Laser Processing of Next Generation Optical Fibre Interconnects

该项目将开发一种改变游戏规则的基于激光的光纤连接器处理方法的原型，用于高速、低成本的光纤终端。互联网的每年2倍增长和超高清视频的兴起意味着光纤将取代电缆成为传输数据的唯一可行方法，无论是在数据中心的数百万台服务器和交换机之间，还是在高清晰度视频设备和电视之间。这就产生了对100亿光缆的需求，所有这些光缆都需要光纤端接具有高于光学质量和一致的光洁度。当今工业使用的主要光纤端接技术涉及使用低成本劳动力手动抛光光纤端接。这会产生不一致的结果，并且与自动化或所需的容量增加不兼容。OpTek以前曾开发并申请了一种激光处理光纤的方法，该方法用于高精度、低容量的利基应用，可以容忍高成本。此外，作为概念验证项目的一部分，OpTek在内部开发了在低成本平台上实现所需质量的能力。本项目将该平台转换为原型机器，以匹配这些大批量应用程序所需的目标价格。这将基于前一个概念验证阶段开发的创新激光器和光学安排，与光纤终端所需的实际光学性能标准相匹配。原型将适合在英国制造，为OpTek和英国提供一种方式，参与并受益于从铜到光纤的转变带来的千载难逢的机会，否则只能适用于低成本基础地区。

A Prototype of a game-changing laser-based method for processing optical fibre connectorsfor high-speed, low-cost termination of optical fibres will be developed within this project.The 2X annual growth of the internet and rise of ultrahigh definition video means fibre opticsis taking over from electrical cables as the only viable method of moving data even shortdistances, whether that is between the millions of servers and switches in a data centre orbetween high-definition video equipment and the television. This is creating a demand for 10billion fibre optic cables, all of which need the ends of the optical fibre to be terminated withan optical quality and consistent finish.The dominant optical fibre termination technology used by industry today involves manuallypolishing the fibre end using low cost labour. This produces inconsistent results and is notcompatible with automation or with the step-up in volume required.OpTek have previously developed and patented a method of laser processing fibres that isused in high-precision low-volume niche applications that can tolerate high cost. Additionally,OpTek has internally developed the capability to achieve the required quality in a lower-costplatform as part of a Proof-of-Concept project.The present project translates this platform into a Prototype machine to match the target pricesdemanded in these high-volume applications. This will be based on the innovative laser andoptical arrangements developed in the previous Proof-of-Concept stage, matched to the actualoptical performance criteria required of the optical fibre terminations.The Prototype will be suitable for manufacture in the UK, providing a way for OpTek and theUK to participate and benefit from the once in a lifetime opportunity driven by the shift formcopper to fibre which would otherwise only be appropriate to low-cost-base geographies.