SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to develop a new fiber optic splice that is designed for military and aerospace avionic applications. The purpose of the Phase I program is to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed approach. The new fiber optic splice is intended to meet stringent military and avionic requirements and provide long-term, reliable optical connectivity for repaired fiber optic cables. The new splice will meet or exceed these technical requirements: a) wide operating temperature range (75 to +200 °C or 40 to +120 °C), b) low optical insertion loss (< 0.5 dB), c) high mechanical strength, d) small splicing equipment foot print, and e) elimination of spark hazards associated with splicing equipment. Emphasis will be placed on developing a thermally balanced splice that can maintain a low insertion loss in a temperature-cycled environment. Benefit Fiber optic communications networks are being deployed world wide. Fiber splicing, connecting two fiber ends together to continue signal transmission, is used for building and maintaining all fiber optic networks. Current splicing techniques fall into two categories - fusion splicing and mechanical splicing. The fusion splice is mechanically strong and has low optical insertion loss, but the splicing process poses spark hazards and the splicing equipment is bulky and expensive. The conventional mechanical splice is simple and inexpensive, but it will not tolerate environmental extremes, especially extreme temperatures. The proposed fiber splice combines the advantages of fusion and mechanical splicing. The splice will have excellent mechanical strength, but it will not require expensive equipment like fusion splicing. We expect the product to be used first for military and avionic applications. Shortly thereafter, we expect the new splice to find its place in the construction and maintenance of commercial fiber optic networks (where a high mechanical integrity for splices is required), especially when fusion splicing is undesirable because of spark hazards, high cost, or space limitations. Keywords fiber splice, CONNECTOR, Fiber Optic, thermally balanced, Splicing, Optical Fiber, splice, splicer

We will develop a permanent fiber optic splice prototype that is specially designed to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements for military and aerospace avionic applications. This permanent fiber optic splice is intended to provide < 1 dB change in insertion loss over a wide range of operating environment, including a temperature change from -65 to 150 C. It will also provide the ultimate mechanical strength to enable a cable reconstruction in repair of broken fiber optic cables. Furthermore, we will develop a splicing fixture prototype that is user friendly and has a small footprint. A simplified splicing process will be established for field applications, while spark hazards associated with splicing equipment is eliminated. In the Phase II program, optical, mechanical, and environmental tests of the fiber splice prototype samples will be carried out following relevant MIL standards.

Keywords:
Fiber Optic, Optical Fiber, Splice, Splicing, Splicer, Connector, Connectivity, Cable Reconstruction