Which optical splitter package is similar in appearance and size to a standard fusion splice protector?

The optical splitter package that resembles a standard fusion splice protector in both appearance and size is the FBT, or fused biconical taper. FBT splitters are designed by fusing and tapering two or more optical fibers together, allowing the light to be split among the output fibers. Their compact design and the method of construction make them somewhat similar to splice protectors, which are used to shield and enclose fusion splices to ensure their integrity and protect them from environmental factors.

In contrast, PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) splitters, while also used for optical splitting, are typically larger and have a different configuration as they are created on a planar substrate which makes them more suitable for environments where space is not as constrained. Couplers are optical devices used to combine or split signals but they come in various sizes and configurations that differ from the form factor of a splice protector, and patch panels are enclosures that house multiple optical connections and are not directly comparable in size or form to a splice protector. These distinctions underline the reason why the FBT is the most appropriate choice in this context.