ABSTRACT

This chapter describes some common passive fibre-optic devices. A variety of passive fibre-optic devices are used in optical fibre communication systems to perform specific tasks. The simplest passive fibre-optic devices are couplers. Couplers direct multiple input light waves to multiple outputs. Normally, couplers split input signals into two or more outputs, or combine two or more inputs into one output. Couplers can have more than two inputs or outputs. Couplers work as power splitters, power taps and wavelength selectors. The chapter allows the student to practice designing, manufacturing and testing a 50/50 Y-coupler in the lab. The student can plan the manufacturing process, and determine the process and handling times required to build one Y-coupler. The student will manufacture and test a Y-coupler in the lab, and test a 3 dB coupler, a 1 × 4 3 dB coupler, a Y-coupler, a 1 × 4 coupler, and a proximity sensor.