Abstract

Parallel fiber interconnects have received considerable attention recently due to the potential systems level advantages offered by optics. To realize this potential, the manufacturing cost must be reduced significantly as compared with traditional optical interconnects. We present an implementation that meets this cost challenge while maintaining the performance advantages of the optical alternative. An OPTOBUS™ link is a protocol independent physical layer employing 10 transmit and 10 receive channels carried up to several hundred meters by a pair of 10-channel multimode fiber ribbons connectorized at each end. A complete OPTOBUS™ link consists of two transceiver modules and a pair of fiber ribbons. Elements of the module include AlGaAs VCSELs, GaAs photo diodes, and Si drive and receive electronics, all integrated on an MCM-L substrate with a novel optoelectronic packaging scheme. The module is totally asynchronous and achieves data rates of up to 400 Mbit/s under nominal conditions. A complete module, less encapsulation and a cover that protects the optical interface units, is shown in Fig. 1.

© 1996 Optical Society of America