With the development of technology, the next generation […]
With the development of technology, the next generation of optical fiber connectors may not require ferrules
What should the next generation of optical connectors look like? According to the EU VECTOR project, at least there is no ferrule. The full name of the VECTOR project is GM's new easy-to-install connector technology to accelerate the deployment of optical access networks in Europe. Its goal is to develop low-cost, field-assembled optical fiber connectors for optical access networks. Now, according to the project developers, with the support of high-tech technologies such as heat shrinkable material technology, nanomaterials, high-tech adhesives, micro-manufacturing and micro-machine alignment systems, their predetermined goals have been achieved.
Companies involved in the development of the VECTOR project include CommScope (formerly Tyco Raychem Belgium), DEMCON Advanced Machinery in the Netherlands, Celoplas of Portugal (in the development of precision components), the photonics project and Ghent University of Vrije University in Brussels, Belgium, and Telecom Italia, SF. CommScope is the project coordinator.
It is said that this kind of optical connector without ferrule technology can already achieve insertion loss performance exceeding the B level under the IEC 61300-3-34 standard, and does not need to clean the coupling parts, and the connector has its own automatic cleaning function. The technical feature is also a set of fully automated installation tools that can be installed directly by ordinary workers.
CommScope Stephane Berghmans said when introducing this project that the existing connector technology requires a lot of preliminary preparation and requires high-level workers. This makes connector installation slow and unreliable, and it also increases the cost to an unreasonable level. The degree of management. The goal of the VECTOR project is to make using optical connectors as easy as using electrical connectors.
Telecom Italia and Deutsche Telekom have tested this connector in their own laboratories. Telecom Italia said the test results can catch up with the level of optical convergence. Deutsche Telekom said that a large number of laboratory tests have shown the excellent performance of this connector, and this product can be deployed in all applications where a Class B connector is required. The VECTOR project started in October 2012 and was announced to end on September 30. The total investment is close to 4.5 million euros. The application prospects demonstrated by the VECTOR project are undoubtedly exciting, and the test results of Deutsche Telekom and Telecom Italia are even more encouraging.
