Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors

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Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors 5 Test method Fig.3 System block diagram The High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) and the Temperature Cycling Test were run using optical connectors as specimens. Table 2 shows the test conditions, and Table 3 shows the specimens. The test conditions complied with the Telcordia-GR-1221-CORE standards. The specimens consisted of single mode *7 SC and FC connectors. As seen in Fig.4, the specimens were connected in groups of three optical connectors with fiber and with the measurement points n = 5 (groups). The measurement system was used to measure insertion loss and return loss. Table 4 shows the measurement conditions. The test specimens were measured after each 1000 hours of the High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) and after the completion of the Temperature Cycling Test. A Ferrule Tip Condition Surveyor (Direct Optical Research Company) was used to measure ferrule tip curvature radius, *8 eccentricity, *9 and pistoning. Failure was determined using the Telcordia-GR-1221-CORE evaluation standards shown in Table 5. The Temperature Cycling Test was not effective for determining degradation, since changes occurred in both insertion loss and return loss in the optical fiber temperature characteristics in this test. The PVC sheath *10 coating in particular exhibited major changes at low temperatures, and so the test was run using Hytrel ® core *11 , which exhibited minimal loss at low temperatures as seen in Fig.5. - 4 - Espec Technology Report No20
Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors Table 2 Reliability test conditions Test items Test Conditions High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) Temperature Cycling Test 85°C, 85%rh, 2000 h -40°C ←→ 85°C, 1 hour each, 500 cycles Fig.4 Test method Table 4 Measurement conditions Items Details Measurement items Insertion loss and return loss Light source wavelength 1310 nm, 1550 nm Light source power 1 mW 6 Measurement intervals Test results Every 10 to 15 min. Specimens No. of specimens Evaluation method - 5 - Table 3 Specimens FC connectors, SC connectors (single mode) n = 5 Insertion loss and return loss (optical component environmental test system) Tip condition measurement (pistoning, eccentricity, and curvature radius) Fig.5 Fiber temperature characteristics Table 5 Evaluation standards (from Telcordia GR-1221-CORE) Requirement Objective Insertion loss change 0.3dB 0.2dB Return loss change 6-1 Test results from the High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) 5dB 2dB Fig.6 shows the measurement results for the light source wavelength of 1310 nm for the first 1000 hours of the 2000-hour High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat). After 1000 hours and again after 2000 hours, we verified that fluctuation did not exceed any evaluation standards. In addition, identical trends were exhibited for both light source wavelengths, 1310 nm and 1550 nm. No major difference was seen between the FC connectors and the SC connectors. Espec Technology Report No20
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