Introduction
Fibre optic termination is the connection of optical fibres or wires to equipment (e.g. wall sockets or devices), which allows the connection of cables to other cables or devices. The purpose of fibre optic termination is to enable fibre optic cross-connections and lightwave signal distribution. When installing a fibre optic network, it is important to have the correct fibre optic termination. Proper fibre termination will protect the fibre from fouling or damage during use and prevent excessive light loss, thus allowing the network to operate more smoothly and efficiently. If this function is not performed correctly, the network will not be reliable.
Two methods of fibre optic termination
One type of fibre termination uses connectors that join two fibres to form a temporary joint. Splicing is another way, which involves directly connecting two bare fibres without any connectors. Splicing is a permanent method of termination.
Connector termination
When terminating a fibre optic patch cable, a connector can be placed at the end of the fibre optic harness. Several connector types have been developed, such as SC, FC or LC, since the introduction of fibre optic technology decades ago. Fibre optic connectors consist of three main components: the collar, the connector and the coupling mechanism.
Epoxy and polished fibre terminations
This type of connector requires the application of some form of epoxy (glue) between the fibre and the connector collar which, once the epoxy has dried, firmly bonds the two components together.
Fibre Optic Quick Connectors
A short cut of fibre optic wire is bonded into a core, the end of which is polished to a PC/UPC/APC surface and the other end of the fibre is cut and placed in the connector body. It is more expensive than the epoxy/polished fibre optic connector.
Splicing Termination
Splicing is another common type of termination used in field terminations and does not require any connectors. It can be further subdivided into two types: mechanical splicing and fusion splicing.
Mechanical Splicing
Mechanical splicing aligns the ends of two fibres to a common centre line so that light can be passed from one fibre to the other. It is important to note that fibres that are mechanically spliced together are not permanently connected, but are only held together in a precisely fixed manner. As the whole process of mechanical splicing is relatively simple and quick, it is generally used where time and expertise are limited. Fibre optic technicians usually use mechanical splicing in indoor transmission cables.
Fusion Splicing
Fusion splicing involves two steps. It involves the precise alignment of two fibres and the creation of a small electric arc, which uses the heat generated by the arc to melt the fibres and weld them together. Fibre optic fusion splicing offers a low-loss connection, but high-precision fusion splicers are bulky and expensive. Fusion splicing is often used in outdoor, long-haul and high-performance single-mode networks. More importantly, fusion splicing is also required in factories that manufacture fibre optic equipment such as fibre lasers and amplifiers.
Conclusion
Both connectors and fusion splicing are good solutions for terminating fibre optic cables. Connectors can provide a more relaxed and convenient way to do this, while fusion splicing is more professional and keep the fibres permanently connected to each other. Choosing the appropriate and effective termination method also helps to ensure excellent performance of the network, so we should always bear its importance in mind and be well prepared before performing the task.