Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1330321
JANUARY 2021 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 83 ue supply chain as the manufacturing process. The most important components and manu- facturing technologies to be developed are: • Optical waveguides and techniques for integrating them into printed circuit boards • Electrical-optical and optical-electrical converters for realizing optical transmitters and receivers, and – Robust coupling concepts to realize optical component-to-board connectors – Board-to-board connectors – Board-to-fiber connectors The following tools, models, algorithms and methodologies are necessary to provide an ef- ficient design of electrical-optical printed cir- cuit boards: • Simulation models and algorithms to enable time domain • Simulation of optical interconnects • Routing and general design rules for optical interconnects and entire electrical- optical printed circuit boards, and methodologies for the analysis and optimization of electrical-optical printed circuit boards in respect of functional, technological, and cost requirements. Numerous techniques are under develop- ment for: multimode waveguide lamination, through-hole light coupling, surface finishes and soldering connectors. [7] This integrated opto-assembly will have a number of factors new to PCBs: • Optical waveguide materials • 3D fabrication techniques • New components • 3D assembly techniques Optical Waveguide Materials The optical materials currently being consid- ered for integrated waveguides are polymers. Polymers have a number of advantages: • Stability—High thermal stability and long- term photostability. Bellcore Telecordia compliance (i.e., 1209, 1221) tested for >600 hrs. at 85°C/85 RH, solder temperature >230°C and degradation temperature >350°C Figure 4. Board-to-board optical interconnections details including inter-connects.