Polymer based optical interconnect module for a bidirectional transceiver and optical N/spl times/M star couplers for datacom applications with data rates > 1Gbps

Optical data communication will play an important role in future high speed data links. Especially in datacom applications data rates in Gbps area will be desired. An overall low cost approach is needed on both sides, for the opto-electronic integration and for the passive optical interconnects. Opto-electronic integration will be reached through the use of one- or bidirectional transceivers for datacom based - in future - on surface emitting lasers (VCSEL), instead of LEDs used today, and economically favourable silicon detectors. This additionally requires passive optical interconnects using beam shaped low-cost microoptical components such as, microlenses for in- and out-coupling which are more and more popular in recently developed opto-electronical devices. Ideally, microoptical components can be integrated in passive optical interconnects and replicated in polymer materials for the cost reducing. Hence, the increase of data rate depends on the quality of the optical surfaces. In this paper the manufacturing technologies for fabrication of optical surfaces are discussed. Furthermore, polymer based components are presented which can be used for coupling and routing of optical signals, e.g. a passive optical interconnect for the passive coupling into photodiode or from VCSEL and optical N/spl times/M star couplers. The polymer based interconnect module has been realized in different polymers (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA, and cycloolefin copolymer, COC). Total loses and data rates achieved are 3.3 dB and 2 Gbps, respectively. Average total loss an e.g. polymer based 16/spl times/16 optical star coupler is better than 17 dB per channel with a uniformity of 3 dB. For replication of polymer substrates of these components hot embossing tools have been produced by combination of deep lithography, ultra-precise milling and micromachining.