Fiber Optic Connector and Adapter

Fiber Optic connector

Fiber optic connector, also named fiber connector or optical fiber connector, is designed to terminate the end of fiber optics, which can be repeatedly used for connecting two fibers or fiber optic cables to form a continuous light path. The fiber optic connector is widely used in telecommunication company central offices, at installation on customer premises, and in outside plant applications to connect equipment and cables. There are several commonly used types of fiber optic connector including LC, SC, ST, FC, MU, MTRJ, E2000, SMA, DIN, and MTP/MPO connectors. Each of different types of fiber optic connector offers its advantages and disadvantages, and it can be applied to which it is better suited according to its specific application.

Fiber Optic Connector Type

There are several commonly used types of fiber optic connector including LC, SC, ST, FC, MTRJ, and MTP/MPO connector. Each type of connector has so different advantages, that they can be utilized in different applications according to their features. LC fiber optic connector is widely used in telecommunication and on various kinds of fiber optic equipment. The SC connector is perfectly suited for telecoms and datacoms. The ST connector is for multimode network, like working buildings, corporate networks and in military applications. The FC connector is usually used with single-mode fiber optic cables. Many datacom and telecom systems employ FC connectors for this purpose. The MTRJ connector is suitable for indoor application in telecommunications and data network system. The MTP/MPO fiber optic connectors are used extensively, both in single-mode and multimode wavelengths, in high density patch environments such as data centers.

LC fiber optic connector

The LC connector is a small form factor connector that uses a 1.25mm ferrule, which is only half size of the SC, ST and FC fiber optic connectors. LC comes from the name Lucent Connector; the name suggests its designer. It is considered by some people that it can replace the SC connector, and it has dominated the market today. Because it is stable and simple. The LC fiber optic connector is widely used in telecommunication and on various kinds of fiber optic equipment. And generally the LC fiber optic connector can be divided into single-mode LC UPC connector, single-mode LC APC connector and multimode LC UPC connector.

SC Fiber Optic Connector

The SC connector is a snap-in connector with a 2.5mm ferrule which was one of the first connector to hit the market following the advent of ceramic ferrules. And it is a connector that latches with a simple push-pull motion. It is widely used due to its excellent performance and it is very popular with the industry because it can be manufactured at a low price and it actually works. The SC connector is perfectly suited for telecoms and datacoms. This connector is available for single-mode and multimode versions. Single-mode SC has two commonly used types: SC UPC (blue) and SC APC (green) connectors. And in general multimode SC has SC UPC (beige) connectors. And there are simplex and duplex types.

MTP/MPO Fiber Optic Connector

MTP and MPO are compatible ribbon fiber connectors based on MT ferrule which allows quick and reliable connection for up to 12 fibers. A MPO connector is the industry for “multi-fiber push on”, while the MTP connector is a high performance MPO connector with multiple engineered product enhancement to improve optical and mechanical performance when compared to MPO connectors. A single MPO/MTP connector can suspend the combination of 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 fiber ribbon cables. MTP/MPO connectors feature male and female connector design. Male connectors have two guide pins while female connectors do not. MTP/MPO fiber optic connectors are used extensively, both in single-mode and multimode wavelengths., in high density patch environments such as data centers.

Fiber Optic Adapter

A fiber optic adapter also called fiber optic coupler, is a medium component which is used to terminate the fiber optic cables or fiber optic connectors between two fiber optic lines. They come in versions to connect single fibers together (simplex), two fibers together (duplex), or sometimes four fibers together (quad). Fiber optic adapters are employed in optical distribution frame (ODF), fiber optic communications equipment, measuring appliance and, so on. There are many types of fiber optic adapters, because of the diversity of the connectors, including female to female fiber adapters and female to male type fiber adapters. If a fiber optic adapter fits two different kinds of fiber connectors, it is called hybrid fiber optic adapters, such as LC to SC hybrid adapter.

LC to LC Fiber Optic Adapter

LC to LC fiber optic adapter is a type of fiber optic adapter, which is used to provide cable to cable or cable to equipment fiber optic connection. This adapter can be used to connect two LC fiber cables and it is complaint with international standards, making them compatible within a wide range of fiber optic application. LC to LC fiber optic adapter is available for single-mode and multimode versions. Commonly used types of single-mode LC to LC fiber optic adapter include LC/APC to LC/APC and LC/UPC to LC/UPC fiber optic adapter, while the multimode one only has LC/UPC to LC UPC fiber optic adapter. And there are simplex and duplex type.

LC to SC fiber Optic Adapter

LC to SC fiber optic adapter is a type of fiber optic adapter, that is used to connect cable to cable or cable to other equipment. This fiber optic adapter fits two different kinds of connectors, LC and SC, so, it is also called hybrid fiber optic adapter. And this adapter is suited for both single-mode and multimode applications. Most of this fiber optic adapter are plastic, but some of them can be metal. Besides it is possible to divide LC to SC fiber optic adapter into different versions of female to male and male to female hybrid fiber optic adapter.

MPO Fiber Optic Adapter

MPO fiber optic adapter, also called MPO fiber optic coupler, is designed with two female connections on both ends to provide two MPO patch cable connection This adapter has an adjustable keyway which allows it to change keyway orientation between Key-up to Key-down for straight wiring or Key-up to Key-up for cross wiring applications. A MPO adapter has protective caps that can prevent dust and debris from entering. And MPO adapter is suitable for both single-mode and multimode. This adapter is used in high-density backplane and printed circuit boar (PCB) applications in data and telecommunications systems.

UPC and APC Polishing

When a connector is set up at the end of the fiber, light loss will be incurred. Some of the light is reflected directly back down the fiber towards the light source which generated it. These reflections will be harmful for the laser light sources or disrupt the transmitted signal. Thus different kinds of polishing are used, which depends on the type of fiber and the application. UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) is used to reduce the back reflection of a connector. And industry standard is a minimum of -40dB for SPC back reflection measurement and -50dB for UPC back reflection measurement. APC is shorter for Angled Physical Contact, which is necessary, even though less back reflection is required. An APC polished connector has an industry standard minimum of -60dB ORL measurement. And the ends of APC fiber have low back reflection even when it is disconnected. The main difference between UPC and APC is the end face of the fiber. UPC connector is polished with no angle, but APC connector has a fiber end face which is polished at an 8-degree angle. UPC and APC are standard of the fiber optic connectors, and they are actually the polish style of fiber optic ferrules.