LED ARRAY PACKAGE FOR OPTICAL-DATA LINKS

A package with an array of six leds is described. The design represents a first effort at reducing the cost and the size of electro‐optical interfaces for applications in low‐bit‐rate transmission systems and computer data links. A package containing six GaAs leds, electrical connections, and a new fiber ribbon connector was fabricated, mounted, and encapsulated using presently available technology. Each led in the array, with 80 mA dc applied, can couple an average optical power of 5 μW into a graded‐index fiber having 0.22 N.A. and 55‐μm core diameter. Cross‐modulation between adjacent led signals is smaller than −50 dB. Fiber ribbon connectors fabricated with matching plates which align the fibers with the light output from the leds showed insertion losses as low as 0.4 dB. © 1979 The Bell System Technical Journal