IMPROVED REPAIR TECHNIQUES FOR FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS AND CABLES

CURRENTLY A PRIMARY DRAWBACK OF FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS FOR MILITARY USE IS THE DIFFICULTY OF REPAIRING AND SERVICING THESE SYSTEMS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR RAPID, RELIABLE FIELD REPAIR OF FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS AND CABLES, TO PUT MAINTENANCE OF THESE SYSTEMS ON PAR WITH COPPER WIRE INTERCONNECTIONS.TECHNIQUES FOR RELIABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE TERMINATION OF GLASS FIBERS WITHOUT THE NEED OF EPOXY OR POLISHING WILL BE INVESTIGATED. AMONG THESE TECHNIQUES IS THE USE OF HAND OPERATED PORTABLE TOOLS TO CLEAVE THE FIBER UNDER TENSION, AND THE USE OF CONNECTORS CONTAINING LENSES, OR INDEX MATCHING FLUIDS TO ACHIEVE REDUCED LOSSES IN CRITICAL CIRCUITS. AN EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON ACHIEVING CONSISTANT TERMINATION LOSSES WITH A MINIMUM OF OPERATOR INFLUENCE ON THE RESULT, AND WITHOUT COMPLEX PROCEDURES. TO THE GREATEST POSSIBLE EXTENT TECHNIQUES WILL BE DEVELOPED WHICH USE PROCEDURES AND TOOLS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE IN OPERATION TO EXISTING COPPER WIRE ITEMS. METHODS FOR ATTACHING THE FIBER AND CABLE TO THE CONNECTOR WHICH AVOID THE TIME CONSUMING APPLICATION OF ADHESIVES WILL BE INVESTIGATED. ALSO THE USE OF PERMANENT SPLICES TO REPAIR DAMAGE CABLE IN APPLICATIONS WHERE REPLACEMENT OF THE CABLE IS PROHIBITIVE WILL BE INVESTIGATED.