90° Light Beam Deflection Technology for Single-Mode Optical Interconnection Systems

In this letter, we demonstrate an extremely low loss (<0.06 dB) 1-mm bending radius 90deg light deflection by using a 12-single-mode-fiber ribbon for optical interconnection systems. This technology is easy to be adopted for optical surface mount assemblies that need light beam deflection between the vertical surface-emitting lasers or surface-receiving photodiodes and optical paths parallel to an electric circuit board. We have chosen single-mode fiber (SMF) for the 90deg-bent fiber expecting the single-mode transmission will be applied for high-performance optical interconnection systems because of its wide bandwidth and stability in transmission characteristics. In order to minimize the bending loss and accomplish a small bending radius, we have developed a new optical fiber having higher refractive index of the core (high delta n fiber) than that of conventional fiber and 80-mum-cladding 125-mum spacing 12-fiber ribbon for dense packaging and easy handling in narrow spaces. It is bent at a radius of 1 mm by heating process with a ceramic heater.