Power economy using point-to-point optical interconnect links

Future communications networks will be required to provide the switching of very broad-band digita'' channels (typically 155. 52 Mb/s or higher) for as many as 60 customers. Power consumption and cable management are a major factor in the systems level design considerations. It is shown that through the use of ultra-low threshold laser diode arrays optical fiber ribbon cables and a thoughtful packaging strategy significant electrical power advantage can be accrued over conventional electrical interconnection approaches. 1_a© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.