IEC TR 63367:2021 pdf download – Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Summarising results of round robin on connector end face scratch recognition and verification by automated microscopes.
1 Scope This document summarises the results of a round robin on connector end face scratch recognition and verification by automated microscopes. The prime objectives of the study were: • determine the amount of variability (repeatability and reproducibility) when different state- of-the-art inspection systems are assessed against IEC 61 300-3-35:201 5; • evaluate any system-to-system variation in the quantity of reported scratches; • provide recommendations to improve the repeatability and reproducibility of fibre optic inspection systems. 2 Normative references There are no normative references in this document. 3 Terms and definitions No terms and definitions are listed in this document. ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses: • ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp • IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
Following visual inspection, the optical performance of each specimen was qualified at 850 nm wavelength and the end-face geometry was determined. The attenuation and return loss were measured per IEC 61 300-3-4, insertion method (B), and IEC 61 300-3-6, method 1 : OCWR, respectively. The results for the single-fibre specimens is reported in Annex B (Table B.1 and Figure B.1 to Figure B.2). End face geometry of the single-fibre specimens was estimated using IEC 61 300-3-47 and summarized in Annex B (Table B.2). The multi-fibre specimens had specific fibres of each ferrule identified for the study. However, attenuation, return loss, and geometry measurements were made across all fibres of the interconnection. A key to identify the fibre specimen inspected during the round robin is provided in Annex B (Figure B.3).
5.3 Single-mode specimens The single-mode end faces were binned into categories, which either had 1 to 3 scratches that pass through the fibre core or pass through zone A (without intersecting the core). These scratches were approximately 1 µm width. In addition, a single-mode specimen group without any observable scratches was produced. A summary describing all of the single-mode variants is provided in Table 2. A total of nine single-mode, single-fibre specimens were produced and nine multi-fibre interfaces (with three specimens per group). Images for each of the specimens are given in Figure 3 for single-fibre and Figure 4 for the multi-fibre groups.
6 Results 6.1 Reported data The participant results were collected and binned into eight different groups, determined by ferrule type, fibre type, and end face zone. Participants only reported the quantity of significant scratches per specimen when assessed to IEC 61 300-3-35:201 5. No widths were reported. Single-fibre specimens were measured by all participants; however, some inspection systems were not capable of measuring multi-fibre specimens so only five out of eight participants were able to provide results for these specimens. Results for all specimens can be found in Annex C (Figure C.1 to Figure C.4 for multimode and Figure C.5 to Figure C.8 for single-mode).
5 Specimen preparation 5.1 General The round-robin test specimens were fabricated to consider various interface configurations and conditions. Specimens were arranged into both cylindrical ferrule single fibre (1 ,25 mm zirconia material) and rectangular ferrule multi-fibre types (1 2-fibre MT with polyphenylene sulphide [PPS] material). Both multimode (50 µm core diameter) and single-mode specimens were produced. 5.2 Multimode specimens The multimode specimens were further organised into categories that had pristine fibre end- face surface quality, and ones with low-level, light scratches (produced with a 1 µm diamond film) which still meet functional performance criteria. Furthermore, specimens were created with 1 to 3 heavy scratches (produced with a 5 µm diamond suspension), as well as a control without detectable heavy scratches. A summary describing all of the multimode variants is provided in Table 1 . A total of twelve multimode single-fibre specimens and twelve multi-fibre specimens (with three specimens per group) were produced. Images for each of the specimens are given in Figure 1 for the single-fibre and Figure 2 for the multi-fibre groups. All images were taken with an end face inspection system utilizing blue-light illumination, an objective having an NA of 0,40 and a magnification of 400 x (see Figure 1 to Figure 4).