Optomechanics for a four-stage hybrid-self-electro-optic-device-based free-space optical backplane

We present the design, fabrication, and testing of optomechanics for a free-space optical backplane mounted in a standard 6U VME backplane chassis. The optomechanics implement an optical interconnect consisting of lenslet-to-lenslet, as well as conventional lens-to-lens, links. Mechanical, optical, electrical, thermal, material, and fabrication constraints are studied. Design trade-offs that affect system scalability and ease of assembly are put forward and analyzed. Novel mounting techniques such as a thermal-loaded interference-fitted lens-mounting technique are presented and discussed. Diagnostic tools are developed to quantify the performance of the optomechanics, and experimental results are given and analyzed.