Process for Extending Operating Temperature Range of Gigabit Plastic Optical Fiber

    公开(公告)号:US20210067250A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-04

    申请号:US16551282

    申请日:2019-08-26

    Abstract: A process to enhance the performance of plastic optical fiber to operate with a high data rate (e.g., at least 1 gigabit per second) at high temperature (e.g., 100 degrees Celsius) for airplane avionic systems. Gigabit plastic optical fiber has a core including a dopant that enables data transmission at gigabit rates. The enhancement process uses rapid thermal cooling of the gigabit plastic optical fiber to stabilize the polymer matrix of the fiber. This rapid cooling treatment blocks dopant diffusion in a high-temperature environment, thereby avoiding degradation of the fiber's bandwidth and optical loss characteristic. Such degradation typically occurs in gigabit plastic optical fiber having core and cladding made of transparent carbon-hydrogen bond-free perfluorinated polymer.

    Non-contact time-of-flight fuel level sensor using plastic optical fiber

    公开(公告)号:US10935413B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-02

    申请号:US16380368

    申请日:2019-04-10

    Abstract: A fuel sensing system utilizes non-contact plastic optical fiber (POF) to optically sense the level of liquid fuel in a fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel level sensing system includes the following elements: (i) a high-speed and high-power red laser diode; (ii) an ultra-high-sensitivity photon-counting avalanche photodiode; and (iii) a large-diameter and large-numerical-aperture graded-index POF. The fuel level is sensed when the avalanche photodiode first detects impinging light reflected by the POF end face and then detects impinging light reflected by the fuel surface in response to emission of a laser pulse by the red laser diode. A time delay detection circuit calculates the time interval separating the respective times of arrival. A fuel level calculator calculates the fuel level based on the time interval provided by the time delay detection circuit.

    Epoxy-free plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process

    公开(公告)号:US10895696B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-19

    申请号:US16664751

    申请日:2019-10-25

    Abstract: An epoxy-free, high-durability and low-cost plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process which meets commercial airplane environmental requirements. The splice design: (1) does not require the use of epoxy to join the end faces of two plastic optical fibers together; (2) incorporates double-crimp rings to provide highly durable pull force for the plastic optical fibers that are joined together; (3) resolves any vibration problem at the plastic optical fiber end faces using a miniature stop inside a splice alignment sleeve; and (4) incorporates a splice alignment sleeve that can be mass produced using precision molding or three-dimensional printing processes.

    Epoxy-Free Plastic Optical Fiber Splice Design and Fabrication Process

    公开(公告)号:US20200057203A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-02-20

    申请号:US16664751

    申请日:2019-10-25

    Abstract: An epoxy-free, high-durability and low-cost plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process which meets commercial airplane environmental requirements. The splice design: (1) does not require the use of epoxy to join the end faces of two plastic optical fibers together; (2) incorporates double-crimp rings to provide highly durable pull force for the plastic optical fibers that are joined together; (3) resolves any vibration problem at the plastic optical fiber end faces using a miniature stop inside a splice alignment sleeve; and (4) incorporates a splice alignment sleeve that can be mass produced using precision molding or three-dimensional printing processes.

    Method for Polishing End Faces of Plastic Optical Fiber

    公开(公告)号:US20170336574A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-11-23

    申请号:US15161552

    申请日:2016-05-23

    CPC classification number: G02B6/3863 B24B19/226 G02B6/02033 G02B6/3847

    Abstract: A process for polishing the end face of a plastic optical fiber (POF) to produce a mirror smooth surface without any defect. Smooth POF end faces reduce the optical coupling loss when two plastic optical fibers are connected. The polishing process can be used to produce POF end faces which are recessed relative to the adjacent end face of a ferrule surrounding the fiber. When the ends of two ferrules are inserted in a connector designed to align the end faces of the ferrules while allowing those end faces to abut each other, the confronting recessed POF end faces will be separated by an air gap.

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