Digital High Speed Interconnects: A Study Of The Optical Alternative

Abstract

The use of optics as an alternative method for achieving very high speed (10 Gb/s > bit rate > 500 Mb/s) electrical interconnects is the subject of this paper. Optical interconnect media considered include plastic channel waveguides, glass waveguides, fibers, and free-space interconnects. Typical interconnection distances considered are inches or less. The problems of cou-pling and interconnecting and their overall effect on system power budgets are also discussed. As a means of quantifying the results, link budgets for a 565 Mb/s, a 2.3 Gb/s, and a 4.6 Gb/s interconnect scenario are made. Multipoint as well as single-point-to-single-point situations are considered.