Opto-Electric Hybrid Board Rigidity and Optical Loss Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Opto-electric hybrid boards face challenges in achieving sufficient rigidity in specific regions without increasing optical losses during optical coupling, as the requirement for flexibility and rigidity in different areas conflicts with the existing metal reinforcement layer configuration.
Innovation Solution
A second reinforcement layer is introduced on the back surface of the electric circuit board, separate from the metal reinforcement layer, in areas where increased rigidity is needed, made of the same material as the optical waveguide's cladding layers or a metal plate/fiber reinforced resin plate, to enhance rigidity without increasing optical path length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the metal reinforcement layer is increased to improve rigidity in the optical coupling portion, then the rigidity is improved, but the optical path length increases resulting in increased optical losses
Solution Approach 1:
The board is divided into regions with different reinforcement layer configurations: the optical coupling portion maintains a thin metal reinforcement layer to minimize optical losses, while other portions can have thicker reinforcement or additional second reinforcement layers to provide necessary rigidity. This spatial segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different thicknesses and materials of reinforcement layers are applied to different portions of the board based on local requirements. The optical coupling portion uses a thin metal layer for flexibility and low optical loss, while other areas may use thicker metal layers or fiber-reinforced resin plates for structural rigidity, creating local quality variations throughout the board.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the metal reinforcement layer is partially removed to increase flexibility in certain regions, then the flexibility is improved, but the rigidity in other regions becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The board is segmented into regions with different reinforcement characteristics: areas requiring flexibility have the metal reinforcement layer partially removed or reduced, while areas requiring rigidity maintain full reinforcement or add second reinforcement layers. This allows simultaneous optimization of flexibility and rigidity in different portions of the same board.
Solution Approach 2:
The board uses composite construction combining metal reinforcement layers with fiber-reinforced resin plates in different regions. This composite approach allows tailoring the mechanical properties of each region to meet specific requirements for flexibility or rigidity while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
An opto-electric hybrid board includes: an electric circuit board including electrical interconnect lines formed on the front surface of an insulation layer; a metal reinforcement layer formed partially on the back surface of the electric circuit board; an optical waveguide W configured to partially overlap the back surface of the electric circuit board E; and an second reinforcement layer formed on the back surface of the electric circuit board E. The second reinforcement layer allows the opto-electric hybrid board to have improved rigidity in a specific region and excellent handleability without incurring optical losses during optical coupling.