System and method for establishing multiple optical links between transceiver arrays

摘要

A multiple channel transmission system includes at least two plug in modules interconnected by a plurality of optical fiber bundles. For greater transceiver density and design flexibility, two-dimensional transceiver arrays (e.g., NxM arrays of transmitters and/or receivers) are mounted on a major surface of each plug-in module. Optical fiber connectors are employed at a peripheral edge of each plug-in module, and optical fibers interconnecting the transceivers and corresponding edge mounted connectors are bundled into two dimensional (NxM) arrays at the point where they are optically coupled to two dimensional transceiver arrays (e.g., NxM arrays of transmitters and/or receivers). The bundle groups exiting each transmitter array fan out or diverge as they approach a corresponding group of edge mounted fiber connectors. Optical interconnections between plug-in modules are achieved by fiber connections between edge mounted connectors.