Cost-Effective Fabrication of Self-Made 1×12 Polymer Optical Fiber-Based Optical Splitters for Automotive Application

Abstract

Problem statement: Multimode fiber cables can conduct many light rays and can operate free of disruption and with a greater bandwidth than a wireless connection. However, due to a slight variation in the speed of the light rays through the multimode fiber, a signal transmitted by all of these rays becomes spread out. Consequently, the signals become broader and therefore fewer signals fit in the fiber, limiting the transmission capacity. These demands grow almost daily. Hence new ways of splitting methods must be found to satisfy all application demands, especially related to automotive application. Approach: Home-made 1×12 optical splitter based on polymer optical fiber material base is one of the most innovative technologies on optical component which can be applied on some useful application. A perform technique had been used to fabricate kind of splitter. In order to develop such an efficient optical device which can be integrated into the body of automotive field, research with a good specification-oriented study tent to be conduct and it must be passed through a well-planned fabrication technique together with a proper characterization process. Multimode Step-Index Polymer Optical Fiber (SI-POF) type made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with Ø_core = 1 mm and NA: 0.50 fully utilized in this research, as PMMA is one of the most commonly used optical materials. This material has been chosen as a base of splitter body in a fused-taper-twisted shape, produced by a unique fabrication stages. PMMA-POF can easily be used near it operating temperature between -40°C to +115°C. Results: By injecting 650 nm wavelength of red LED, characterization process start plays an important role in investigating level of efficiency of the device. Some parameters, such as optical output power and power losses on the devices were observed. Although the maximum output power efficiency of the splitter is about 40% but it can be improved gradually through experience and practice. Conclusion: The fabrication process is simple, easy and suitable to be used by household. Moreover, the users can determine the size of the fabricated device themselves. The POF-based optical 1×12 splitter had been suggested to be applied into automobile application to overcome blind spot area tracking problem as a one of low-cost solution in the future and also in home networking to avoid the bottleneck occurs between ONU and electronic appliances, resulting increase the speedy of data communication.