ElectroniCast Fiber Optic Sensors: Global Market Forecast & Analysis

Fiber optic sensor technology has experienced impressive growth since ElectroniCast first started providing market and technology analysis of the subject since the early 1980s.  In fact their analysts were tracking the various advanced photonic technologies, since 1976.

This is the ElectroniCast forecast of global market consumption of Fiber Optic Sensors.  The 2011-2016 quantitative market forecast data presented in this study report are segmented into the following geographic regions, plus a Global summary:

·        The Americas (North America, Central and South America)

·        EMEA (Europe, Middle Eastern countries, plus Africa)

·        APAC (Asia Pacific)

The market forecast data is presented and segmented in two main sections:

           

·        Fiber Optic Point Sensors: Component-Level

·        Distributed Continuous Fiber Optic Sensor Systems

Fiber Optic Point Sensors  The ElectroniCast market forecast of the Fiber Optic Point Sensors is segmented by the following end-user applications:

·        Manufacturing Process/Factory

·        Civil Engineering/Construction (buildings, bridges, tunnels, etc)

·        Military/Aerospace/Security

·        Test & Measurement used in Telecommunication, CATV, Private/Enterprise

·        Biomedical/Science

·        Petrochemical/Energy/Utilities/Natural Resources

·        Automotive/Vehicle

Sensing/Measuring (Measurand)    The ElectroniCast Fiber Optic Point Sensor Forecast further segmented by the following sensing/measuring quantity (measurand) types:

·        Mechanical Strain

·        Temperature

·        Pressure

·        Chemical, Gas, Liquid

·        Vibration, Acoustic, Seismic

·        Displacement, Acceleration, Proximity

·        Electric and Magnetic Field - Fiber Optic Sensors

·        Rotation (such as Fiber Optic Gyroscopes: FOGs)

Distributed Continuous Sensors     The market forecast of the Distributed Continuous Sensors is further segmented by application and by technology, as follows:

·        Manufacturing Process/Factory

o       Interferometric

o       Raman back-scattering 

o       Brillouin waves

·        Civil Engineering/Construction (buildings, bridges, tunnels, etc)

o       Interferometric

o       Raman back-scattering 

o       Brillouin waves

·        Military/Aerospace/Security

o       Interferometric

o       Raman back-scattering 

o       Brillouin waves

·        Petrochemical/Energy/Utilities/Natural Resources

o       Interferometric

o       Raman back-scattering 

o       Brillouin waves

·        Biomedical/Science

o       Interferometric

o       Raman back-scattering 

o       Brillouin waves

ElectroniCast counts each Point fiber optic sensors as one unit; however, the volume/quantity (number of units) of Distributed Continuous fiber optic sensors is based on a complete optical fiber line/link, which we classify as a “system”.

A Distributed Continuous fiber optic sensor system involves the optic fiber with the sensors embedded within the fiber, plus electronics, connectors, data acquisition module, software, and miscellaneous components; however, ElectroniCast quantifies the optical fiber, cable (fiber jacket) and the sensor elements in this forecast data (only).

It is important to note that POINT sensors are often used in Distributed fiber optic sensor systems (installed at multiple-points/ point-to-point); however, we count their use in the Point fiber optic sensor category and not in the continuous (non-stop) distributed sensor category.

           

Fiber Optic Sensors: Global Market Forecast            Depending on the application, fiber may be used because of its small size, or because no electrical power is needed at the remote location, or because many sensors can be multiplexed along the length of a fiber by using different wavelengths of light for each sensor, or by sensing the time delay as light passes along the fiber through each sensor.

The consumption value of fiber optic sensors is shown in Figure 1.  During the 2011-2016 timeline, we forecast that the consumption (use) value will grow at an impressive average annual rate of 20.5% from $1.34 billion to $3.39 billion.  Market forecast data in this study report refers to consumption (use) for a particular calendar year; therefore, this data is not cumulative data.

           

The 2011-2016 quantitative market forecast data presented in this study report are segmented into the following geographic regions, plus a Global summary:

·        The Americas (North America, Central and South America)

·        EMEA (Europe, Middle Eastern countries, plus Africa)

·        APAC (Asia Pacific)

Extensive Technology Review  This report by ElectroniCast Consultants provides a very deatiled review of applicable technologies, including:

·        Interferometry

·        Intensity

·        Polarization

·        Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)

·        Raman back-scattering

·        Fluoresence

·        Brillouin waves

·        Doppler Anemometry

·        Spectroscopy

·        Waveguides/ Specialty Optical Fiber

·        Optrode

Competition             Also included in this market forecast and analysis report from ElectroniCast is an extensive list of fiber optic sensor manufacturers and related companies, along with a matrix table classifying the types of sensors technologies.  Market share estimates for the leading competitors are also provided. 

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Sensing              Monitoring and data transmission using fiber optic sensors and optical fiber in cabling is now commonplace in various applications, via intrinsic fiber optic sensors or extrinsic fiber optic sensors.  With an intrinsic sensor, one or more of the sensing/measuring quantity or physical properties (measurand) of the optical fiber passes through or inside the optical fiber and therefore experiences a change.  Extrinsic sensing takes place in a region outside of the optical fiber and the optical fiber acts as a transmission media of light to and from (linking) the sensing interface.

The worldwide consumption value for fiber optic intrinsic sensors is forecast to increase at an average annual growth rate of nearly 20.7% during the 2011-2016 timeframe covered in this market forecast study by ElectroniCast; the use of fiber optic interface extrinsic sensors is forecast to increase at 18.15% per year.

 About ElectroniCast

ElectroniCast, founded in 1981, specializes in forecasting technology and global market trends in fiber optics communication components and devices, as well providing market data on light emitting diodes used in lighting.

As an independent consultancy we offer multi-client and custom market research studies to the world's leading companies based on comprehensive, in- depth analysis of quantitative and qualitative factors. This includes technology forecasting, markets and applications forecasting, strategic planning, competitive analysis, customer-satisfaction surveys and marketing/sales consultation. ElectroniCast, founded as a technology-based independent consulting firm, meets the information needs of the investment community, industry planners and related suppliers.

Project Director - ElectroniCast

Stephen Montgomery, MBA/Technology Management, President at

ElectroniCast Consultants.

Mr. Montgomery joined ElectroniCast over 20-years ago (in 1990) and has specialized in photonics and fiber optic components market/technology forecasting and client consultations.  In addition to serving as President, he has been the Director of the Fiber Optics Components group since 1994. He has given numerous presentations and published a number of articles on optical communication markets, technology, applications and installations.

Since 1994 (18-years), Mr. Montgomery has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of LIGHTWAVE Magazine (Pennwell Publishing).  Since 2003 (almost 10-years) he has been a regular contributor, writing a monthly article covering optical communication networks for OPTCOM Magazine (Japan)

Contact me for more information: Stephen Montgomery

Importance of residual stresses in the Brillouin gain spectrum of single mode optical fibers

Researchers from EDF R&D, Draka Communications, Institut Telecom/Telecom ParisTech, and the Université Paris Est, reported that residual stresses inside optical fibers could impact significantly on Brillouin spectrum properties. The researchers analyzed the importance of internal stresses on the Brillouin Gain Spectrum (BGS) for a conventional G.652 fiber and compared modeling results to measurements. Then the residual internal stresses have been investigated for a set of trench-assisted fibers: fibers are coming from a single preform with different draw tensions. Numerical modeling based on measured internal stresses profiles are compared with corresponding BGS experimental results. Clearly, Brillouin spectrum is shifted linearly versus draw tension with a coefficient of −20MHz/100g and its line-width increases.

Source: Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 2, pp. 1790-1797 (2012)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.001790

Impact of ASE on Brillouin scattering of a single-frequency signal

Researchers from Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., ant the Centre for Quantum-Engineering and Space-Time Research – QUEST, experimentally investigated the influence of amplified spontaneous emission within the Brillouin gain bandwidth on the Brillouin scattering of a single-frequency signal. The experiments were performed for the case of artificial amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) injected in backward direction into a passive fiber, as well as in forward direction of a low-power fiber amplifier.

A significant influence could be observed, when the ASE was counter-propagating to the signal. Injecting 160.6 nW of ASE within the Brillouin gain bandwidth led to a decrease of about 3 dB of the SBS-threshold of an approximately 335 m long passive fiber from about 80 mW to less than 40 mW. At a fixed signal power of 81 mW the backscattered power and the power in the Brillouin scattered Stokes maximum increased by a factor of 19.

Source: Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 10, pp. 10572-10582 (2012) http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.010572

AFL Protects Fujikura Technology Wins Lawsuit

AFL Protects Fujikura Technology, Wins Lawsuit against Fiberoptic Hardware, LLC

6/21/2012

United States District Court for the District of Arizona has rendered its final decision in the lawsuit entitled AFL Telecommunications LLC v. Fiberoptic Hardware, LLC. The court entered judgment against Fiberoptic Hardware, and in favor of AFL, including both an award of monetary damages and a permanent injunction, based on AFL's claims that Fiberoptic Hardware had sold unauthorized Fujikura fusion splicers in violation of AFL's rights in the Fujikura trademark and that Fiberoptic Hardware had falsely advertised those splicers.

The judgment was based on AFL's contentions that the Fujikura fusion splicers sold by Fiberoptic Hardware, which were intended for sale outside North America, were materially different from authentic Fujikura fusion splicers authorized for sale in the U.S. in that, among other things, their software was not properly licensed for use in the U.S. and had been modified to alter the language display, and that their sale was likely to confuse purchasers. The judgment was also based on AFL's contention that Fiberoptic Hardware's advertising of those splicers as "new" constituted false advertising.

"AFL is pleased with the judgment, and we will continue to defend Fujikura's technology, patents and copyrights on an ongoing basis to protect our customers from substandard products and services," stated Steve Althoff, EVP for AFL's Equipment Business. "When companies like Fiberoptic Hardware sell altered products, our customers are the real losers. They believe that they are receiving authentic Fujikura goods directly from Fujikura, and they come to find out that they are not. They get confused, and they feel violated because the trust is lost. AFL and Fujikura have a solid reputation, and we will continue to uphold the exceptional standards we have set forth."

AFL filed the case in May 2011, and the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction in October 2011. The permanent injunction entered on May 31, 2012 prohibits Fiberoptic Hardware, along with its officers, employees, and others working with it, from "importing, exporting, distributing, circulating, selling, offering for sale, advertising, promoting or displaying any fusion splicer bearing any of the FUJIKURA Marks" if the splicers have been modified or are not authorized for sale in the U.S. Fiberoptic Hardware is owned by George Kyrias and Chris Wood is the company's sales manager.

AFL is the exclusive distributor of Fujikura fusion splicers and its operating software for the countries located within North America. Fujikura is the worldwide owner of the copyright for the operating software that controls all of its "FSM" fusion splicers. For additional information about AFL and its products, visit www.AFLglobal.com.


About AFL
AFL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujikura, provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility, broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, medical, renewable and intelligent grid. The company's diverse product portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and training. AFL's service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the foremost communications companies supporting both the central office and outside plant areas.

Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Europe and Asia. The company is headquartered in Spartanburg, SC, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For more information, visit http://www.aflglobal.com/

About Fujikura
Fujikura is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and manufactures products for the telecommunications, electronics, automotive and energy sectors. Fujikura's fusion splicers are well-known for performance, productivity and reliability. AFL offers the most extensive line of Fujikura fusion splicers and related equipment for field splicing and factory/laboratory use. All fusion splicers sold by AFL are backed with a factory warranty and a 24/7 technical support team. For more information, visit http://www.fujikura.com/.

Source Link: http://www.aflglobal.com/Company/Company-Profile/News/AFL-Protects-Fujikura-Technology,-Wins-Lawsuit-aga.aspx

Oclaro and Opnext Complete Merger

Oclaro Now #2 Provider of Optical Components, Modules and Subsystems

SAN JOSE, Calif. and FREMONT, Calif., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Oclaro, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR), a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser solutions, and Opnext, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPXT), a global leader in the design and manufacture of optical modules, components and subsystems, today announced shareholder approval of their merger, which closed July 23, 2012.

The combined company will continue to operate under the Oclaro name, and today unveiled a new logo and brand identity to represent the creation of a new leader in the optical industry.

"The new Oclaro boasts one of the broadest and vertically-integrated product lines in the industry. Our vision is that the power and speed of light will change the way we live and work," said Alain Couder, chairman and CEO, Oclaro. "By transmitting data over fiber at increasing speeds, our customers have made possible new and fast growing applications such as social networking, video streaming, and cloud computing. The ability to control the power of lasers as a heat and energy source is transforming healthcare, material processing and consumer electronics. Through this merger, we have assembled the optical technologies, products and expertise at the heart of this new world of innovation."

Oclaro is now the second largest provider of optical components, modules and subsystems to the optical communications, industrial and consumer laser markets, with approximately $833 million in combined revenues for the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011,[1] and approximately 3,200 employees worldwide. The company brings together over 30 years of combined optical technology innovation from leading optical technology companies such as Hitachi, Nortel, Alcatel, Marconi, Corning, Opnext, Bookham and Avanex.
Oclaro's portfolio of products includes the components, modules and subsystems that transmit, receive, and amplify light signals over fiber optic networks to deliver a new range of high speed services in the core optical network, enterprise and data center markets. Its laser diode solutions deliver the power needed for cutting, marking, welding, heating and illumination for a broad range of new applications in the consumer electronics, industrial and medical markets.

The New Board of Directors and Management Team
As previously announced, Alain Couder was named chairman and CEO of the combined company, with Opnext Chairman and CEO Harry Bosco joining the board of directors. The board also includes the following independent directors: Joel A. Smith III, lead independent director; Edward Collins, director; Kendall Cowan; director; Greg Dougherty, director; Lori Holland, director; Dr. David Lee, director; Marissa Smith, director; and Bill Smith, director.

Reporting to Couder on the executive team are:

• Jim Haynes, President, Global Business;
• Yves LeMaitre, Chief Commercial Officer;
• Terry Unter, Chief Operating Officer;
• Kei Oki, President, Oclaro Japan, Inc.;
• Tadayuki Kanno, Chief Operating Officer, Oclaro Japan, Inc.; GM, Modules and Devices Business Unit
• Jerry Turin; Chief Financial Officer;
• Kate Rundle, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary;
• Kathy Zwickert, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Communications;
• Bob Quinn, Chief Information Officer.

Full biographies of the management team and the Board of Directors are available on Oclaro's website at: http://www.oclaro.com/.
Transaction Details
Opnext shareholders will receive a fixed ratio of 0.42 shares of Oclaro common stock for every share of Opnext common stock they own. Details on how to exchange shares can be found on the investor section of the Oclaro website at: http://www.oclaro.com/

Conference Call
Oclaro management will host its regularly scheduled quarterly conference call on July 31, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT and will discuss the strategy of the new Oclaro in more detail.  To access the conference call, please dial 1-480-629-9761. A live webcast and accompanying presentation of the conference call will be available in the Investors section of Oclaro's website at http://www.oclaro.com/.  An audio replay of the conference call will be available until August 7, 2012. To access the replay, please dial 1-858-384-5517 with pin 4553192.

About Oclaro
Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR) is one of the largest providers of lasers and optical components, modules and subsystems for the optical communications, industrial, and consumer laser markets.  The company is a global leader dedicated to photonics innovation, with cutting-edge research and development (R&D) and chip fabrication facilities in the U.S., U.K., Italy, Switzerland, Israel, Korea and Japan. It has in-house and contract manufacturing sites in China, Malaysia and Thailand, with design, sales and service organizations in most of the major regions around the world. For more information, visit http://www.oclaro.com/.

Fiber Optic Circulators Global Market Forecast and Analysis (2011-2016)

Published:       July 16, 2012

Text Pages:     274

Also Included: Excel worksheets – Market Forecast

Fee:                From $3,400

Web:              www.electronicast.com

The deployment of optical fiber in the metro/access, the continuing demand for upgrading networks to accommodate rapidly increasing bandwidth requirements, plus the need for additional monitoring and testing of the optical fiber networks will drive the steady consumption of fiber optic circulators.

As terrestrial national backbone and undersea systems approaching Tb/s capacities, advanced fiber-optic components, such as fiber optic circulators, are key in enabling DWDM systems with narrow channel spacing to achieve the large numbers of channels required. Fiber optic circulators are used with erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA), fiber optic sensor applications, dense WDM (DWDM), optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM), optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR fiber optic test equipment), SANs (Storage Area Networks), bi-directional transmission systems, dispersion compensators, and other devices.  

This report by ElectroniCast Consultants provides a detailed fiber optic circulator market forecast for each year, 2011-2016.  The forecast is presented in terms of Quantity (number of units), Average Selling Prices (ASPs) per unit and Consumption Values.  The forecast data for the following regions, plus a Global summary:

·        America (South, Central and North America)

·        EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

·        APAC (Asia Pacific)

The forecasts are presented in the following application segments:

·        Telecommunications

·        Private Data Networks

·        Cable TV

·        Military/ Aerospace

·        Specialty Applications

Additionally, the fiber optic circulator market is presented by the following port-count configurations:

·        3 - Ports

·        4 - Ports

·        More than 4 - Ports (> 4 - Ports)

Fiber Optic Circulators are non-reciprocal devices, which means that changes in the properties of light passing through the device are not reversed when the light passes through in the opposite direction. The optical device is commonly used in a wide variety of systems, here are just a few examples: dispersion compensation, optical sensors, optical amplifiers, WDM systems, optical add/drops multiplexing (OADMs) and test/measurement instruments such as optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs), remote fiber (optic) test systems (RFTS) and other test equipment.  

Fiber optic circulator functionality is an excellent candidate for integrating with a transmitter and receiver into a single package.  Circulators provide an ideal solution for coupling devices into a fiber optic network without the inherent 3dB loss of an optical coupler. Circulators directional functionality enable simultaneously adding and dropping signals from a fiber as well as coupling other optical signal processing devices. 

Fiber optic circulators typically fall into two main classes: 4-port waveguide circulators based on Faraday rotation of propagating waves in a magnetized material, and 3-port "turnstile" or "Y-junction" circulators based on cancellation of waves propagating over two different paths near a magnetized material.

APAC to Win Market Share Lead       During 2011-2016, the value is forecast to increase at an average annual growth rate of 7.84 percent.  The consumption value is forecast to increase with rising quantity growth partially offset by declining average prices.

The American region (South, Central and North America), was the leader in terms of relative market share in 2011 with the consumption value of fiber optic circulators; however, the Asia Pacific region (APAC) region led by “green-field” telecommunication deployment is forecast to take the market share lead in 2013.

The Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) consumption of fiber optic circulators is forecast to lag behind; growing faster than the American region, but only one-third as fast as the APAC region.

Consumption is based on the geographical (region) location where the fiber optic circulator is first used into a higher-level sub-component, component, or apparatus.  All values and prices, reported by ElectroniCast Consultants, are at factory as-shipped levels, and are in current dollars, which include the effect of a forecasted 5 percent annual inflation rate over the forecast period.

3-Port Leads in Fiber Optic Circulator Consumption       In terms of worldwide volume (number of units), the 3-Port fiber optic circulators hold an estimated 88% market share in 2012.  Well-over 80% of the 3-Port fiber optic circulators in 2012 are used in Telecommunication applications.

Telecommunications is set to maintain its dominant market share lead throughout the forecast period (2011-2016), in all Port-counts.  Specialty applications (R&D laboratory, sensors, test equipment, oil/gas, other) are set to maintain the position of second-place, according to ElectroniCast.  Figure 1 shows the global consumption volume market share (%) estimate of the fiber optic circulator market for this year, segmented by Port-count. 

MTP-to-LC assemblies now achieve 0.4-dB loss

July 11, 2012 SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Responding to the need for data centers to reduce the amount of data lost within their network, CABLExpress® recently lowered the maximum assembly loss of its Skinny-Trunk® fiber optic harnesses and trunking MTP® to LC cables to 0.4dB. The Skinny-Trunk line of products allows data centers to adhere to the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, or TIA-942, which dictates that a structured cabling environment is the ideal environment for data centers to grow and adjust to changing needs. The lower dB loss rates of the fiber optic harnesses and trunking cables with MTP® to LC connectors offsets the data lost due to adding additional mating points typical of a structured cabling system. “As data centers grow and adopt next-gen networking technologies, fiber network cables must be able to support stricter loss requirements,” says Matt Graham, Director of CABLExpress. “We’re providing the high-performance fiber optic cables necessary to meet these requirements so that data centers can be ready for these changes.”   Earlier this year, CABLExpress lowered the maximum insertion loss of its Skinny-Trunk assemblies to 0.25dB by making improvements to the cable manufacturing process and extensive production testing. "CABLExpress continues to lead the industry in dB loss with our Skinny-Trunk fiber optic cabling system," says Graham. "We want to deliver the best value with our products and lowering dB loss provides a maximum return on our customers’ cable investments." The Skinny-Trunk fiber optic assembly comes standard with a lifetime warranty. Source Link:  http://www.cablexpress.com/about-us/news-press-releases/cablexpress-improves-performance-of-fiber-optic-cables-to-maximum04db-loss/