Normal Incidence Free Space Optical Data Porting to Embedded Communication Links

In this paper, various techniques for normal incidence, free-space optical data porting to embedded data busses are presented. In the first approach, externally powered optical transmitter and receiver devices are coupled to an embedded electrical bus. This embedded link proves to be reliable through environmental and mechanical testing, and demonstrates data transmission up to 10 kHz. A self-powered transceiver is then fabricated and coupled to an optical fiber, showing data transmission up to 1 MHz. Finally, a self-powered bus using a dye-impregnated optical fiber is demonstrated to operate at speeds greater than 15 MHz. All methods explored overcome many of the problems associated with traditional physical connectorization, and are suitable for normal incidence remote querying of embedded passive elements, active devices, sensors, or networks.