Integration of polymer-based optical waveguide arrays and micro/nano-photonic devices for optical printed circuit board (O-PCB) application

We report on the results of our study on the design, fabrication, and assembly of polymer-based optical waveguide arrays and circuits and micro/nano-photonic devices for a new modular system that we call "optical printed circuit board (O-PCB)." The O-PCBs are designed to perform the functions of transporting, switching, routing and distributing optical signals on flat modular boards, substrates or chips. We have assembled and constructed O-PCBs using optical waveguide arrays and circuits made of polymer materials and have examined their information handling performances. We describe the optical alignment procedures and light coupling procedures that we have attempted using 45-degree reflection mirrors, curved mirrors, and microlenses to increase the light coupling efficiencies between the light sources, waveguides and detectors. We have been able to achieve 2.5 Gbps transmission capacity using the O-PCB of our design and assembly. We also designed power beam splitters and waveguide filters using photonic band-gap crystals. We discuss the application possibilities of O-PCBs for computers, telecommunications, and transportation systems.