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: Methods for providing flammability protection for plastic optical fiber (POF) embedded inside avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) or other equipment used in airborne vehicles such as commercial or fighter aircrafts. A thin and flexible flammability protection tube is placed around the POF. In one proposed implementation, a very thin (100 to 250 microns in wall thickness) polyimide tube is placed outside and around the POF cable embedded inside an LRU or other equipment. The thin-walled polyimide tube does not diminish the flexibility of the POF cable.

Abstract: A line replacement unit includes a terminal controller, and a plastic optical fiber serial interface module (POFSIM) coupled between the terminal controller and the data bus. The POFSIM is configured to transmit digital optical signals to the data bus based on electrical signals received from the terminal controller, and transmit electrical signals to the terminal controller based on digital optical signals received from the data bus.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable active optical connector that is modular with one or more channels and that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa. On one side, the apparatus has a pluggable electrical interface to a line replaceable unit (LRU); on the other side the apparatus has a pluggable optical interface side to an aircraft fiber optic wiring bundle. The apparatus is pluggable to different types of LRUs including rack-mounted and bolted-down LRUs. The apparatus includes electronic and photonic components sufficient to enable electrical/optical conversion totally within a standard-sized aircraft connector. The apparatus is adaptable to various data communication protocols and has the flexibility to be used in either a single-fiber or a dual-fiber bidirectional data link.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable active optical connector that is modular with one or more channels and that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa. On one side, the apparatus has a pluggable electrical interface to a line replaceable unit (LRU); on the other side the apparatus has a pluggable optical interface side to an aircraft fiber optic wiring bundle. The apparatus is pluggable to different types of LRUs including rack-mounted and bolted-down LRUs. The apparatus includes electronic and photonic components sufficient to enable electrical/optical conversion totally within a standard-sized aircraft connector. The apparatus is adaptable to various data communication protocols and has the flexibility to be used in either a single-fiber or a dual-fiber bidirectional data link.

Abstract: A line replacement unit includes a terminal controller, and a plastic optical fiber serial interface module (POFSIM) coupled between the terminal controller and the data bus. The POFSIM is configured to transmit digital optical signals to the data bus based on electrical signals received from the terminal controller, and transmit electrical signals to the terminal controller based on digital optical signals received from the data bus.

Abstract: Methods for providing flammability protection for plastic optical fiber (POF) embedded inside avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) or other equipment used in airborne vehicles such as commercial or fighter aircrafts. A thin and flexible flammability protection tube is placed around the POF. In one proposed implementation, a very thin (100 to 250 microns in wall thickness) polyimide tube is placed outside and around the POF cable embedded inside an LRU or other equipment. The thin-walled polyimide tube does not diminish the flexibility of the POF cable.

Abstract: A data communication system is provided. The data communication system includes a data bus, and a line replacement unit including a terminal controller, and a plastic optical fiber serial interface module (POFSIM) coupled between the terminal controller and the data bus. The POFSIM is configured to transmit digital optical signals to the data bus based on electrical signals received from the terminal controller, and transmit electrical signals to the terminal controller based on digital optical signals received from the data bus.

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 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: 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: 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, 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, 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 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: A data communication system is provided. The data communication system includes a data bus, and a line replacement unit including a terminal controller, and a plastic optical fiber serial interface module (POFSIM) coupled between the terminal controller and the data bus. The POFSIM is configured to transmit digital optical signals to the data bus based on electrical signals received from the terminal controller, and transmit electrical signals to the terminal controller based on digital optical signals received from the data bus.