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Interconnect Solutions for the Optical Backplane Era Richard C. A. Pitwon Senior Photonics Engineer ECOC 2005, Glasgow September ’05
Interconnect Solutions for the Optical Backplane Era
Richard C. A. PitwonSenior Photonics Engineer
ECOC 2005, Glasgow
September ’05
Overview
High Speed Parallel Optical Transceiver
Optical Backplane Connector
Optical Waveguide Interface Coupling Method
Novel Mechano-Photonic Interface Design
High Precision Waveguide Alignment Method
Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator Rig
Photonics Research & Development Showcase
2 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Parallel Optical Transceiver
Quad Parallel Optical Transceiver
10 Gb/s per duplex channel
Flexible Laminate PCB
Daughtercard Pluggable
Mechano-Photonic Coupling Interface
Output Signal Characterisation @ 10.3 Gb/s
Patent Filed
Jitter ~30 ps
3 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Photonic Interface
1x4 VCSEL Array
Raw Die Bond Wire Attachment
Mechanical Alignment Structures
High Precision Visual Alignment of GRIN
Lens Array to Active Areas
Multi-Terminal (MT) Compliant
Mechano-Photonic Interface
Source: ULM Photonics GmbH
Source: Microsemi Corporation
Source: GRINTech GmbH
1x4 PIN Array
1x12 GRIN Microlens
Array
Custom GRIN Lens Holder
4 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Connector Mechanism
Mechano-Photonic Interface
Metallic Housing
Cam Lever Mechanism
Coarse Alignment Mechanism
Daughtercard Pluggable
Primary Function:
Elevation and Retraction of Photonic
Interface
Optical PCB Connector
5 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Waveguide Alignment Method
Mechano-Photonic Interface
Low Cost Precision Assembly Method
Multi-Terminal (MT) Compliant Receptacle
Lithographically Patterned Mechanical Alignment Features
Successful Coupling of Mechano-Photonic Interface to Optical
PCB
Optical PCB Connector
Waveguide Alignment Method
Accuracy measured to within +/- 3 µm
www.exxelis.com
6 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Backplane Engagement
7 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Prototype Demonstrator
Mechano-Photonic Interface
2 Pluggable Daughtercards and
Connectors
Polymer Waveguide Optical PCB
Length: 10 cm
Optical PCB Connector
Waveguide Alignment Method
Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator
Passive Electrical Backplane
8 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Test and Characterisation
Mechano-Photonic InterfaceReference Signal – No Waveguide
Jitter 0.34 UIRelative Loss 0 dB
Optical PCB Connector
Waveguide Alignment Method
Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator
Test & Characterisation
10 cm Waveguide with Isapropanol
Jitter 0.36 UIRelative Loss 4.5 dB
10 cm Waveguide – Diced and Polished
Jitter 0.56 UIRelative Loss 6.9 dB
10 cm Waveguide – Diced Only
Jitter 0.89 UIRelative Loss 7.9 dB
Characterisation of Optical Connector Coupling to Waveguide with 10.3 Gb/s 850 nm Optical Signal
Driven with 10 GbE LAN (10.3 Gb/s) traffic
Passed 4 hour soak test with no
errors
9 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Exposition
Mechano-Photonic Interface
Optical PCB Connector
Waveguide Alignment Method
Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator
Test & Characterisation
Exposition
Demonstrator Exhibition Sites: • ECOC 2005, Glasgow• Photonex 2005, Stoneleigh, Coventry
10 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Optical Transceiver Circuit
Overview
Acknowledgments
Mechano-Photonic Interface
Optical PCB Connector
Waveguide Alignment Method
Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator
Test & Characterisation
Exposition
Acknowledgments
Optical Waveguide Fabrication:Navin Suyal
Exxelis LtdKelvin Campus, West of Scotland Science Park
Glasgow, G20 0TH
Polymer Waveguide Characterisation:Ioannis Papakonstantinou
David R. Selviah
Optical Systems and Devices GroupUCL
London
www.exxelis.com
Special Thanks toFrank Tooley (Photonix, Glasgow),
EPSRC and DTI
11 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Thank You for Your Attention!
Richard C. A. PitwonSenior Photonics Engineer
XyratexHampshire P09 1SAUnited Kingdom
www.xyratex.com
12 ECOC 2005 | Richard Pitwon
Xyratex Team
Steve Thompson CTODave Milward Project ManagerKen Hopkins Hardware Architect
