What is TFF and AWG?
TFF is Thin Film Filter.
AWG is Arrayed Waveguide Gratin.
In optical communication industry, TFF and AWG are widely used for DWDM or CWDM solution. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The first thing we should consider is channel number. If channel number is larger than 16, AWG is better choice because AWG has a lower IL and cost. If the required channel number is 40, then AWG is the only solution. It is hard to make 40ch using TFF.
Another thing we need to consider is wavelength channel spacing. Simply, AWG is better in DWDM (200GHz, 100GHz, 50GHz, etc), and TFF is good for CWDM.
Price is one of the most important thing. The price of a product depends on not only its manufacturing cost but also sales volume.
People usually have thought that AWG’s cost is higher than TFF’s cost. But in 5G application, channel number is high and channel spacing is DWDM spacing and also sales volume is high (over than few thousand per month), then AWG’s cost can be lower than TFF’s cost.
In conclusion, AWG is better choice in case of the following:
– Channel number is larger than 8~16
– DWDM wavelength spacing is required
– Volume is larger than several hundreds per month
How HTF manufacture WDM products?
Need More details, welcome contact Ivy from HTF ivy@htfuture.com
