Free air optical backplane interconnect

A system comprising:

• a first free-air optical interconnect of a first electrical component, the first free-air optical interconnect configured to mechanically couple to a second free-air optical interconnect of a second electrical component to communicate optical signals between the first and second electrical components, the first free-air optical interconnect including:
• an attach mechanism configured to mechanically receive and couple the second free-air optical interconnect to the first free-air optical interconnect;
• a communication interface configured to facilitate communication of optical signals between the first free-air optical interconnect and the second free-air optical interconnect,
• wherein, when coupled, the attach mechanism is configured to retain the second free-air optical interconnect a fixed distance from the communication interface of the first free-air optical interconnect to maintain an air gap and alignment between the communication interface of the first free-air optical interconnect and a communication interface of the second free-air optical interconnect.

A method comprising:

• mechanically receiving a second free-air optical interconnect at a first free-air optical interconnect and coupling the second free-air optical interconnect to the first free-air optical interconnect using an attach mechanism of the first free-air optical interconnect;
• and
• communicating optical signals between the first free-air optical interconnect and the second free-air optical interconnect using a communication interface,
• wherein coupling the second free-air optical interconnect to the first free-air optical interconnect includes retaining the second free-air optical interconnect a fixed distance from the communication interface of the first free-air optical interconnect to maintain an air gap and alignment between the communication interface of the first free-air optical interconnect a communication interface of the second free-air optical interconnect.