Apc Fiber Connector

The uses of apc connectors.

Apc fiber connector.

Like illustrated in the following picture. What are apc connectors. The main difference between upc and apc connector is the fiber end face. An optical fiber connector terminates the end of an optical fiber and enables quicker connection and disconnection than splicing the connectors mechanically couple and align the cores of fibers so light can pass.

Apc connectors feature a fiber endface that is polished at an eight degree angle. It is commonly used with both single mode optical fiber and polarization maintaining optical fiber fc connectors are used in datacom telecommunications measurement equipment and single mode lasers they are becoming less common displaced by sc and lc connectors. Apc connector is a type of fiber connector that minimizes backreflection due to a 5 to 15 angle polish applied to end faces. The fc connector is a fiber optic connector with a threaded body which was designed for use in high vibration environments.

The best feedback examples from my previous blog came from people experienced with fttx and radio frequency rf applications. They have a slight curvature for better core alignment. These connectors also feature a low 0 25 db connector to connector typical loss. However significant insertion loss can result when mating to different styles and because of this we recommend that fc apc connectors be mated only with other fc apc connectors.

Sc apc connector is commonly used in applications that are much more sensitive to return loss and requires for high precision signal such as fttx fiber to the x video delivery through rf signal wdm wavelength division multiplexing applications and analogue equipment like cctv. Because of the angle the reflected light does not stay in the fiber core but instead leaks out into the cladding. Differences between upc and apc connector. See the below images for better understanding.

The main difference between apc and upc connectors is the fiber endface. Another more obvious difference is color. With an apc connector the angle directs the light off into the side walls of the fiber where it is absorbed by the fiber jacket. Its introduction was less successful in part due to initially high license fees.

So why then is the apc connector so important in fiber optics. Considered by some to be the modern replacement of the sc connector. In digital applications there is no issue using pc and apc connectors as light can get though in an on off manner. Upc connectors are not exactly flat however.

Better connectors lose very little light due to reflection or misalignment of the fibers. The advance in analogue fiber optic technology has driven demand for it to replace more traditional coaxial cable copper. With upc connectors any reflected light is reflected straight back towards the light source. The difference is that single mode lc connectors have it in apc upc polishing type while multimode lc fiber connectors have upc polishing only.

Upc connectors are polished with no angle.