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Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors Report 1 Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors Yuichi Aoki Technical Development Headquarters, Reliability Research Section Kishichi Sasaki Reliability Center for Electronic Components of Japan, Environmental Testing Laboratory Kiyoyuki Mutaguchi Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited, Connector Division W e performed the High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) and the Temperature Cycling Test on optical connectors in conformance to the Telcordia standards. During these reliability tests, automatic measurements of the optical characteristics of the specimens were carried out and physical changes were compared. During the evaluation following the tests, we checked for physical changes in the tips of the optical connectors. We found pistoning changes occurring on the tips of the connectors, especially during the Temperature Cycling Test. However, these pistoning changes caused almost no perceptible changes in optical characteristics. The ferrule tips were distorted after 2000 hours at 85°C and 85 percent relative humidity, exhibited flattening distortion. 1 Introduction Next-generation technology infrastructure using optical fiber has been on the march toward achieving widespread use during recent years. Acceptance of this technology has resulted in demand for lower cost and miniaturized optical components, but such improvements must be based on information from reliability testing assuring that quality can be maintained. Testing to evaluate reliability of optical components is generally performed in conformance to the Telcordia standards. *1 These standards include requirements for simultaneously measuring optical characteristics of multiple specimens during environmental testing. 1) Measurement methods are not affected by measurement margin of error when measuring with the connectors either connected or disconnected. Additionally, automatic measuring is capable of efficiently gathering data at short measurement intervals. MTF (Mean Time to Failure) calculations are easy to perform using this system, for which published examples are available. 2,3) This report will focus on optical connectors, which exhibit the basic characteristics of optical components. We shall also consider the results of reliability testing that incorporates automatic measuring in conformance to the Telcordia standards. Fig.1 Overview of optical components - 1 - Espec Technology Report No20
Evaluating the reliability of optical connectors 2 The Telcordia standards that require simultaneously measuring optical characteristics of multiple specimens are mainly concerned with passive optical components. In this report the term "passive optical components" refers to such items as fiber, connectors, switches, couplers, attenuators, and all types of filters. Table 1 shows reliability tests for typical optical components. 3 Test standards for passive optical components Table 1 Telcordia test standards Standard Title GR-326-CORE Generic Requirements for Single-Mode Optical Connectors and Jumper Assemblies GR-1209-CORE Generic Requirements for Passive Optical Components GR-1221-CORE Generic Reliability Assurance Requirements for Passive Optical Components Structure of optical connectors and factors affecting their reliability Optical connectors are used to connect optical fiber. Photo 1 shows some typical connectors. Fig.2 shows the composition of the optical connectors used in these tests. The fiber is inserted into the housing, which is called a zirconia ferrule, and the fiber is held in place with a hardening epoxy adhesive. The adhesive used for the connectors is Epo-Tek353ND (Epoxy Technology, Inc.). The degradation of this adhesive is a crucial element leading to the loss of the reliability of the optical connectors. A major factor producing degradation is the absorption of humidity, which causes degradation to occur over time. 1~5) Photo 1 Optical connectors The High Temperature Storage Test (Damp Heat) is used to evaluate humidity-induced degradation. As Fig.2 shows, adhesive degradation resulted in pistoning changes to the ferrule tip on the end of the optical connectors. A significant amount of pistoning causes such problems as an increase in air layers and an increase in leakage of insertion light. These problems result in an increase in optical loss. The Temperature Cycling Test was also run to evaluate the progression of cracking caused by micro-cracks in the fiber. - 2 - Espec Technology Report No20
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