Expanded Beam Optical Interconnect technology (EBO) probably is a solution to meet the performance and scalability needs of next-generation data centers and advanced network architectures.
Four Key Features of Expanded Beam Connectors
- Lens-Based Design: the EBO Connectors use lenses (often spherical or aspherical) to expand the light beam emitted from the transmitting fiber and collimate it into a parallel beam. The collimated beam is then focused back into the receiving fiber by a corresponding lens in the mating connector.
- Air Gap Between Fibers, The expanded beam design eliminates the need for direct physical contact between the fiber end faces, reducing mating and contamination risks.
- Ruggedized: These connectors are highly resistant to environmental factors such as dust, dirt, moisture, and vibration, making them ideal for military, aerospace, industrial, and outdoor applications.
- Ease to Clean and Maintain: The air gap and lens design make cleaning easier, as contaminants on the lens surface that easy cleaned by wipes, not as difficult as cleaning the end face of the fiber.
Applications of Expanded Beam Connectors
- Military and Defense: Ruggedized communication systems, field deployable networks.
- Aerospace: Avionics, in-flight entertainment systems, and satellite communications.
- Industrial: Harsh factory environments, oil and gas exploration, and underwater systems.
- Telecommunications: Outdoor and undersea fiber optic networks.
Comparison with Physical Contact Connectors
