Advanced Fiber Optic Connectors for Condition Based Maintenance

Leveraging on our extensive production experience on glass ferrules and micro-optic components, AGILTRON proposes to realize a new class of fiber optic connectors with built-in stress relief and special fiber optic components of miniature beam splitters and 90 degree reflectors, targeted for structural health monitoring applications of military assets. These connectors and components are very lightweight, miniature in size, easy to interconnect, easy to mount on the surfaces of materials; and highly reliable and durable. The design intrinsically eliminates damaging thermal cycling stress, providing excellent temperature stability and longevity. Furthermore, our designs offer advantageous attributes of quick action, minimum operation space, built-in cable retention, low cost, and withstand severe environmental conditions. The feasibilities of the glass ferrule connector and miniature 90 degree reflector have been successfully demonstrated. In this Phase I program, state-of-the-art ruggedized fiber connector, reduced size beam splitter, and miniature 90 degree reflector that meet the low loss and reliable operational requirement in military/aerospace avionics fiber-optic sensor network environments (including the extreme –75 to +200 °C range) will be further developed and demonstrated.