A comparison of SC and LC devicesįor starters, both SC and LC connectors offer nearly the same insertion loss and return loss, the two primary parameters for optical fiber connectors as well as copper cable connectors. The new designs also feature the simultaneous rotation of both ferrules to ensure that bare fibers are not being exposed at any time during polarity reversal. Some other designs offer curing fixture and pre-assembly of LC connector ferrules prior to polishing, which improves throughput and eliminates accidental fiber breaks. Such LC connectors facilitate quick repairs and terminations in tight spaces and are now being used in high-data-rate systems like 1-Gbit/s to 10-Gbit/s Ethernet and fiber-to-the-desk (FTTD) applications. Some LC connectors claim to have no epoxy and no polish, and that makes these connectors faster than devices with typical epoxy terminations. Moreover, the LC connector’s ability to be grouped into a keyed arrangement and locking clip, like RJ45 connectors, has become a major factor in its popularity. The low-profile push-pull housing in SC connectors maximizes panel density, while the direct push-pull latch ensures efficient insertion and removal. LC is also a push-pull connector, but unlike SC’s locking tab, it employs a latch with a smaller ferrule, and that makes it hugely popular in data communications and other high-density patch applications (Figure 2).įigure 2: LC, a smaller version of SC, is also referred to as Little Connector due to a more compact form factor. The smaller form factor, with a 1.25-mm ferrule, was also a huge benefit in high-connection-density environments like data centers and telecom switching centers. However, the initial market response to LC connectors was lackluster due to a high license fee.Įventually, with the availability of LC-compatible transceivers and other active networking components, this smaller version of SC connectors began taking off in new fiber applications such as fiber to the home (FTTH). Lucent Technologies, now part of Nokia, developed LC connectors in the early 2000s amid complaints that ST and SC connectors were too bulky and easy to dislodge from fiber connections. This lack of compact design, a crucial factor in the connection real estate for building fiber-optic routing gear, brings us to SC’s younger and smaller cousin, LC, also known as Little Connector. However, SC has a large connector housing and a 2.5-mm ferrule, and that makes it less suitable for densely populated racks and panels. The new SC connectors further simplify installation, maximize yield and offer guaranteed insertion loss and return loss performance equivalent to the factory-terminated connectors. The FTTX networks and video delivery over RF signals are a case in point. SC connectors are considered highly suitable for applications that demand high-precision signals and are sensitive to return loss. It’s a square-shaped connector-also known as “stick and click” for its SC acronym-that comes with a locking tab that enables the push-on and pull-off operation (Figure 1).įigure 1: The simple, rugged and low-cost SC connectors deliver highly accurate alignment in fiber connections. SC is a push-pull device that uses a ceramic ferrule to deliver highly accurate alignment in a fiber-optic link. It’s a popular fiber-optic connector due to its low-cost, durability and simple installation for both point-to-point and passive optical networking. SC, abbreviated for Subscriber Connector, has also been referred to as Square Connector or Standard Connector. The article will also delve into what’s new in their design anatomy and which one is likely a winner in the long run. The following sections will provide a detailed treatment of these two most popular fiber interface devices and their key design attributes such as interface losses, alignment accuracy, repeatability, on-site terminations, etc. And they enable reliable connections that align precisely and are optically very smooth. That’s mainly because both SC and LC devices are rugged and offer a moderate cost. Subsequently, the SC and LC fiber-optic connectors became the most common devices in a broad array of optical fiber connections serving LANs, SANs, WANs, data centers, telecom switching offices, cellular base stations, CATV networks, fiber-to-the-x (FTTX) networks and test and measurement systems. Here, it’s worth mentioning that there are more than a dozen fiber-optic connectors each one of them emerged as a solution to specific product needs and eventually became known for specific technology limitations. But what defines a good fiber-optic connector? What matters the most in the selection of a fiber-optic connector? A detailed account of the SC and LC devices and their comparison will show how fiber connectorization is evolving with new technology advancements and burgeoning applications like data centers and 5G base stations.
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