Optical Fiber Switchers

For multi-channel sequential applications, tec5USA has developed a family of optical fiber switchers, known as optical multiplexers or “O-MUX”. tec5USA’s optical multiplexers are based on a unique patented micromechanical MEMS piezo concept and provide high flexibility, long-term stability and excellent repeatability. The switchers are available from 1:2 to 1:32 outputs, with a wide selection of multimode fiber types, materials, diameters (up to Ø800µm for best throughput), and connectors.

The optical fiber switchers are especially useful to configure multi-channel process analyzers where only one spectrometer is needed and connected to several probe outputs. Signals are acquired in a sequential manner. This setup is extremely cost-efficient for complex multi-point monitoring systems, such as Raman or NIR analyzers, as the spectrometer component can represent a significant part of the total system cost.

In the same manner multiple probes can be multiplexed to a single spectrometer, it is also possible to multiplex a light source to two, or more, probes. Relevant examples are the dispatch of a single 785nm laser to several Raman probes, or the distribution of a Xenon flash lamp to different flow cells.