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Fiber Switches

Fiber Switches – Description

Piezoelectric driven switches are especially designed for high switching speeds in the millisecond range. Piezoelectric actuators enable the optical switch to couple optical fibers with an accuracy of few micro.

The high accuracy positioning of the actuators guarantees a light transmission of >80%, with a typical switching time of <1 ms. Other fiber switches with optical components such as lenses or prisms will always result in a wavelength dependent limitation.

The small size of the switching box and the easy control make these fiber optic switches ideally suited for use as components of spectrometers or other metrology devices. Switches with many more output channels can be easily achieved by cascading fiber switch modules.

Humidity Resistant Fiber Switches

Fiber switches are now also available in special humidity resistant models. By applying a silicon coating to internal components, these unique fiber switches are shielded from high levels of moisture in the air. This greatly increases their ability to withstand relative humidity up to 98% before failure. These special humidity resistant fiber switches are ideal for humid industrial environments, and applications involving operation in non-climate-controlled spaces. This functionality is available in all fiber switch configurations, will not increase lead time, and adds minimal cost.


Fiber switches: Technical and Product Overview Brochure

Technical Data – 1 x 2, Ø50-Ø600 Fiber Switches

(See Datasheet PDFs below this chart for the complete list of product variations)

4 Example ProductsUNITF-102-04F-102-05F-142-03F-162-13
Input Fiber #1111
Output Fiber #2222
Fiber Core Diameterμm50, 62.5, 100200400600
Switching Time (Typical)ms2257
Cross Talk (Typical)dB-65-60-5550
Insertion Loss* (Typical)dB1.01.00.80.8
Lifetime (Typical)cycles10⁹10⁹10⁹10⁹
*Does not include connector loss.

Technical Data – 1 x 3 – 1 x 9, Ø50-Ø200 Fiber Switches

(See Datasheet PDFs below this chart for the complete list of product variations)

4 Example ProductsUNITF-103-05F-104-03F-106-05F-109-03
Input Fiber #1111
Output Fiber #3469
Fiber Core Diameterμm50, 62.5, 10020050, 62.5, 100200
Switching Time (Typical)ms2222
Cross Talk (Typical)dB-65-60-60-60
Insertion Loss* (Typical)dB1.01.41.41.4
Lifetime (Typical)cycles10⁹10⁹10⁹10⁹
*Does not include connector loss.

Technical Data – 1 x 3 – 1 x 9, Ø400-Ø600 Fiber Switches

(See Datasheet PDFs below this chart for the complete list of product variations)

4 Example ProductsUNITF-143-10F-164-10F-146-10F-169-10
Input Fiber #1111
Output Fiber #3469
Fiber Core Diameterμm400600400600
Switching Time (Typical)ms7777
Cross Talk (Typical)dB-60-60-63-60
Insertion Loss* (Typical)dB1.52.01.52.0
Lifetime (Typical)cycles10⁹10⁹10⁹10⁹
*Does not include connector loss.