Two dimensional optical data links

The complexity and size of interconnection rich telephone switching systems requires the extension of data buses over a large complement of frames. Physical designers have chosen bit serial transport over fiber to overcome the limitations of coax. It has been shown that for certain optical data link applications there exists an optimum degree of parallelism (based on cost) depending on the data rate and the number of the channels. Prototype One Dimensional Optical Data Links (1D-ODL) using linear 1×n device arrays, have been demonstrated in a number of laboratories, taking advantage of the current infrastructure of fiber ribbon, splices, and connectors. Extending this concept to a second dimension creating a Two Dimensional Optical Data Link (2D-ODL) using n×m device arrays, may yield further economies of scale. We have constructed several prototype 2D-ODLs using direct modulation of 2D arrays of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser´s (VCSELs), and Symmetric Self-Electrooptic Effect Device (S-SEED) reflection modulators with Silicon p-i-n/bipolar OEIC receivers. Most recently we studied a 4×18 2D-ODL using S-SEED reflection modulators and FET-SEED OEIC receiver arrays. 2D-ODL system demonstrations to date are described, and benefits and drawbacks of each technology are discussed