safeguarded with a locking system on the external side, or with a lock to stop accidental utilization.
  • In substations: Isolators are also used in substations when a fault occurs, and further cuts out a portion of a substation.
  • In high voltage devices: The application also involves high voltage devices like transformers.
  • Signal isolation: It can also be used for the isolation of signals.

Hence, this is all about an overview of the electrical or high power isolators. Moreover, they can be operated with the use of a motorized mechanism and also by hand. The latter option happens to be very inexpensive as compared to the motorized arrangements.