Low Loss Passive Optical Hub Using Fused Plastic Fiber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passive optical hubs using plastic optical fibers face limitations due to high loss, which restricts the network size and distance, primarily due to return loss, reflectivity losses, and dispersion issues.
Innovation Solution
A low loss passive optical hub is designed using a 1:N-split fiber configuration where N sub-fibers are fused to form a fused-fractional end, and these are optically coupled with a plastic-optical fiber, eliminating the need for mirrors or return loops, thereby reducing losses and improving geometry efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mirrors or return loops are used in passive optical hubs, then the hub can function in conventional bus networks, but return loss and reflectivity losses occur which limit network size and distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful reflective components (mirrors or return loops) from the passive optical hub system. By extracting these elements that cause return loss and reflectivity losses, the invention enables direct fusion of plastic optical fibers without the need for reflective components, thereby eliminating the associated energy losses while maintaining network functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical reflective components (mirrors or return loops) with a direct fusion connection system. Instead of using mechanical components that cause losses, the invention employs fused plastic optical fiber connections that transmit light directly without reflection, substituting a lossy mechanical system with a low-loss optical fusion system.
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic optical fibers are used in conventional bus networks, then low cost and ease of installation are achieved, but high loss limits the link budget and network size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plastic optical fiber into multiple sub-fibers that are then fused together to form a unified transmission path. This segmentation allows for precise control over the fusion process and enables the creation of low-loss connections by carefully joining multiple fiber segments, thereby reducing the inherent loss while maintaining the ease of installation advantage of plastic optical fibers.
3Productivity
If fused-fractional ends are used to connect sub-fibers, then geometry efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating fused-fractional ends with specific geometric properties at the connection points between sub-fibers. By optimizing the local geometry at these fusion points, the invention achieves improved overall geometry efficiency while managing manufacturing precision requirements through controlled local modifications rather than requiring perfect precision throughout the entire fiber structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces return loss and reflectivity loss, maintaining high geometry efficiency and allowing for larger network sizes and longer distances without the need for costly reflective components, enhancing the usability of plastic optical fibers in avionic networks.
Implementation Method 1
The N first-fractional ends are fused to form the fused-fractional end
Implementation Method 2
The first end of the plastic-optical fiber is optically coupled to the fused-fractional end of the 1:N-split fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A node for a low loss passive optical hub is provided. The low loss passive optical hub includes a 1:N-split fiber and a plastic-optical fiber. The 1:N-split fiber has a fused-fractional end and N second-fractional ends. The 1:N-split fiber is formed from N sub-fibers. The N sub-fibers each have a first-fractional end and a second-fractional end. The N first-fractional ends are fused to form the fused-fractional end. The plastic-optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The first end of the plastic-optical fiber is optically coupled to the fused-fractional end of the 1:N-split fiber.