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Innovation and emerging technologies

Sample innovation case study
Photonics: Fibre bragg gratings

This case study has been developed to indicate the type of information you will need to source and how to present the information required for the innovation case study. It is only provided as a guide and should not replace your own research. The research process for your own case study will provide far greater understanding of innovation and design than could be gained by reading a sample case study.

This case study features Fibre bragg gratings, an emerging technology which is an innovation in the field of photonics.

Photonics is the scientific and engineering field concerned with the generation of, manipulation, detection, and transmission, often over long distances, of light. (Promotional handout, University of Sydney)

Background

Theoretically an optical fibre can carry millions of telephone calls or data signals at any time and at an incredible speed. In reality this is far from possible. Photonics, which is the science and technology of the manipulation of the fundamental particles of light known as photons, has set out to take communication closer to these theoretical possibilities.

A fundamental purpose that teams of research scientists are working on is the improvement of communication networks. Several specialists focus on optical communication devices.

Glass has been used to produce optical fibres for networks and problems arise when the signal does not retain its strength for the entire time or distance that is required. Most designs for sending a signal over a long distance require a booster mechanism to be positioned periodically along the pathway. The booster or amplifier can re-energize the signal and ensure it continues with the same strength.

Poladian, Dr. L. (2001) New Waves in Communication Millenium Science. Produced by The Science Foundation for Physics, University of Sydney.

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Need

The long range need is increased bandwidth and speed in the data communication industry. The need addressed by the innovation is minimisation of signal distortion in optical fibre cables.

Innovation

The Fibre bragg grating allows the distortion of optical signals to be undone or compensated.

The Fibre bragg grating is manufactured in the core of a glass fibre. Using highly sophisticated technology the core of the fibre is manufactured with alternating and variable regions of high and low refractive indices called fringes.

grating2

enlarged schematic of the grating in the core of the optical fibre

Function

When signals are sent from the sender to the receiver they can deteriorate. They may become weaker or lost, distorted or scrambled. The main distortion that can occur is dispersion of the light signal, just like a rainbow. The Fibre bragg grating is a device that counteracts the dispersion of the light pulses through the grating, the region of high and low refractive index. With different fringe spacing, control of the dispersion can be further improved.

Aesthetics

The Fibre bragg grating exists within the core of the optical fibre and cannot be detected by the human eye. Its aesthetics are appreciated by skilled technicians and scientists who understand the finesse of the design.

Success

The Fibre bragg grating is a successful innovation due to technological breakthroughs enabling precision manufacture to specification.

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History

The Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) was established in 1992 bringing together research groups from the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne and New South Wales and the Australian National University and industry participants Telstra, Siemens, Fibrenet, Transgrid and NEC. A range of companies have resulted from the CRC.

The Fibre bragg grating was an early development of these teams. With the sale of the company Indx, the only company that the CRC has been prepared to sell, ownership of the technology also went. JDS Uniphase has since purchased Indx with an agreement to remain and manufacture the grating in Australia for at least five years.

The original patent for a grating was held in the USA. Australian research scientists obtained the rights to licence the basic technology without charge as part of an Australian Defence off-set obligation. The Australian government was purchasing Black Hawk helicopters and it is customary to arrange technological exchanges as part of these purchasing deals. The Photonics CRC was lucky that their part-time lawyer also had contact with the Department of Defence and therefore became aware of these technological exchanges. The Fibre bragg grating grew out of the original patent with innovative improvements developed by Professor Mark Sceats and his team.

Sceats, Professor M. & Elenius, E. The Future of Photonics in Australia (the Business of Bandwidth)

The design process

The design process undertaken followed a traditional pathway with a scientific problem solving focus. It required continuous development and refinement throughout the extended time frame of the process. A major factor in determining success has been a change of culture from an isolationist research model to collaborative teamwork in the CRC.

The steps of the process undertaken included:

  1. Brainstorming and idea development generated in formal and informal and unexpected surroundings, for example, in the cafeteria.
  2. Idea development using high-order, computer generated mathematical modelling. The complexity of the project has ensured that theoretical mathematical proof has been developed before any physical experimentation has begun.
  3. Proof of the principle established by conducting experiments where all the elements were enlarged and the whole process was exaggerated.
  4. A working prototype developed in a realistic package, that is miniaturised.
  5. Finally a test bed demonstrator developed for commercial experimentation.
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Factors that impact on the success of the innovation

Intellectual property
During the initial stages A Record of Invention was lodged with the Patents Office. This record is a preliminary step in taking out a patent. It outlines the idea, gives details of the level of creativity and contribution of individuals. International patents have now been obtained.

Marketing strategies and economic issues
Indx was the company established in 1996 to market the Fibre bragg grating. It was seeded with commercialisation funding from the CRC and approved by the Commonwealth Government. The CEO, Simon Poole, also employed AP Pty Ltd to develop a business plan. Poole travelled extensively to promote the product at world trade shows and international optical fibre conferences. His aim was to gain a loan to buy the equipment required to go into production. Eventually Fujitsu advanced funds to enable the equipment to be purchased as they were laying cable from Australia to Japan and wanted to include the product. The sale of Indx to Uniphase provided the finance to establish the Redfern Photonics group of companies. The CRC through their marketing arm, Australian Photonics, owns Redfern Photonics. Any new innovations that come out of the CRC will no longer be sold, instead patents will be retained and intellectual property (IP) only will be licenced.

Timing
The innovation has been developed at the cutting edge of change. Many would say that the innovation enables advances in the communication industry and the driving force comes from the increase in the use of the Internet.

Cultural
Emergence of collaborative research. This has been a long and persistent aim of Professor Sceats who realized that success would be hastened with the collaborative input of a team of scientists.

Sceats, M. Prof. Lecture to teachers at ATP October 2001

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Technology: available and emerging

The Fibre bragg grating, an emerging technology, is a successful innovation due to:

Early challenges included developing miniaturisation of the product. The product still requires hand assembly and for most purposes remains prohibitively expensive. The challenge to mass produce the grating for commercial availability is currently being explored by Robotic Cadence Photonics at the Australian Technology Park.

Role of government, industrial and commercial agencies

Cooperative Research Centres are an Australian government initiative providing funding to establish collaborative teams of research and industry participants to provide social and economic benefit to Australia. The Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre was established in 1992. The Commonwealth government has provided $27.4 million in funding. A further $141 million has been raised from other sources. This funding is dispersed through five programs:

Entrepreneurial activities

The formation of the CRC headed by Professor Mark Sceats is an indicator of the entrepreneurial activities that emerged in the early 1990s. The CRC brought together every photonics research laboratory in Australia plus industry stakeholders.

Sceats recognized that individual researchers working in isolation could not achieve the same degree of funding and their isolation limited the challenge. Much of his entrepreneurial skills have gone into the formation of a collaborative culture in research and development .

The funding that the CRC has achieved is further testament to the entrepreneurial skills of those associated with the CRC.

As described in the marketing strategies section above, the commercialisation and start-up of the CRC's first commercial innovation, the Fibre bragg grating, relied on the entrepreneurial activities of Simon Poole.

Promotion of photonics as an area of study and future employment is extensive:

Sceats, M. Prof. Lecture to teachers at ATP October 2001

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Ethical and environmental issues and their impact on success

Intellectual property
Extensive use of patents by the CRC has ensured the security of each invention. The importance of intellectual property is further illustrated by the requirement of all offices and laboratories to remain locked with pin number entry for staff.

Legal and political
Government funding and support has been essential.

Economic and socio-cultural
The photonics industry predicts that there will be a vast number of people who will be employed in the industry in the near future due to the increasing demand and popularity of new forms of communication.

To retain its market share within the world economy Professor Sceats believes that Australia will need to employ 26 500 people in the industry by 2010.
Sceats, Professor M. & Elenius, E. The Future of Photonics in Australia (the Business of Bandwidth)

Post-graduates with qualifications in physics, chemistry and electrical engineering are in demand.

Lifestyles will continue to change with the impact of the innovations on faster Internet provision.

Technological
The success of the innovation has and will continue to rely on technological developments. Currently robotic development is being undertaken for the transition from a hand-produced to mass-produced product. High-order computer literacy has been essential for research and development in the photonics area.

Environment and sustainability
The development of the Fibre bragg grating did not encompass considerations in this area.
Inherently glass is recyclable however other properties of the glass fibre were of primary concern (such as speed and clarity of signal).

Efficient use of resources to allay costs in the manufacture of the grating have been a consideration.

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Contribution to Australian society

Currently the only significant contribution for Australia has been the building of an excellent international reputation for creative research, and employment of research and development staff. JDS Uniphase employs approximately 250 staff at its Sydney office.

It is envisaged that within ten years the photonics industry will employ large numbers of Australians and impact on the daily lives of tens of thousands.

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