Abstract: An airplane fuel level optical sensor using one side-emitting plastic optical fiber (SPOF) and two fluorescent plastic optical fibers (FPOFs) to detect the airplane fuel level without using any electrically conductive component or element placed inside the fuel tank. This dual-FPOF sensor is capable of achieving high resolution and high accuracy with a one-time calibration in the actual airplane's fuel tank environment. One embodiment of the dual-FPOF sensor uses one SPOF and two FPOFs to detect fuel level change based on the optical signal output from the two FPOFs. The sensor design uses large-diameter (core and cladding), lightweight, low-cost and high-durability plastic optical fiber, which is very desirable for airplane installation.

Abstract: An optical network having at least one star coupler comprising transmit and receive optical mixers which are respectively optically coupled to transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters. Each optical-electrical media converter comprises a respective receiver optically coupled to the receive optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers and a respective transmitter optically coupled to the transmit optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers. The output plastic optical fibers attached to an output face of the receive optical mixer have a diameter less than the diameter of the input plastic optical fibers attached to an input face of the receive optical mixer.

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.

Abstract: An optical network having at least one star coupler comprising transmit and receive optical mixers which are respectively optically coupled to transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters. Each optical-electrical media converter comprises a respective receiver optically coupled to the receive optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers and a respective transmitter optically coupled to the transmit optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers. The output plastic optical fibers attached to an output face of the receive optical mixer have a diameter less than the diameter of the input plastic optical fibers attached to an input face of the receive optical mixer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical sub-assembly (OSA) are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed apparatus involves a package body, and a lock nut, where a first end of the lock nut inserted into a first cavity of the package body. The apparatus further involves a transistor outline (TO) can, where a first end of the TO can is inserted into a second cavity of the package body. Also, the apparatus involves an optical fiber, where a portion of the jacket from an end of the optical fiber is stripped off, thereby exposing bare optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber. The end of the optical fiber is inserted into a second end of the lock nut such that the bare optical fiber passes into the package body and at least a portion of the bare optical fiber is inserted into the TO can cavity.

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.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a data bus-in-a-box (BiB) are disclosed. The system involves an electrical box, and at least one optical connector located on the box. The system further involves at least one mother board housed inside of the box, and comprising a transmit side comprising at least one transmit optical media converter (OMC) tile, and a receive side comprising at least one receive OMC tile. Also, the system involves first receive optical fibers that are each connected from at least one receive OMC tile to a receive coupler; and a second receive optical fiber connected from the receive coupler to one of the optical connectors. Further, the system involves first transmit optical fibers that are each connected from at least one transmit OMC tile to a transmit coupler; and a second transmit optical fiber connected from the transmit coupler to at least one of the optical connectors.

Abstract: An optical network having at least one star coupler comprising transmit and receive optical mixers which are respectively optically coupled to transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters. Each optical-electrical media converter comprises a respective receiver optically coupled to the receive optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers and a respective transmitter optically coupled to the transmit optical mixer by way of plastic optical fibers. The output plastic optical fibers attached to an output face of the receive optical mixer have a diameter less than the diameter of the input plastic optical fibers attached to an input face of the receive optical mixer.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use an optical impedance sensor that eliminates electricity for measuring fuel quantity in fuel tanks. The optical impedance sensor comprises two optical fibers spaced apart inside a meniscus tube, one to transmit light along its length and the other to receive light along its length. The meniscus tube minimizes the sloshing of fuel level. The fuel level in the tank modulates the optical impedance between the two optical fibers, resulting in changes in the total light received by an optical detector. Depending on fuel tank height, the optical impedance sensor may comprise different embodiments in which the detection apparatus shapes the light to be unidirectional (emitted and collected only on one side of the fiber) or omnidirectional (all directions).

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a ruggedized photonic crystal (PC) sensor packaging. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a ruggedized packaging for a photonic crystal sensor that includes of a hermetic-seal high-temperature jacket and a ferrule that eliminate the exposure of the optical fiber as well as the critical part of the photonic crystal sensor to harsh environments. The disclosed packaging methods enable photonic crystal based sensors to operate in challenging environments where adverse environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), corrosive fluids, large temperature variations, and strong mechanical vibrations, currently exclude the use of traditional sensor technologies.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a ruggedized photonic crystal (PC) sensor packaging. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a ruggedized packaging for a photonic crystal sensor that includes of a hermetic-seal high-temperature jacket and a ferrule that eliminate the exposure of the optical fiber as well as the critical part of the photonic crystal sensor to harsh environments. The disclosed packaging methods enable photonic crystal based sensors to operate in challenging environments where adverse environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), corrosive fluids, large temperature variations, and strong mechanical vibrations, currently exclude the use of traditional sensor technologies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical sub-assembly (OSA) are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed apparatus involves a package body, and a lock nut, where a first end of the lock nut inserted into a first cavity of the package body. The apparatus further involves a transistor outline (TO) can, where a first end of the TO can is inserted into a second cavity of the package body. Also, the apparatus involves an optical fiber, where a portion of the jacket from an end of the optical fiber is stripped off, thereby exposing bare optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber. The end of the optical fiber is inserted into a second end of the lock nut such that the bare optical fiber passes into the package body and at least a portion of the bare optical fiber is inserted into the TO can cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use an optical impedance sensor that eliminates electricity for measuring fuel quantity in fuel tanks. The optical impedance sensor comprises two optical fibers spaced apart inside a meniscus tube, one to transmit light along its length and the other to receive light along its length. The meniscus tube minimizes the sloshing of fuel level. The fuel level in the tank modulates the optical impedance between the two optical fibers, resulting in changes in the total light received by an optical detector. Depending on fuel tank height, the optical impedance sensor may comprise different embodiments in which the detection apparatus shapes the light to be unidirectional (emitted and collected only on one side of the fiber) or omnidirectional (all directions).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a data bus-in-a-box (BiB) are disclosed. The system involves an electrical box, and at least one optical connector located on the box. The system further involves at least one mother board housed inside of the box, and comprising a transmit side comprising at least one transmit optical media converter (OMC) tile, and a receive side comprising at least one receive OMC tile. Also, the system involves first receive optical fibers that are each connected from at least one receive OMC tile to a receive coupler; and a second receive optical fiber connected from the receive coupler to one of the optical connectors. Further, the system involves first transmit optical fibers that are each connected from at least one transmit OMC tile to a transmit coupler; and a second transmit optical fiber connected from the transmit coupler to at least one of the optical connectors.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical sub-assembly (OSA) are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed apparatus involves a package body, and a lock nut, where a first end of the lock nut inserted into a first cavity of the package body. The apparatus further involves a transistor outline (TO) can, where a first end of the TO can is inserted into a second cavity of the package body. Also, the apparatus involves an optical fiber, where a portion of the jacket from an end of the optical fiber is stripped off, thereby exposing bare optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber. The end of the optical fiber is inserted into a second end of the lock nut such that the bare optical fiber passes into the package body and at least a portion of the bare optical fiber is inserted into the TO can cavity.

Abstract: An optical transmission device includes a tapered mixing rod that includes an optically transmissive material and has a first face, a second face, and a length. A size of the first face is based on a first number of optical fibers and a size of the second face is based on a second number of optical fibers, where the size of the first face is different from the size of the second face. The length can be selected such that light entering the first face from one of the first number of optical fibers is distributed substantially uniformly across the second face and such that light entering the second face from one of the second number of optical fibers is distributed substantially uniformly across the first face.

Abstract: An optical network architecture can include a first pair of tapered mixing rods and a second pair of tapered mixing rods. The optical network architecture can also include a first plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable units and a second plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable units. The optical network architecture can also include at least one plastic optical fiber communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to the second pair of tapered mixing rods.

Abstract: An optical network architecture can include a first pair of tapered mixing rods and a second pair of tapered mixing rods. A first plurality of plastic optical fibers is communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable components, and a second plurality of plastic optical fibers is communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable components. At least one optical fiber communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to the second pair of tapered mixing rods, the at least one optical transmission line comprising a hard clad silica optical fiber.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a vehicle are disclosed to enable wireless optical communications. A wireless optical transceiver includes transmitter light source configured to transmit a first optical signal at a first wavelength via a first ball lens to generate a distributed first optical signal. The distributed first optical signal is configured to be received by a remote receiver via a first line-of-sight transmission. A detector is configured to receive a focused second optical signal at a second wavelength via a second ball lens. A controller is operably coupled to the light source and to the detector. The controller is configured to receive outgoing data and to generate a first electrical signal configured to modulate the first optical signal to transmit the outgoing data. The controller also is configured to receive a second electrical signal from the detector and to demodulate the second electrical signal to generate incoming data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure configured to contain at least one optoelectronic device and to interface the at least one optoelectronic device to a polymer-clad silica (PCS) optical fiber. The enclosure includes a first section that includes a base portion and a wall portion. The wall portion is coupled to the base portion. The wall portion defines an open-ended slot that is configured to receive a first portion of a PCS optical fiber lead extending through the wall portion. A second section is configured to sealingly engage a first edge of the wall portion and the first portion of the PCS optical fiber lead. Passive alignment of PCS optical fiber leads to optoelectronic devices inside the package is accomplished using special designed precision mold ceramic block with integral U-grooves.