Polymeric optical waveguide films for short-distance optical interconnects

We describe three different applications of polymeric waveguide films as short-distance optical interconnects. We fabricated the waveguide films, which were 6.5 cm long and mounted in MT-compatible (MTC) connectors by passive alignment, for MM fiber systems with a 50-/spl mu/m diameter graded index (GI) core. The average insertion loss of these devices was approximately 0.6 dB at 0.85-/spl mu/m wavelength. We also fabricated waveguide films with a 350 mirror and an MTC connector for use as 90/spl deg/ out-of-plane optical deflectors, and they exhibited an insertion loss of 1 dB. Two silica planar waveguides for single-mode (SM) fiber systems were also connected by a polymeric waveguide film. Low insertion losses were obtained in both MM and SM films designed to be employed as bending waveguides. This reveals their good potential for use as practical short-distance optical interconnects.