PLASTIC AND GLASS OPTICAL FIBER BUS NETWORK

• US 20150036974A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Chan, Eric Y., Koshinz, Dennis G., Truong, Tuong Kien, Pang, Henry B., Li, Angela W., Lawrence, William E., Boldrin, Clete Mark
• Granted Patent: US 11,300,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/28 having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2808 using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/00 Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements

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.

Claims

1. An optical network architecture comprising:

a first pair of tapered mixing rods;

a second pair of tapered mixing rods;

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;

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; and

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 fiber comprising a hard clad silica optical fiber.

2. The optical network architecture of claim 1, wherein a first end of the hard clad silica optical fiber is coupled to one of the first pair of mixing rods.

3. The optical network architecture of claim 2, wherein a second end of the hard clad silica optical fiber is coupled to a first end of a plastic optical fiber.

4. The optical network architecture of claim 3, wherein a second end of the plastic optical fiber is coupled to one of the second pair of mixing rods.

5. The optical network architecture of claim 1, wherein a first end of a first plastic optical fiber is coupled to one of the first pair of mixing rods, and wherein a second end of the first plastic optical fiber is coupled to a first end of the hard clad silica optical fiber.

6. The optical network architecture of claim 5, wherein a core diameter of the first plastic optical fiber is larger than a core diameter of the hard clad silica optical fiber.

7. The optical network architecture of claim 6, wherein the second end of the first plastic optical fiber comprises a hemispherical lens configured to direct light from the first plastic optical fiber into the hard clad silica optical fiber.

8. The optical network architecture of claim 5, wherein a first end of a second plastic optical fiber is coupled to a second end of the hard clad silica optical fiber, and wherein a second end of the second plastic optical fiber is coupled to one of the second pair of mixing rods.

9. The optical network architecture of claim 8, wherein a core diameter of the second plastic optical fiber is larger than a core diameter of the hard clad silica optical fiber.

10. A method of transmitting optical signals comprising:

receiving, by a first tapered mixing rod, optical signals from a first plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled to a first plurality of line replaceable units;

directing, by the first tapered mixing rod, the optical signals received from the first plurality of plastic optical fibers along each of a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber;

receiving, by a second tapered mixing rod, optical signals from the second optical fiber and a third optical fiber; and

directing, by the second tapered mixing rod, the optical signals received from the second optical fiber and the third optical fiber along each of a second plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled to the first plurality of line replaceable units;

wherein each of the first optical fiber and the third optical fiber comprises at least one hard clad silica optical fiber.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by a third tapered mixing rod, optical signals from a third plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled to a second plurality of line replaceable units;

directing, by the third tapered mixing rod, the optical signals received from the third plurality of plastic optical fibers along each of the third optical fiber and a fourth optical fiber;

receiving, by a fourth tapered mixing rod, optical signals from the first optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber; and

directing, by the fourth tapered mixing rod, the optical signals received from the first optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber along each of a fourth plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled to the second plurality of line replaceable units.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

attenuating optical signals propagating along the fourth optical fiber such that a strength of optical signals received by the fourth tapered mixing rod from the fourth optical fiber and a strength of optical signals received by the fourth tapered mixing rod from the first optical fiber are within a predetermined range of optical signal strengths.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the attenuating optical signals propagating along the fourth optical fiber is performed by an optical attenuator located on the fourth optical fiber.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

attenuating optical signals propagating along the third optical fiber such that a strength of optical signals received by the second tapered mixing rod from the second optical fiber and a strength of optical signals received by the second tapered mixing rod from the third optical fiber are within a predetermined range of optical signal strengths.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third optical fiber further comprises a plastic optical fiber, and wherein the at least one hard clad silica fiber of the third optical fiber and the plastic optical fiber of the third optical fiber are connected in series.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the attenuating optical signals propagating along the third optical fiber is performed by an optical attenuator, and wherein the optical attenuator is located on one of the plastic optical fiber of the third optical fiber and the at least one hard clad silica fiber of the third optical fiber.

17. An aircraft optical network comprising:

a first pair of tapered mixing rods located at a front end of the aircraft;

a second pair of tapered mixing rods located at a back end of the aircraft;

a first plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the first pair of tapered mixing rods to a first plurality of line replaceable components, the first plurality of line replaceable components located at the front end of the aircraft;

a second plurality of plastic optical fibers communicatively coupled from the second pair of tapered mixing rods to a second plurality of line replaceable components, the second plurality of line replaceable components located at the back end of the aircraft; and

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 fiber comprising a hard clad silica optical fiber.

18. The aircraft optical network of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of plastic optical fibers have lengths equal to or less than 20 meters.

19. The aircraft optical network of claim 18, wherein the second plurality of plastic optical fibers have lengths equal to or less than 20 meters.

20. The aircraft optical network of claim 19, wherein the at least one optical fiber has a length in a range from 50 meters to 100 meters.