Combined digital/wireless link over the multi-mode fiber with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser

In this paper, we present the simultaneous transmission of the baseband digital signal and wireless LAN signal over a multi-mode fiber using a VCSEL. For this hybrid optical link, a new type of combiner is used. For the overall link simulation, a rate-equation based VCSEL model is implemented with circuit components, which describe the high-speed modulation characteristic as well as the thermal effect on the L-I characteristic. The overall optical link is implemented on a Multi-Layer Organic board. An OC-48 baseband data stream and wireless LAN (802.11a) signal at 5.8GHz are applied to the link and successfully transmitted. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first demonstration of VCSEL technology for a hybrid optical link.