Fiber-Based Focal Plane Array Beamformer as Air Interface of an Alignment-Tolerant Optical Fi-Wi-Fi Bridge

We demonstrate robust light coupling between two single-mode fibers for an out-door FSO link through a focal plane array beamformer with 61 fine-pitched fiber cores as antenna elements. We show that favourable coupling conditions are established for this 10Gb/s Fi-Wi-Fi bridge after rough initial pointing.