Standard, multipurpose fiber optic transceivers (MFOX)

The MFOX family of standardized fiber-optic communications modules developed for the USAF is described. The MFOX transceivers are designed to operate at wavelength 1.3 microns under severe environmental conditions; their compact subhybrid construction and flexible electronic interfaces permit multiple applications and mountings. The family comprises five performance levels: (1) 1-10,000-kb/s digital and (2) 0.2-50 Mb/s digital using LEDs, (3) up to 10-MHz-bandwidth analog using modulator/demodulators with level (2) transceivers, (4) 0.2-400-Mb/s digital and 70-MHz IF analog using multimode lasers, and (5) 200-1000-Mb/s digital using a single-mode laser; levels (4) and (5) are currently in the experimental stage. Drawings, diagrams, graphs, and tables of physical and optical specifications are provided.