Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) Market and Technology Assessment Study - 2008 Edition

E.0 Executive Summary

E.1.0 Introduction

E.2.0 Main Markets for POF

• E.2.1 Automotive
• E.2.2 Consumer Electronics - 1394b
• E.2.3 Industrial Control
• E.2.4 Interconnection
• E.2.5 Home Networks
• E.2.6 Homeland Security

E.3.0 POF as a Disruptive Technology

E.4.0 Market Forecasts

E.5.0 POF Technology Trends

• E.5.1 Fiber Loss Trends
• E.5.2 Fiber Bandwidth Trends
• E.5.3 Step Index and Graded Index PMMA
• E.5.4 Perfluorinated GI-POF Developments

E.6.0 Growth of POF Activity World Wide

E.7.0 Major Impediments to Market Growth

E.8.0 Opportunities for Suppliers

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Some Advantages of POF

• 2.1 Ease of Connectorization
• 2.2 Durability
• 2.3 Large Diameter Requires Less Attention to Tolerances
• 2.4 Low Cost Systems
• 2.5 Low Cost Fibers Possible
• 2.6 Low Cost Transceivers
• 2.7 Space Division Multiplexers
• 2.8 Low Cost Receivers
• 2.9 Smaller Connector Size
• 2.10 Low Cost Test Equipment
• 2.11 Flexibility to Shock and Vibration
• 2.12 Ease of Maintenance
• 2.13 Ease of Handling
• 2.14 Minimal Safety Problems Compared to GOF
• 2.15 Bandwidth Growth Potential
• 2.16 New Fiber Developments
• 2.17 Wide Range of Potential Markets
• 2.18 Standards are Available in Major Markets
• 2.19 PF Can Use Low Cost GOF components

3.0 Comparison Between copper, Glass Optical Fiber (GOF) and POF

• 3.1 An Installers View
  • 3.1.1 Installation Issues
  • 3.1.2 Testing

4.0 POF Historical Development and Organization

• 4.1 History
• 4.2 POF Organization Worldwide
  • 4.2.1 POF Developments in Japan
  • 4.2.2 POF Developments in U.S.
  • 4.2.3 POF in Europe
    • 4.2.3.1 POF in France
    • 4.2.3.2 POF in Germany
  • 4.2.4 POF in Korea
  • 4.2.5 POF in other Countries

5.0 Fiber Technology

• 5.1 Basic of Optical Fiber Systems
• 5.2 Types of Fibers
  • 5.2.1 Step Index Fibers
  • 5.2.2 Multimode Graded Index Fibers
  • 5.2.3 Single Mode Fibers (SMF)
• 5.3 Plastic Optical Fibers (POF)
  • 5.3.1 Materials Used in POF
  • 5.3.2 Attenuation of PMMA Plastic Optical Fibers
  • 5.3.3 Perfluorinated POF
  • 5.3.4 Bandwidth of Plastic Optical Fibers
  • 5.3.5 Impact of Numerical Aperature (NA)
  • 5.3.6 Other Methods to Increase Bandwidth
  • 5.3.7 Increased Bandwidth Using Low NA Sources
  • 5.3.8 Graded Index PMMA POF (GI-POF)
  • 5.3.9 Perfluorinated (PF) Graded Index POF (PF GI-POF)
  • 5.3.10 Photonic Crystal Polymer Optical Fibers
  • 5.3.11 High Temperature POF
  • 5.3.12 Summary Performance of PMMA and Perfluorinated Fibers
  • 5.3.13 Manufacturing Methods for POF
• 5.4.1 Impact of Numerical Aperture (NA)
• 5.4.2 Other Methods to Increase Bandwidth
• 5.4.3 Increased Bandwidth using Low NA Sources

6.0 Light Sources

• 6.1 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
  • 6.1.1 Low NA LEDs
  • 6.1.2 Low NA LED Source for ATM POF Data Link
  • 6.1.3 Materials and Wavelengths for LEDs
• 6.2 Resonant Cavity LEDs (RC-LEDs)
• 6.3 Laser Diodes
• 6.4 Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs)
  • 6.4.1 Data Links using VCSELs

7.0 Connectors

• 7.1 POF Connectorization Methods
  • 7.1.2 ATM Forum Connector Requirements
• 7.2 POF Connector Types
  • 7.2.1 PN Connector
  • 7.2.2 Small Multimedia Interface (SMI) Connector
  • 7.2.3 IDB-1394 Automotive Connector
  • 7.2.4 Agilent Rimpless Connector
  • 7.2.5 Packard Hughes Interconnect Connector
  • 7.2.6 Optical Mini Jack
  • 7.2.7 Panduit Poly-Jack
  • 7.2.8 MOST Connector
  • 7.2.9 Splicing

8.0 Couplers

• 8.1 Optical Busses and Cross Connects

9.0 Switches

10.0 Integrated Optics

• 10.1 Planar Waveguides

11.0 Polymeric Lenses

12.0 Fiber Bragg Gratings

13.0 POF Optical Amplifiers

14.0 Test Equipment

• 14.1 OTDRs

15.0 POF Systems - Ethernet Example

16.0 POF Hardware

17.0 Illustrative Examples of POF Data Communications Applications

• 17.1 Introduction
• 17.2 Range of Applications
• 17.3 Opto Couplers
• 17.4 Printed Circuit Board Interconnects
• 17.5 Digital Audio Interface
• 17.6 Prionic Data Links
• 17.7 Automotive Applications
  • 17.7.1 Automotive Harness Wiring Trends
  • 17.7.2 Increase in Electronic Content
  • 17.7.3 Automotive Standards
  • 17.7.3.1 MOST Standards
  • 17.7.3.2 1394 Automotive Working Group and IDB
• 17.8 Local Area Networks
  • 17.8.1 Introduction
  • 17.8.2 Netronix
  • 17.8.3 Codenoll
  • 17.8.4 Mitsubishi Rayon - Minimap
  • 17.8.5 NEC Ethernet
• 17.9 IEEE 1394 - Fire Wire
  • 17.9.1 Market Potential
  • 17.9.2 Transmission Media fir 1394B
  • 17.9.3 Home Networks
  • 17.9.4 1394 Sample Costs
• 17.10 Toll Booths
• 17.11 Factory Automation
• 17.12 Medical
• 17.13 High Voltage Isolation
• 17.14 Home Network
• 17.15 Test Equipment
• 17.16 Security
• 17.17 EMI/RFI
• 17.18 Hydraulic Lifts
• 17.19 Trains
• 17.20 CAN
• 17.21 Point of Sale Terminals
• 17.22 Robotics
• 17.23 Programmable Controller
• 17.24 Video Surveillance
• 17.25 High Speed Video
• 17.26 Video
• 17.27 POF & Wireless

18.0 POF Cost Comparisons

• 18.1 Connector Cost Trade Offs

19.0 POF and Related Standards

• 19.1 Standard Drivers
• 19.2 Trends in POF Standards
• 19.3 History of the Development of POF Standards
• 19.4 Process Control
  • 19.4.1 Profibus
    • 19.4.2.2 Sercos
    • 19.4.3.2 Interbus
• 19.5 Automotive
  • 19.5.1.1 MOST
  • 19.5.1.2 IDB-1394B
• 19.6 Computer Standards
  • 19.6.2.2 ATM
  • 19.6.2.3 IEEE 1394B
• 19.7 Home Standards
  • 19.7.2.2 CEBUS
  • 19.7.2.3 ATM Forum/Residential Broadband
  • 19.7.2.4 IEEE 1394/Home Network
  • 19.7.2.5 Consumer Electronics

20.0 Components Testing

• 20.1 Introduction
• 20.2 IEC
• 20.3 VDI/VDE

21.0 POF Components - Present Status

• 21.1 POF Fiber Suppliers
  • 21.1.1 Mitsubishi Rayon
  • 21.1.2 Asahi Chemical
  • 21.1.3 Toray Industries Inc
  • 21.1.4 Asahi Glass
  • 21.1.5 Nanoptics
  • 21.1.6 OFS- Fitel
  • 21.1.7 Redfern Polymer
  • 21.1.8 Korean
  • 21.1.9 Nexans
  • 21.1.10 Fuji Film
• 21.2 Light Source Suppliers
  • 21.2.1 Light Emitting Devices
  • 21.2.2 Resonant Cavity LEDs (RC-LEDs)
  • 21.2.3 Laser Diodes
  • 21.2.4 VCSELSs
• 21.3 Photo Diodes Suppliers
• 21.4 Connector Suppliers
• 21.5 Coupler Suppliers
• 21.6 Test & Equipment Suppliers
• 21.7 Splicing Equipment Suppliers
• 21.8 Media Converters Suppliers
• 21.9 Data Links Suppliers
• 21.10 Other Passive Components
• 21.11 Other Active Components

22.0 POF Component Price Trends

• 22.1 Impact of the MOST Standard
• 22.2 POF Fiber Pricing Trends
  • 22.2.1 Step Index Fibers
  • 22.2.2 Graded Index PMMA Fibers
  • 22.2.3 POF Graded Index Fibers
• 22.3 Cable Assemblies
• 22.4 POF Transmitters and Receivers
• 22.5 Graded Index PMMA and PF POF Pricing
• 22.6 Conclusion on Fiber Pricing

23.0 Market Drivers

• 23.1 Technology
• 23.2 Standards
• 23.3 Market Needs
• 23.4 Government Funding
• 23.5 Education of End Users
• 23.6 Marketing
• 23.7 Large Player
• 23.8 POF Systems Suppliers

24.0 POF Market Projections and Forecasts

• 24.1 Automotive Market
• 24.2 Consumer Electronics and 1394b
• 24.3 POF Industrial Controls Markets
• 24.4 Home Markets
• 24.5 Interconnect Market
• 24.6 Total POF Market

25.0 POF Activities World Wide

• 25.1 United States
• 25.2 Japan
• 25.3 Europe
  • 25.3.1 France
  • 25.3.2 Germany
• 25.4 Korea
• 25.5 Other

26.0 Profile of POF Companies Past and Present

• 26.1 1394 Trade Association
• 26.2 3M
• 26.3 Acome
• 26.4 Amoco Chemical Co.
• 26.5 Agilent Technologies Inc
• 26.6 Alps Electric Co. Ltd
• 26.7 Asahi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd
• 26.8 Asahi Glass Co. Ltd
• 26.9 AT&T Bell Laboratories
• 26.10 Augat/Aster
• 26.11 Avaya Communication
• 26.12 BAE Systems
• 26.13 Bayer AG
• 26.14 BDM
• 26.15 BDM International
• 26.16 BOSCH
• 26.17 Boston Optical Fiber (BOF)
• 26.18 Bridgestone Corp
• 26.19 Brookhaven National Laboratory
• 26.20 California Eastern Labs
• 26.21 Center National d' Estudes des Telecommunications (CNET)
• 26.22 COBRA Institute
• 26.23 Codenoll Technology Corp
• 26.24 Corning Cable Systems Newstadt
• 26.25 CRHEA
• 26.26 Daimler Chrysler AG
• 26.27 Delphi Connection Systems
• 26.28 Delphi Electric Systems
• 26.29 Delphi Packard Electric
• 26.30 Deutsch Telekom AG
• 26.31 DieMount Solutions
• 26.32 Digital Optronics
• 26.33 Dow Chemical USA
• 26.34 DuPont
• 26.35 FCI Automotive
• 26.36 FCI Automotive (Germany)
• 26.37 FCI France
• 26.38 Federal Institute f or Materials Research and Testing

Appendix 1 - Agilent Crimpless Connectors