Subsystem optical interconnections for B-ISDN switching systems

Subsystem optical interconnections over 100 m in length are applied and tested in a B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) switching system composed of plural subsystems: line interface circuits and switching fabrics. The interconnections make the system configuration much more flexible. Heavy and bulky coaxial cables will be replaced by fiber array cables. Three types of subsystem optical interconnections are proposed according to transmission speed and system scale. Type B (150 Mb/s), which was tested this time, will be required in the near future, though types A (2.4 Gb/s) and C (40 Mb/s) are needed to design flexible and economical transmission systems and switching systems