1/spl times/8 8 Gbit/s transmitter module for optical space switch applications

A 1/spl times/8 switched transmitter module has been constructed using a co-packaged silicon bipolar IC and a silicon V-groove laser array carrier. This high functionality module is an attractive building block for optical space switching in very high capacity ATM switches. It has been shown to operate at 8 Gbit/s with a reconfiguration time of /spl sim/5 ns.