Packaging of optoelectronics and passive optics in a high capacitytransmission terminal

摘要

We report on the first circuit board having passive opticalcircuits in combination with a backplane multifiber array connector. Theapproach uses four fused biconical tapered optical couplers incombination with a 12 fiber multifiber array connector. The design makespossible fiber continuity from the tips of the discrete opticalconnectors all the way through the assembly of the couplers to the tipof the multifiber array connector. This is accomplished by building anoptical fiber ribbon cable from the fiber pigtails on the couplers andinserting the ribbon into a multifiber array connector. This approachenhances reliability and minimizes optical loss and reflections