Optical Interconnect Eliminates Flexible Waveguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical interconnects using flexible signal cables face challenges with optical signal loss and alignment accuracy due to the need for flexible optical waveguides that must curve and maintain low signal loss, limiting material and manufacturing methods.
Innovation Solution
An optical interconnect design featuring a light-emitting element on a first rigid printed wiring board and a light-receiving element on a second rigid printed wiring board, with direct optical connection between them, eliminating the need for an optical waveguide and thus reducing signal loss and alignment requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible optical waveguides are used to connect light-emitting and light-receiving elements on separate printed wiring boards, then the interconnect can be flexible and adaptable, but optical signal loss increases and alignment accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flexible optical waveguide from the system entirely. Instead of using a flexible waveguide to transmit optical signals between printed wiring boards, the invention establishes direct optical coupling between light-emitting and light-receiving elements positioned on separate rigid printed wiring boards, thereby eliminating the source of signal loss associated with flexible waveguides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical coupling medium or direct optical path as an intermediary between the light-emitting element on the first printed wiring board and the light-receiving element on the second printed wiring board. This intermediary enables efficient optical signal transmission without requiring flexible waveguide materials, thus reducing signal loss while maintaining adaptability through precise positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible optical waveguides are used to accommodate bent conditions, then the interconnect can be flexible, but manufacturing precision and material selection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flexible waveguide component from the system, eliminating the need to manufacture flexible optical paths with precise curvature requirements. By positioning light-emitting and light-receiving elements directly on separate rigid printed wiring boards, the invention removes the manufacturing precision constraints associated with flexible waveguide fabrication and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical interconnect system into separate rigid printed wiring boards, each carrying light-emitting or light-receiving elements. This segmentation allows each board to be manufactured independently with standard rigid PCB techniques, avoiding the need for integrated flexible waveguide manufacturing while maintaining overall system flexibility through modular board design and positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible optical waveguides are used, then the interconnect can bend, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex flexible waveguide structure from the system, replacing it with a simpler configuration of rigid printed wiring boards with directly positioned optical elements. This extraction eliminates the need for specialized flexible waveguide materials, curvature-controlled manufacturing processes, and complex assembly techniques, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining flexibility through modular board design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces optical signal loss, decreases power consumption by lowering drive current, and lowers manufacturing and mounting costs by eliminating the need for flexible waveguides and improving alignment accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The light-emitting element converts the electrical signal to an optical signal
Implementation Method 2
The light-receiving element receives the optical signal transmitted to the light-receiving element and converts the optical signal to an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interconnect device including a first printed wiring board, a second printed wiring board facing the first printed wiring board, a light-emitting device positioned on the first printed wiring board and electrically connected to the first printed wiring board, a light-receiving device positioned on the second printed wiring board and electrically connected to the second printed wiring board such that the light-receiving device faces the light-emitting device and receives an optical signal transmitted in a direct line from the light-emitting device, and an electrical-connection device mounted on the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board such that the first printed wiring board is electrically connected to the second printed wiring board.