4x4 Vertical-Cavity-Surface- Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and Metal-Semiconductor-Metal (MSM) Optical Backplane Demonstrator System

We describe a system demonstrator based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, metal–semiconductor–metal detectors, printed circuit board (PCB) level optoelectronic device packaging, a compact bulk optical relay, and novel barrel/PCB optomechanics. The entire system was constructed in a standard VME electrical backplane chassis and was capable of operating at >1.7 Gbit/s of aggregate data capacity. In addition to the component technologies developed, we describe operational testing and characterization of the demonstrator.