I. Introduction
In OPTICAL distribution frames, splice closures, and high-performance computers, the available space for fiber connectors and fiber cables is limited. Until now, fiber bending enabled the realization of folded optical interconnects. However, fibers cannot be bent down to a radius of 25 mm without degradation of transmission performances and mechanical reliability. Moreover, with the presence of connectors and adaptors, a minimum space of 10 cm is often necessary. Thus, a compact folded optical connection (1 cm) to replace bent fibers is a decisive technical advantage over traditional interconnect methods.