Polymer waveguide module for visible wavelength division multiplexing plastic optical fiber communication

Abstract

We report a polymer waveguide module that provides bidirectional communication over a single plastic optical fiber (POF) with dual visible wavelength LEDs. The module is constructed using light-induced self-written waveguides, which enables a three-dimensional optical circuit for visible wavelength division multiplexing to be fabricated by an extremely simple process. We demonstrated 250?Mbits?s communication using a pair of these modules that each contained one green (?=495?nm) and one red (?=650?nm) LEDs by measuring the bit error rates. The results indicate that the system could transmit over more than 20?m of POF in full duplex mode.