Arrays, system and method for bi-directional data transmission

1. A system for bi-directional data transmission, comprising:

a first array coupled to a first subsystem, the first array including i) a first plurality of transmitters that produce first optical signals that are transmitted through free space, and ii) a first plurality of receivers;

a second array coupled to a second subsystem, the second array including i) a second plurality of transmitters that produce second optical signals that are transmitted through free space to the first plurality of receivers, and ii) a second plurality of receivers that is configured to receive the first optical signals; and

an image-forming apparatus operatively positioned between the first and second arrays and configured to concurrently form an image of the first plurality of transmitters on the second plurality of receivers and an image of the second plurality of transmitters on the first plurality of receivers wherein:

the image-forming apparatus is a telecentric lens consisting of a first lens and a second lens, the first lens being operatively connected to the first subsystem, and the second lens being operatively connected to the second subsystem;

the first and second lenses are independently and controllably configured to enable the concurrent bi-directional transmission; and

the telecentric lens is both image side and object side telecentric.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first mounting system attaching the first lens to the first subsystem;

a second mounting system attaching the second lens to the second subsystem; and

a closed-loop control system that operates at least one of the first mounting system or the second mounting system to dynamically move the attached lens and maintain a bi-directional link of the first and second optical signals.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the first array and the second array further comprises a servo detector used in the close-loop control system.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first array is a mirror image of the second array, and wherein the image-forming apparatus is capable of inverting the first and second plurality of optical signals.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein a layout of the first plurality of receivers is identical to a layout of the first plurality of transmitters, wherein the layout of the first plurality of receivers is at least one of translated, rotated, inverted, or mirror imaged with respect to the layout of the first plurality of transmitters, and wherein the first plurality of transmitters and the first plurality of receivers are superimposed to form the first array.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein the second array is a mirror image of the first array.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second array is scaled with respect to the first array, and wherein a scaling factor is equal to a magnification of the image-forming apparatus.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the first array and the second array includes a respective integrated circuit die, wherein the first plurality of transmitters and the second plurality of transmitters each includes VCSELs fabricated in the respective integrated circuit die, and wherein the first plurality of receivers and the second plurality of receivers each includes photodiodes contained in the respective integrated circuit die.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein a surface of at least one of the first array or the second array unoccupied by the respective first and second plurality of transmitters or the respective first and second plurality of receivers is conditioned to absorb offset emission from the respective first and second plurality of transmitters, thereby reducing stray light and cross-talk between the arrays.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the image-forming apparatus is selected from a non-inverting lens and an inverting lens.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first lens is a single element lens and the second lens is a single element lens.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein the first lens and the second lens are the only refracting lenses operative on the image of the first plurality of transmitters on the second plurality of receivers and the image of the second plurality of transmitters on the first plurality of receivers.

13. A method for transmitting data between a first subsystem and a second subsystem, the method comprising:

modulating at least some of i) a first plurality of optical signals using a first array in the first subsystem and ii) a second plurality of optical signals using a second array in the second subsystem;

concurrently and independently transmitting i) the first plurality of optical signals from transmitters of the first array through an image-forming apparatus and free space located between the first and second subsystems to receivers of the second array, thereby forming an image of the first plurality of transmitters on the second array, and ii) the second plurality of optical signals from transmitters of the second array through the image-forming apparatus and free space located between the first and second subsystems to receivers of the first array, thereby forming an image of the second plurality of transmitters on the first array; and

controlling at least one optical element in the image-forming apparatus to align the respective images wherein:

the image-forming apparatus is a telecentric lens consisting of a first lens and a second lens, the first lens being operatively connected to the first subsystem, and the second lens being operatively connected to the second subsystem;

the at least one optical element is at least one of the first lens and the second lens; and

the telecentric lens is both image side and object side telecentric.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein controlling the at least one optical element includes at least one of moving a lens in a direction substantially perpendicular to its optical axis or tilting the lens.