An Introduction to Fiber Adapter | fiber coupler | fiber flange

What is a fiber optic adapter?

Fiber adapter is one of the most widely used basic components in optical fiber communication, also known as fiber couplers or fiber flange, is normally used in cable TV network and telecom network of optical fiber link area network connections. The role of the fiber flange is mainly in smaller loss (i.e., minimal impact on the system) implementation under the condition of the same or different optical fiber connector of the docking. The fiber adapter has a built-in alignment sleeve that can precisely position the fiber optics connector and ensure the accuracy of connection to achieve high-performance connection between fiber jumpers.

What different types are there?

There are many types of fiber optics adapters, available with FC, SC, ST, LC, MU, SMA connectors with round or square type press button. The types of the end faces of fiber optics connectors include PC, UPC, and APC.

SC stands for Standard Connector, SC fiber couplers.

SC-SC adapter

SC to SC duplex adapter

ST stands for Straight Tip.

ST-ST fiber coupler adapter

FC stands for Fiber Connector, FC fiber flange

FC-FC fiber coupler adapter

“SC” joint is standard square joint, using engineering plastics, high temperature resistance, not easy oxidation advantages. Optical ports on the transmission device usually use SC connectors.

The “LC” joint is similar in shape to the SC joint and is smaller than the SC joint.

“FC” joint is metal joint, generally used in ODF side. Metal joint can be plugged more times than the plastic ones.

General Characteristics

How to evaluate the performance of fiber optic adapter? What are the key parameters of the fiber coupler? 

• Insertion loss – the amount of energy that a signal loses as it travels along a cable link
• Interchangeability -the quality of being capable of exchange or interchange
• Repeatability – used to describe the variation in successive measurements of the same variable taken under the same conditions (e.g., same observer, location, instrument, and procedure) in a short period of time.