SSH EN 4533-001:2006

Aerospace series - Fibre optic systems - Handbook - Part 001: Termination methods and tools

Scope

1.1 General
This Part of EN 4533 examines the termination aspects of fibre optic design for avionic installations. By termination is meant the mechanism used to interface from one component (usually a fibre) to another. This is normally performed by a connector, which aligns the fibre with another component (usually another connector) to a sufficient accuracy to allow continued transmission of an optical signal throughout the operational envelope.
This Part will explain the need for high integrity terminations, provide an insight into component selection issues and suggests best practice when terminating fibres into connectors for high integrity applications. A detailed review of the termination process can be found in Clause 4 of this part and is organised broadly in line with the sequence of a typical termination procedure.
The vast number of cable constructions and connectors available make defining a single termination instruction that is applicable to all combinations almost impossible. Because of the problems of defining a generic termination instruction, this handbook has concentrated on defining best practice for current to near future applications of fibre optics on aircraft.
This has limited the studies within this part to currently available ‘avionic’ silica fibre cables and adhesive filled butt-coupled type connectors. Many of the principles described however would still be applicable for other termination techniques. Other types of termination are considered further in the repair part of this handbook.
1.2 Need for high integrity terminations
In order to implement a fibre optic based system on an aircraft it is vital to ensure that the constituent elements of the system will continue to operate, to specification, over the life of the system. An important aspect of this requirement is the need for reliable interconnection components. (continued)