Lockheed Martin Corporation

Airborn Inc.

Martin Marietta Corporation

Lance A Wood

Terrance L Worchesky

Jason Paul Smith

Paul J Caldwell

Timothy John Wasland

Rebekah Jean Mitchell

Harsha Krishna Kopuru

Feng Liu

Timothy John Wasaland

A space active optical cable (SAOC) includes a cable including one or more optical fibers, and two or more electrical transceivers on opposing ends of the cable and interconnected by the cable. Each of the electrical transceivers includes an enclosure that encloses one or more light sources, one or more light detectors, and control electronics. Also included in the enclosure are a coupling medium to couple light into and out of the one or more optical fibers. The coupling medium can be reflecting surface or an on-axis mount. The enclosure provides a suitable heat propagation and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and the cable and the two or more electrical transceivers are radiation resistant. SAOC features optionally support a health check algorithm that allows trending optical performance in the absence of an optical connector and a potential surface treatment to increase nominally low emissivity of an EMI conductive surface.

Space active optical cable

An optical switch is disclosed having what may be characterized as an optically-induced grating. One embodiment of such an optical switch includes first and second waveguides. An optical mask is formed on a side of the first waveguide opposite that which faces the second waveguide. Multiple slits exist in this optical mask in alignment with an output from a light source. Changing the mode of this light force changes the output of the light source directed onto the slits, and changes the state of the first and second waveguides from being optically decoupled to optically coupled.

Optical switch with optically-induced grating

A demultiplexer is disclosed. The demultiplexer incorporates a reflective grating that is associated with a first waveguide through which a multiplexed optical signal may be transmitted. Individual wavelengths of light that have been reflected by the reflective grating are able to pass through a barrier layer which separates the first waveguide from a second waveguide. A plurality of photodetectors are associated with the second waveguide to read out the individual, wavelength-specific optical signals. The reflective grating is preferably formed on a surface of the first waveguide which projects away from the second waveguide, while the photodetectors are preferably formed at least in part by processing a surface of the second waveguide that projects away from the first waveguide. Both polarities of light are preferably accounted for/collected by the grating as well.

Dual-side waveguide-based wavelength demultiplexer

A built-in-test capability is provided for determining the integrity of an optical fiber connecting: (a) an optical firing unit having a primary light source emitting a first wavelength, a test light source emitting a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a mechanism both for coupling light from the light sources to the optical fiber and also for coupling the return light to a detector; and (b) an optically-initiated device which is coupled to a second end of the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a photoluminescent material disposed at a junction of the optically-initiated device and the second end of the optical fiber. In test mode, this photoluminescent material is exposed to the test light source, which results in photoluminescence at a third wavelength. The photoluminescent light travels through the optical fiber to the detector, and when detected indicates optical fiber continuity. The present system can also measure the temperature at the distal end of the optical fiber by detecting changes in the peak wavelength or amplitude associated with the third wavelength as a function of temperature. When the system is used to initiate ordnance, the detector can also detect the initial flash of light produced by the ordnance to provide confirmation that the ordnance has ignited.

Photoluminescence built-in-test for optical systems

A built-in-test capability is provided for determining the integrity of an optical fiber connecting: (a) an optical firing unit having a primary light source emitting a first wavelength, a test light source emitting a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a mechanism both for coupling light from the light sources to the optical fiber and also for coupling the return light to a detector; and (b) an optically-initiated device which is coupled to a second end of the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a photoluminescent material disposed at a junction of the optically-initiated device and the second end of the optical fiber. In test mode, this photoluminescent material is exposed to the test light source, which results in photoluminescence at a third wavelength. The photoluminescent light travels through the optical fiber to the detector, and when detected indicates optical fiber continuity. When the system is used to initiate ordnance, the detector can also detect the initial flash of light produced by the ordnance to provide confirmation that the ordnance has ignited.

A built-in-test capability is provided for determining the integrity of an optical fiber connecting: (a) an optical firing unit having a primary light source emitting a first wavelength, a test light source emitting a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a mechanism both for coupling light from the light sources to the optical fiber and also for coupling the return light to a filter/detector; and (b) an optically initiated device which is coupled to a second end of the optical fiber. The apparatus includes a photoluminescent material disposed at a junction of the optically initiated device and the optical-fiber-second-end. This photoluminescence material photoluminesces at a third wavelength (when exposed to the test light source), and the light travels through the optical fiber and, when detected indicates optical fiber continuity.

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Winter Park, CO, United States of America

Lance A Wood