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Couplers Guide

Some Useful Guidelines

Click on the drawings for larger versions
Coupler Generic term for Splitters, Combiners and their amalgamated form.

Used to split the power in one or more input fibres into 2 or more output fibres.  Normally described by N x M where N is the number of input and M the number of output fibres. The ratio in which input power (Pi1 through PiN) is combined and output power (Po1 through PoM) is split can be different.
Splitter Used to split the power in one input fibre into 2 or more output fibres.  Normally described by 1 x M where 1 is the number of input and M the number of output fibres. The ratio in which output power (Po1 through PoM) is split can be different.
Combiner Used to combine the power in 2 or more input fibres into 1 output fibre. Normally described by N x 1 where N is the number of input and 1 the number of output fibres. The ratio in which input power (Pi1 through PiN) is combined can be different.
Tap Normally used to sample the light in a fibre for monitoring purposes i.e. a low ratio (PoT ~ 0.01 x Pi) splitter
Tree coupler 1 X M coupler
X coupler 2 x 2 coupler (or larger)
Multiplexer (WDM) Combines 2 or more signals of different wavelengths on separate fibres into 1 signal on 1 fibre
Demultiplexer (WDM) Separates the signal on one fibre into 2 or more signals of different wavelengths on separate fibres
Excess Loss The difference between the aggregate input power and output power i.e. a measure of the device's losses.

Excess loss = Σ(Pi1, Pi2...PiM) - Σ(Po1, Po2...PoM)

  
Insertion Loss The difference in power between a particular input and output fibre.

Insertion Loss = Pox - Piy

  

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