Clear Align: Fiber Optic Systems Low Phase Noise Fiber Lasers

"NGC utilizes Clear Align for activities related to advance laser technology and optical testing. Their support resulted in efficient solutions to technical issues and their expertise allowed our team to incorporate advanced technologies we otherwise would not have been able to integrate into our products. Their technical and management teams were a pleasure to work with and were responsive to our cost and schedule needs.

We look forward to continuing our association with Clear Align and gladly recommend their services to others."

Member of Technical Staff

Fiber Optic and Laser Integration from Man Portable to Space Qualified

Integration

From simple fiber coupling to integration of complex board-mounted subsystems, Clear Align has in-house capabilities to address your fiber-optic needs. Clear Align engineers are highly skilled in the design, assembly and qualification of both fiber-optic components and systems.

Fiber Optic Integration and Optoelectronic Packaging

We perform precision system integration and hermetic optoelectronic packaging processes in an ESD-safe cleanroom environment. Assembly operations include:

• Board-level assembly and testing
• Hermetic packaging qualified to space and MIL 883 standards
• Assembly of fiber lasers including ultra low noise lasers
• Fiber coupling and attachment
• Epoxy and eutectic solder diebonding
• Wirebonding
• Hermetic sealing with real-time in-line RGA analysis
• Solder assembly methods
• Low-outgas epoxy assembly
• Fusion splicing
• Bare and clad fiber handling

Our in-depth knowledge of fiber-optic and optoelectronic components includes:

• Lasers and LED light sources
• Receivers and detectors
• Optical switches, modulators and DWDMs
• Erbium and ytterbium fiber amplifiers
• Isolators, couplers and circulators

Clear Align’s engineering staff has expertise with a wide variety of lasers, including solid-state and fiber-

optic lasers with high output powers and short pulse lengths. Our innovative designs take advantage of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) parts and harness laser physics in a creative manner to produce cost-effective systems.

We specialize in eye-safe laser systems for demanding military and surveillance applications such as laser rangefinding and active imaging capabilities. Most of our laser systems are designed for operation at a wavelength of 1550 nm to insure eye-safe systems.

Our fire-polished fusion splicing process for multiple types of fibers, including single-mode, multimode, polarization-maintaining and double-clad fibers, assures that your network will be assembled with minimal losses and maximum reliability. These skills enable us to build efficient and functional systems that meet or exceed customer requirements.
Examples of systems we have engineered include:

• Optical switching matrix for communications
• Fiber multiplexing systems for space applications
• Pulsed laser system development for laser rangefinders
• Laser module assemblies for sensor systems

Test and Qualification
We provide rigorous optical and environmental testing using power meters, spectrum analyzers, wavemeters, autocorrelators, polarization extinction ratio (PER) meters and a list of environmental and mechanical equipment that assures robust design and integration.

We can mechanically and environmentally qualify systems and subsystems in house to the following standards:

• Space and airborne specifications
• Military specifications
• Communications specification

Space-Qualified Fiber-Optic Production
Clear Align has extensive experience delivering space-qualified fiber-optic devices to prime contractors and government agencies. We would be pleased to discuss your space or other high-reliability program needs.