Compact, High-Resolution OFDR Unit For Aerospace Applications

Short-length optical communications networks such as those employed on military aircraft are in need of frequent assessment of link health. Precise location and identification of cracks and breaks, as well as an accurate assessment of loss due to fiber bends, splices, and connectors, are critical to maintaining signal integrity along the link. Commercial OTDR units do not have the spatial resolution required for short-length network analysis; event dead zones are in the meter range but attenuation dead zones are 4 – 5 meters. To address the diagnostic needs of fiber networks, Luna Innovations will develop a compact, high-spatial resolution Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometer (OFDR). The specific advantages of an OFDR-based device are the improved spatial resolution, sensitivity, and accuracy relative to OTDRs. OFDR is ultimately capable of achieving micrometer-level two-point resolution and does not suffer from significant launch, event, or attenuation dead-zone limitations. Recent advances have shown that OFDR is both a cost effective solution and a viable candidate for testing length ranges greater than 1 km with millimeter resolution. Thus, Luna is in a unique position to be able to meet the market needs for high-resolution physical layer testing through deployment of its OFDR technology.