POF-based interconnects for intracomputer applications

The technology and the optical characteristics of /spl times/8 optical interconnects based on plastic optical fibers (POF's) are presented. The MT-compatible interconnects have been realized by using ribbonized 120-1125-/spl mu/m multimode step index POF. Two-dimensional POF arrays with a pitch of 250 /spl mu/m have been fabricated either by using precision drilled PMMA-hole-plates or by embedding the POF's in grooved copper plates and piling them up subsequently. The transmission loss of a 20 cm-long 8/spl times/8 interconnect including two 900 bends was 1.5 dB at 650 nm, 3.5 dB at 870 nm, and 4.5 dB at 980 nm.