Project Title:

Tunable Laser Diode Spectrometer for Microgravity Respiratory Oxygen Analysis

  94-1	03.06	5225

  Tunable Laser Diode Spectrometer for Microgravity Respiratory 
  Oxygen Analysis

Abstract:

In recent years, the two significant developments in airplane 
manufacturing industry have been:  
(1) the introduction of digital electronic control of flight 
functions (fly-by-wire) and
(2) the use of composite structures for the airframe and 
flight surfaces.
The use of composite structures with fly-by-wire aircraft require 
heavy shielding from electromagnetic interference (EMI), 
electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and High Intensity Radio Frequency 
(HIRF). Electromagnetically generated noise is induced on both 
sensor power and sensor signal lines. Photonics Research 
Incorporated (PRI) proposes to alleviate both problems by 
replacing sensor signal lines with optical fibers and eliminating 
sensor power lines through the development of entirely passive 
flight control sensors.
The innovation proposed here by PRI is to employ the LASE-ARRAYTM 
transmitter technology to parallel optical fiber links and 
passive fiber-optic sensors to control flight operations. The 
LASE-ARRAY, PRI' s tradename for the vertical-cavity surface-
emitting laser (VCSEL), is an enabling technology that can 
provide fiber-based, passive sensors having:  
ú immunity to EMI and EMP,
ú light weight,
ú compactness,
ú fault-tolerance,
ú low-cost.
Over 1000 pounds of EMI shielding can be elminated from transport 
aircraft by using fiber-based sensors.

The proposed program has potential for many private sector 
applications. First, the avionics systems, which constitute over 
half the cost of an aircraft, will be revolutionized. 
Commercialization of a low-cost, reliable, robust fly-by-light 
system would help the U.S. maintain its leadership in the 
aircraft industry. Furthermore, similar sensors are required for 
harsh industrial environment monitoring, automotive, petroleum, 
chemical, high radiation, power generation and metals refining 
industries and on countless factory floors. The market 
projections and manufacturing cost analysis indicates the U.S. 
possesses tens of thousands of jobs based on $25 Billion/year and 
$500K revenue/employee.  

Key Words

Phontonics Research Incorporated
2402 Clover Basin Dr, Suite A
Longmont, CO 80503