Fiber-optic bundles for parallel optical interconnects

A microLED-based communication system, comprising:

• an array of microLEDs;
• an array of photodetectors;
• and
• an optical-fiber bundle including a plurality of fiber elements, with first end faces of the fiber elements positioned to receive light generated by the array of microLEDs, and with a second end face of the fiber elements positioned to provide light to the array of photodetectors, the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another, with the optical-fiber bundle having a 90 degree away from the end faces of the fiber elements, the fiber elements not fixed in position relative to one another within the 90 degree bend.