How to Choose Fiber Optic Attenuators

The need for Fiber Optic Attenuators-

In fiber-optic technology, beginners are often confused with why it is necessary to use optic attenuators to reduce light intensity. To increase the signal power level we generally use amplifiers?

The truth behind it is too much light can overload a fiber optic receiver and fiber adapter. When a transmitter delivers too much light optical fiber attenuators are required, such as when a transmitter is very close to the receiver.

Working of a Fiber Attenuator –

By absorbing light such as a neutral density thin-film filter attenuator usually works and even it works by scattering the light such as an air gap. They should not reflect the light as it may cause unwanted back reflection in the fiber system.

There is another type of attenuator that utilizes a length of high-loss optical fiber and it operates upon its input optical signal power level in such a way that its output signal power level is less than the input level.

Reduction in power is done by means such as diffusion, absorption, scattering, scattering, dispersion, deflection, and diffraction, etc. You can buy an optical circulator online.

Important Feature a Fiber Attenuator Should Have-

For an attenuator, the most important spec is its attenuation versus wavelength curve. On all wavelengths used in the fiber system or at least on all flat attenuators should have the same effect.

Types of Attenuators-

Generally, there are two functional types of fiber attenuators: plug style (including bulkhead) and in-line.

A plug style the attenuator is employed as a male-female connector where attenuation takes place inside the device i.e. on the light path from one ferrule to another. These include SC attenuator, FC fiber optic attenuator, LC attenuator, ST attenuator, and more.

By splicing its two pigtails, an in-line attenuator is connected to a transmission fiber.

As these attenuators use various phenomena to decrease the power of the propagating light, the principle of operation of optical attenuator becomes different.

There is also the availability of Variable fiber optic attenuators, but they usually are precision instruments used in making measurements.