ARINC 804-1

The term “optoelectronic active device” covers a variety ofdevices used in the conversion of electrical to optical data andvice versa. Transmitters, receivers, transceivers, and transpondersare all examples. This document covers any active device that couldbe used in conjunction with the passive physical layer described inARINC Specifications 801 and 802, and Report 803.

Active devices can vary in their level of functionality and inthe number of sublayers supported within the physical and data linklayers (as defined in the ISO OSI reference model). These factorswill influence the electrical interfaces for the device. Anythingfrom an LED in a TO-can to a transponder incorporating multiplexingand de-multiplexing functions in a 300-pin package can be describedas an optoelectronic active device.

The avionics environmental requirements are key, given thenature of the technology, for the active device manufacturer andend user. The guidelines included in this document are writtentaking the avionics environment into consideration.

The inherent limitations of this technology must be understoodto determine how to manage these components in the avionicsapplication. Many COTS components may be found to be suitable foravionics applications when suitably managed through an ECMP processsuch as that of IEC TS62239. However, some avionics applicationsmay require customization of the COTS component or a completecustom solution to fully comply with the avionics applicationrequirements.

COMMENTARY: The following component types are excluded from thescope of this document:

• Optoelectronic active devices for plastic optical fiber (POF)- the physical layer described in ARINC Specifications 801 and 802does not currently include plastic optical fiber.

•Optoelectronic active devices for wavelength divisionmultiplexing (WDM) – ARINC Specifications 801 and 802 are not yetsupporting WDM passive components (filters, couplers) so activedevices for WDM are similarly left for future expansion.

•Optoelectronic active devices for ribbon fiber – on the samebasis, parallel optical active devices are omitted until ribbonfiber is included in ARINC Specifications 801 and 802.

For the purpose of this document it is important to distinguishbetween guidelines and requirements. All information in the mainbody of the document (environment, qualification test procedures,lifetime, optical interface, electrical interface, packaging,dealing with COTS, references to other standards) is presented asguidance with the caveat that the requirements of any particularaircraft platform or customer would take precedence.

It is necessary to treat the information contained in theappendices as optical interface requirements, as opposed toguidance, to allow for interchangeability of compliant devices. Theactive device definition contained in the appendices is required byothers using ARINC Specifications such as ARINC Specification664.

Edition:

07

Published:

11/15/2007

Number of Pages:

56

File Size:

1 file , 540 KB