Abstract: A connector assembly and heat sink configured to be received by a radio unit are provided. An example connector assembly includes a printed wiring board (PWB) at least partially disposed within the radio unit when in an operational configuration, and the PWB defines an extension at least partially disposed exterior to the radio unit when in the operational configuration. The connector assembly includes one or more optoelectronic components configured to convert between optical signals and electrical signals supported by the PWB, and at least a portion of the one or more optoelectronic components are disposed on the extension of the PWB. The connector assembly also includes a heat sink housing attached to the PWB that encloses the extension of the PWB and optoelectronic components disposed on the extension in order to dissipate heat from the optoelectronic components to an exterior environment of the connector assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical cross connects which switch data at a container (packet) level. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical switch edges are coupled to an optical switch core via a minimal number of optical fibers. The switch core is configured to optically switch data from an ingress edge to one of a plurality of egress edges in a nonblocking fashion. The ingress edge receives data streams and distributes the data among a plurality of container processors. Each of these container processors produces an optical signal of a different wavelength, which can then be multiplexed with others to form a multiple-wavelength optical signal that is transmitted to the switch core. The switch core then switches successive portions (containers) of the multiple-wavelength signal to the egress edges to which they are respectively destined. The respective egress edges perform the reverse of this process to form output data signals.