Fiber Optic Connectors
1. Fiber Optic Connectors Overview
A fiber optic connector is a precision component used for detachable connection between optical fibers. It realizes stable transmission of optical signals through physical contact or adapters. Its core function is to reduce optical loss and ensure high-precision alignment of the butt end faces. Its design relies on the principle of total reflection of light, uses high-precision materials such as ceramic pins to ensure the matching of the fiber end faces, and cooperates with the adapter through mechanical structures such as a plug-in and thread locking.
2. What are the Main Types of Fiber Optic Connectors?
1)FC (Ferrule Connector)
Structure: round metal/ceramic ferrule, fastened with thread.
Scenario: Suitable for telecommunications equipment and single-mode optical fiber, with high stability but low plug-in efficiency.
2)SC (Subscriber Connector)
Structure: square push-pull plastic housing, no rotation required.
Scenario: Common in local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN), easy to plug and unplug, and suitable for high-density installation.
3)ST (Straight Tip)
Structure: bayonet locking, round metal ferrule.
Scenario: Mostly used in multimode fiber distribution frames, with strong pressure resistance but large size.
4)LC (Lucent Connector)
Structure: Narrow square design, push-pull operation.
Scenario: High-density network equipment (such as data centers), only half the size of SC, saving space.
5)MT-RJ/MTP
Structure: Multi-core integrated design, supporting 12/24-core optical fibers.
Scenario: Hyperscale data centers and high-speed parallel optical modules.
3. What are the Key Performance Parameters of Fiber Optic Connectors?
Insertion Loss (IL): Measures the power attenuation of the optical signal after passing through the connector, usually required to be less than 0.3 dB.
Return Loss (RL): The ability to suppress reflected light power, single-mode connectors must be ≥40 dB.
Repeatability: The stability of performance after multiple plugging and unplugging depends on the wear resistance and structural design of the ceramic pin.
4. What are Fiber Optic Connectors Used for?
Communication Network: Including telecommunication backbone network, metropolitan area network, and fiber interconnection of 5G base stations.
Data Center: High-density LC/MTP connectors support high-speed data transmission between servers and switches.
Industrial and Military: High-temperature and vibration-resistant reinforced connectors (such as ST) are required in harsh environments.
Consumer Electronics: Driven by VCSEL technology, fiber connectors are gradually applied to 3D sensing and short-distance optical interconnection.
5. Technology Development Trend of Fiber Optic Connectors
High Density: Miniaturized interfaces such as LC and MTP have become mainstream, supporting the demand for 400G/800G optical modules.
Low-loss Process: APC (oblique 8° end face polishing) technology improves return loss performance and adapts to long-distance transmission.
Intelligent Integration: Optical-electrical hybrid connectors (such as CPO co-packaging) reduce system power consumption and latency.
6. Major Manufacturers for Fiber Optic Connectors
Global leading manufacturers include Corning’s SC/LC series, Amphenol’s FC/ST products, and Molex’s MTP/MPO multi-core solutions.