Singlemode Multifiber Connectors

Singlemode fiber optic systems offer great potential to improve sensing, multiplexing, and control systems for aerospace vehicles compared with multimode-based fiber optic systems. The primary issue preventing greater deployment of singlemode is theconnectors. Current technology was developed for telecom and will not meet the demands of aerospace. The biggest problem is getting a singlemode connector to survive field maintenance conditions. Translume proposes to develop high reliability, expandedsinglemode, multi-fiber, high optical power connectors for demanding aerospace applications taking advantage of Translume's unique femtoWrite(tm) process for creating nano-strucutured three dimensional waveguides. Major military benefits of success inthis SBIR-funded program will be increased platform capabilities; weight savings; RF Directed Energy Weapon, ECM, and EMP signal immunity; and cost effective redundancy. This new multifiber design will transfer well, with possibly only slightmodifications, into the commercial air transport industry. And a potentially very large commercial application will be telecom, where a better optical performance multifiber connector would revolutionize the connector market if it provided cost savingson a per fiber basis. This telecom application will require tough price targets, but with the proposed technology being so highly automated it is likely telecom commercial needs can be met as well.