System Design

The fundamental element of a reliable, functional aerospace fiber optic application is the system design. It is the system designers' task to define the most efficient and cost effective methods of transmitting the optical signal, while providing a physical layer with sufficient performance, reliability, and availability for the application.

This document provides guidance on key areas of system design to achieve this goal:

• Section 3.0, System Definition, describes the system requirements information that is necessary to begin the process and the topology options available to a system designer.

• Section 4.0, System Design, describes the process that a system designer should go through when deciding on a network design or topology for a particular application including the procedure of power budgeting.

• Section 5.0, Component Selection, covers the actual hardware options that the designer will need to select from.

Topology design, power budgeting and component selection are discussed in that order but in reality system design is an iterative process and all three topics should be considered in parallel.

Additional sections provide guidance on system design considerations for aircraft installation and safety.

Information defined in the ASSC/120/2/81: Guide to Avionic Fiber Optic System Design document and European Norm EN 4533: Fiber Optics Handbook has been used extensively in the preparation of this document.