AEROSPACE / WHITE PAPER CONNECTING THE FUTURE OF FLIGHT
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Expanded Beam (EB) Connectors
EB connectors expand and re-focus light at the
fiber end faces and allow an air gap in the optical
pathway (Figure 5). The EB concept uses optical
lenses (typically a 3-mm ball lens for dedicated
inserts or 1.25-mm lens for EB16 termini) to
expand and collimate the beam emitted from
the launch fiber.
Without physical fiber contact, EB connectors
are suited to demanding environments
by offering:
• Sealed optical interface
• High vibration and shock resistance
• High mating-cycle durability
• Tolerance to dirt and debris
• Easy cleaning
The expanded beam remains collimated across
the mechanical interface until the receiving
lens focuses the beam onto the receiving
fiber. Standard channel counts for EB-specific
connectors are 1, 2, 4 and 8. When used
in rugged and tactical environments, EB
connectors are usually terminated on robust,
metal-tubed, and avionics/flight-grade cable.
Innovative EB16 optical termini employ the same
technology from well-established dedicated
inserts into termini that can be used in 38999
Series III and EN4165 size 16 cavities to allow
for flexibility and higher fiber counts.
Fiber and copper can coexist in many
applications by selecting appropriate media
converters, transceivers, and hybrid termini.
FIG 5: Expanded beam (EB) connector. (Courtesy TE Connectivity)
Transmit
Fiber
Recieve
Fiber
Expanded Beam
Ball Lens
