Image courtesy ODU

ODU‘s Expanded Beam Performance technology is an advanced fibre-optic solution, offering high-end transmission characteristics over many mating cycles. The high optical performance remains unchanged even under mechanical stress, environmental influences and harsh ambient conditions.

Since there is no physical contact between the ferrule ends, the connections are relatively insensitive to contamination, with no cleaning required under normal conditions - 50,000 mating cycles at –65 °C to +105 °C

• Insertion loss
  Multimode: < 0.15 dB (typical) / < 0.3 dB (maximum)
  Singlemode: < 0.35 dB (typical) / < 0.7 dB (maximum) 

• Return loss
  Multimode: > 45 dB (typical) / ≥ 35 dB (minimum)
  Singlemode: > 60 dB (typical) / ≥ 55 dB (minimum)

Fibre-Optic solutions according to Vita 95 & Vita 96
VITA is a US-based standards organisation accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to develop critical and intelligent embedded systems, across many markets.  They are soon to publish new Mil/Aero standards and these new ODU connectors will be compliant.

The Expanded Beam Performance ferrules are the heart of the new portfolio. Each ferrule can connect 12 optical fibres via a non-contact lens system. A space saving cassette arrangement of the ferrules allows the system to be expanded to up to 96 optical fibres. This has resulted in three products, in differing configurations:

ODU Backplane
Connects modules to the mission computer and allows them to be quickly replaced. Thanks to insensitivity to dust and pollution, it allows for quick and easy maintenance. The connectors are available in three different dimensions, as defined in upcoming standards VITA 96.1, 96.4 and 96.5

ODU Tactics
Combining the proven MIL-DTL 38999, Series III connectors with the highly innovative Expanded Beam Performance technology, the VITA 95 interconnect system takes fibre optic transmission in aircraft to a new level. It is available in four shell sizes: 11, 13, 15 & 17.

ODU AMC Series T
An advanced circular connector tested to MIL-DTL 38999 standards. This I/O connector is available with push-pull or thread lock mechanism and provides perfect data integrity with a smaller outer diameter and higher fibre density than traditional solutions

ODU have also  launched a new stand-alone website to support this major initiative:
www.odu-aerospace.com