Deutsch has launched the RSC IllustrisTM Expanded Beam connector to enhance the ever popular RSC physical contact connector.

The RSC IllustrisTM incorporates EBOSA (patent pending) technology from GigaCom, the Swedish based Fibre Optic component manufacturer and builds on the popular Deutsch RSC physical contact connector. The RSC IllustrisTM offers enhancements over existing expanded beam technology by using a precision aligned Expanded Beam optical Assembly (EBOSA) to make the optical interface less sensitive to dust to give a repeatable typical insertion loss of around 1.0 - 1.5dB for Singlemode and 0.5 - 1.0dB for Multimode fibres.

The technology incorporated into this connector uses free air communication which improves transmission efficiency whilst expanding the optical signal upto 2000 times its original size.

Unlike existing standards, the RSC Illustris can be easily maintained and repaired in the field using standard tooling making it suitable for industrial
and military ground vehicles as well as the aerospace market.

Noel Thornton, Deutsch Fibre Optic Product Manager commented "Until now, the technology for expanded beam did not give the performance or maintenance aspects that form the basis of all Deutsch Fibre Optic products. Now we have incorporated the EBOSA technology from GigaCom, we have the confidence that the technology fits well with our expectations."