N221-D01 TITLE: DIRECT TO PHASE II – High-Speed Digital Fiber-Optic Transmitter
OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: General Warfighting Requirements (GWR);Networked C3
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platforms;Electronics
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop and package an uncooled digital fiber-optic transmitter that operates at 100 Gbps, binary, non-return-to-zero for air platform fiber-optic link applications.
DESCRIPTION: Current airborne military (mil-aero) core avionics, electro-optic (EO), communications, and electronic warfare systems require ever-increasing bandwidths while simultaneously demanding reductions in space, weight, and power (SWAP). The replacement of shielded twisted pair wire and coaxial cable with earlier generation length-bandwidth product, multimode optical fiber has given increased immunity to electromagnetic interference, bandwidth, throughput, and a reduction in size and weight on aircraft [Ref 22]. The effectiveness of these systems hinges on optical communication components that realize high per-lane throughput, low latency, large link budget, and are compatible with the harsh avionic environment [Refs 1-7].
In the future, data transmission rates of 100 Gbps and higher will be required. Substantial work has been done to realize data rates approaching this goal based on the use of shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) and coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) technologies. To be successful in the avionic application, existing non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signal coding with large link budget and low latency must be maintained. Advances in optical transmitter designs are required that leverage novel laser diode technology, semiconductor process technology, circuit designs, architectures, and packaging and integration techniques.
SWDM transmitters should be compatible with the SWDM4 wavelength grid (844 to 948 nm center wavelength range) [Ref 8]. CWDM transmitters should be compatible the CWDM4 wavelength grid (1271 to 1331 nm center wavelength range) [Ref 9]. Both transmitter types should support non-forward error correction application links as described in 100G CLR4 [Ref 10]. Optical Multimode 4 (OM4) and Optical Multimode 5 (OM5) optical fiber has been optimized for 100 Gbps and higher SWDM links [Refs 11–12]. The length of the transmitter fiber pigtails should be 72 in. (182.88 cm), +/- 2 in. (5.08 cm) long, terminated with ferrule connector/physical contact (FC/PC) connectors [Ref 20]. The fiber pigtails should be strain relieved (1 kg pull test) and protected via 900-micron buffered fiber. The FC/PC connectors must operate at room temperature. FC/PC polished endfaces should be per SAE AS5675A [Ref 21]. A fiber-optic boot or appropriate heat shrink tubing to control pigtail bend radius is required. Evaluation boards should be made of materials that operate from -40 °C to +95 °C.
The proposed avionics SWDM and CWDM transmitters must operate over a -40 °C to +95 °C temperature range, and maintain performance upon exposure to typical naval air platform vibration, humidity, temperature, altitude, thermal shock, mechanical shock, and temperature cycling environments [Refs 13–19]. The transmitter must support a 15 dB link loss power budget when paired with a receiver without forward error correction sensitivity performance and meeting similar environmental requirements. The SWDM transmitter must be compatible with receivers operating SWDM wavelength band. The CWDM transmitter must be compatible with receivers operating in the CWDM band. The SWDM and CWDM transmitters must be capable of transmitting multi-wavelength signals transmitted over 50 µm core multimode fiber. The transmitters would include four wavelength selected lasers, each operating at 25 Gbps to achieve an aggregate transmitter bandwidth of =100 Gbps. The transmitter optical subassembly optically multiplexes the four transmitter laser output wavelengths onto one 50 micron core multimode optical fiber. The transmitter must allow for 1 X 10–12 bit error rate operation in a 100 m long link. The electrical input of the transmitter must be differential current mode logic.
PHASE I: For a Direct to Phase II topic, the Government expects that the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-type effort. Have developed a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic requirements of the stated objective above. The below actions would be required in order to satisfy the requirements of Phase I:
FEASIBILITY DOCUMENTATION: Offerors interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their response to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met (i.e., the small business must have performed Phase I-type research and development related to the topic, but from non-SBIR funding sources) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology as stated in Phase I above. Documentation should include all relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the offeror and/or the principal investigator (PI). Read and follow all of the DON SBIR 22.1 Direct to Phase II Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Instructions. Phase I proposals will NOT be accepted for this topic.
PHASE II: Optimize the transmitter circuit and package designs. Build and test the transmitter circuit and packaged transmitter prototype to meet performance requirements. Characterize the transmitter over temperature, and perform highly accelerated life testing. If necessary, perform root cause analysis and remediate circuit and/or packaged transmitter failures. Verify OM5 fiber performance for CWDM transmitter based links. Create multimode fiber specification for CWDM transmitter based links. Deliver two prototype fiber pigtailed SWDM and two prototype fiber pigtailed CWDM transmitter prototypes and evaluation boards for 100 Gbps digital fiber-optic communication link application.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Finalize the prototype. Verify and validate the transmitter performance in an uncooled 100 Gbps fiber-optic transmitter that operates from -40 °C to +95 °C. Transition to applicable naval platforms.
Telecommunication systems, fiber-optic networks, and data centers would benefit from the development of high-speed fiber-optic transmitters.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Digital Fiber-Optic Transceiver; Binary Non-return to zero signaling; 100, 200 Gigabits per Second; Packaging; Highly Accelerated Life Testing; Data rate
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the overall DoD 22.1 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/ for any updates. The DoD issued its 22.1 SBIR BAA pre-release on December 1, 2021, which opens to receive proposals on January 12, 2022, and closes February 10, 2022 (12:00pm est). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (December 1, 2021 thru January 11, 2022) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on January 12, 2022 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. SITIS Q&A System: After the pre-release period, proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. Topics Search Engine: Visit the DoD Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoD Components participating in this BAA.
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