Multigigabit multichannel optical interconnection module for broadband switching system

This paper describes optical transmitter and receiver modules for package-to-package interconnection in broadband switching networks such as an asynchronous transfer mode switch fabric. These modules, which include the multiplexer and demultiplexer, can reduce the number of connections and the problem of skew between links. Five-channel optical transmitter and receiver modules were fabricated and demonstrated at 2.8 Gbit/s with a power dissipation of 4.5 W per channel. Moreover, temperature-insensitive optical interconnection was successfully demonstrated by driving a laser with a constant bias current over the threshold and by deducting the optical signal offset. The output power of the transmitter module was -4.2 dBm. Nonuniformity of the transmitter output powers across the range of optical channels was <2.1 dB. Receiver sensitivity for a bit error rate of 10^-11 was -9.3 dBm. Nonuniformity of the receiver sensitivities was <1.5 dB. The power penalty of the receiver sensitivity due to crosstalk was 1 dB. The connection distance was >250 m