HIGH PRESSURE OPTICAL PENETRATOR FOR SINGLE MODE FIBER

CONAX HAS EXTENDED THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN 14 YEARS OF ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL PENETRATORS TO SEALING DEVICES FOR FIBER OPTICS. FIBER OPTIC PENETRATORS WITH A TOTAL OPTICAL LOSS OF 0.3 DB AT 10,000 PSI HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED. AN INNOVATIVE USE OF COMPRESSIVE SEALING IS PROPOSED TO DEVELOP A PENETRATOR FOR SINGLE MODE FIBER WHICH IS MORE RUGGED AND HAS A WIDER OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE THAN APPROACHES USING BONDED SEALS. THE KEY PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES ARE: COMPRESSIVE SEALING - 10,000 PSI PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL WITH TOTAL INSERTION LOSS OF LESS THAN 2DB RELATIVE TO A SHORT REFERENCE CABLE WITH EQUIVALENT CONNECTORS. CONNECTORS - RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO THE PENETRATOR WITH NO INCREASE IN INSERTION LOSS WITH 100 MATING CYCLES. FOUR PENETRATORS WILL BE FABRICATED USING TWO DESIGN CONCEPTS. THE ATTENUATION AT THE SEAL WILL BE MEASURED WITH AN OPTICAL TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETER AND THE INSERTION LOSS MEASURED FOR THE PENETRATOR/CONNECTORS ASSEMBLY.