TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-290, PEO(T), PEO(A), JSF, PMA-265, PMA-209

OBJECTIVE: Design, develop, and demonstrate a packaged tunable multi-channel Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) 10Gbps optical transmitter for use in MIL-AERO fiber optic local area networks.

DESCRIPTION: When applying DWDM networks to military subsystems there is a need for selective flexibility in the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated during specific phases of a particular platform�s mission. Also, there is a need to quickly reconfigure the interconnect structure to accommodate a variety of different type of missions and mission payloads. DWDM networks offer the potential of very high bandwidths, low weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and adaptability. In order to effectively implement a DWDM network, a family of building block interface components is necessary.

Innovative designs are sought to develop a multi-channel transmitter for high performance sensor applications that can operate at various optical wavelengths to provide the necessary aggregate bandwidth. Successful development would result in a significant reduction in the amount of electronic module board space and elimination of complicated optical fiber cabling harnesses. Also, the need for external optical couplers would be greatly reduced, thereby minimizing packaging complexity and DWDM network optical power budget loss. The availability of a single packaged multi-channel optical transmitter would enable severely space constrained sensor applications to transmit large amounts of information efficiently via a single DWDM network connection. The ability to put this raw sensor information onto a DWDM network would allow critical processing to be performed remotely without the need for data reduction. This would also relieve the burden of co-locating the processors with the sensors.

The requirements for this multi-channel transmitter are as follows:

1. Size: 40mm x 20 mm x 5 mm (height)
2. Power: 1W/channel
3. Environmental: -40�C to +100�C; 6grms
4. Performance: 10 Gbps/channel
5. Wavelength range (tunable channels): 1550 nm C-Band ITU Grid (32-40)
6. Number of simultaneous transmit channels: 8
7. Output power: 10 mW/channel
8. Output fiber: Single Mode Fiber (Mode Field Diameter: 5-10 um)
9. On/Off speed: 1 usec
10. Built In Test (BIT) Capability: Yes
11. Removable pigtail: Yes

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of developing a multi-channel DWDM transmitter chip and package design that operates between 2.5 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s and can select a minimum of two (2) simultaneous channels. Analyze and model design alternatives for a multi-channel transmitter with built-in test capability. Take into account launched optical power, wavelength stability, wavelength selectivity, coupling efficiency, aircraft link fault detection and isolation, ease of packaging, package size and power, and environmental ruggedness over the �40 to 100 �C temperature range.

PHASE II: Develop and test a prototype packaged multi-channel DWDM transmitter device capable of operating in an avionics representative, 9 micron mode field diameter single-mode, fiber optic cable plant environment (i.e., �40 to +100 �C ambient operational temperature range, 100 meter long transmission distance). Characterize the packaged multi-channel DWDM transmitter (minimum of two channels with a development path for expanding it to four channels) device over the full ambient temperature range. Include aircraft representative fiber optic cable plant interconnect technology in the testbed.

PHASE III: Design, build and test an engineering model multi-channel DWDM transmitter (minimum of four channels) for use in next generation avionics WDM network evaluation test-beds.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Private sector applications include computer and telecommunication networks incorporating fiber optic interconnects.

REFERENCES:
1. M.W. Beranek and A.R. Avak, "Improving avionics fiber optic network reliability and maintainability via built-in test," IEEE/AIAA 25th Digital Avionics System Conference proceedings, 2006.

2. M.W. Beranek, A.R. Avak and R.L. Van Deven, "Military digital avionics fiber optic network design for maintainability and supportability," IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Society Systems (AESS) magazine, vol. 21, no. 9, pp. 18-24, 2006.

3. A.S. Glista, Jr. and M.W. Beranek, "Wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical technology solutions for next generation aerospace platforms," IEEE/AIAA 22nd Digital Avionics Systems Conference proceedings, 2003.

4. M.W. Beranek, "Fiber optic interconnect and optoelectronic packaging challenges for future generation avionics," Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6478, pp. 647809-1 to 647809-18, 2007.

KEYWORDS: Multi-channel Transmitter; Tunable Laser Transmitter; Wavelength Division Multiplexing; Fiber Optics; Packaging; Built-In Test

TPOC: (301)342-9102
2nd TPOC: (301)342-9115