Free air optical interconnect attach mechanism

A system comprising:

• a communication interface including separate electrical connectors configured to communicate power and ground using electrical conductors,
• wherein the communication interface includes a free-air optical interconnect including at least one of:
• a laser emitter configured to transmit laser energy across an air gap to a separate device, or
• a photodiode configured to detect laser energy received across the air gap from the separate device.

A method comprising:

• communicating power and ground using separate electrical connectors of a communication interface;
• and
• communicating data using a free-air optical interconnect of the communication interface, the free-air optical interface including at least one of:
• a laser emitter configured to transmit laser energy across an air gap to a separate device;
• or
• a photodiode configured to detect laser energy received across the air gap from the separate device.

A system comprising:

• means for communicating power and ground using separate electrical connectors of a communication interface;
• and
• means for communicating data using a free-air optical interconnect of the communication interface, the free-air optical interface including at least one of:
• a laser emitter configured to transmit laser energy across an air gap to a separate device;
• or
• a photodiode configured to detect laser energy received across the air gap from the separate device.