Parallel optical interconnects for Scalable Coherent Interface

The feasibility of using parallel optical interconnects as a high-performance and potentially low-cost alternative for implementing the IEEE Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard is investigated using a simulation approach. The simulation results show that an 18-parallel optical interconnect system using a fully differential configuration has extremely low crosstalk (les/-30 dB) at a 500-MHz data rate and compares favorably to a comparable parallel metal interconnect system.