All Si-based optical interconnect for signal transmission

Barriers to the industrial implementation of optical interconnects on an IC, center around the fabrication of optical elements on wafers through conventional Si processes. This paper focuses on demonstrating an all Si-based optical interconnect system that can be easily integrated into a conventional Si process. Most other approaches for optical interconnects use emitters that require drastic changes in conventional fabrication process. In this work, we demonstrate the ability to transmit electrical signals using Si-based system i.e. the light was generated by biasing the Si LED at avalanche breakdown voltage, light was coupled through a fiber cable made of SiO ₂ and inserted into a Si based avalanche photo-diode. Results presented demonstrate the switching behavior of Si LED in the GHz range, transmission of signal across the fiber, and measurement of signal limited by the BW of the receiver amplifier.