Embedded fiber optic circuit boards and integrated circuits

• US 6,233,376 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Updegrove, Darryl G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJAS, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US09/317,075
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/15, 385/89, 385/90, 385/91, 385/92, 385/50, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections

Abstract

A circuit board has optical fibers embedded in at least one layer for optical transmission of data at high speed, digital signal rates and electrically conductive strips in other layers to provide for conventional data signals and power for optoelectronic and electronic integrated circuits (IC). Optical fibers connect to optoelectronic IC'"'"'s, off board IC'"'"'s, circuit boards and conductors to reduce high speed digital signal latency and increase signal bandwidth/throughput. Optical fibers are used within printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, circuit board connectors, and backplane connectors to interface printed circuit boards and backplane.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling optical and electrical data signals comprising:

a circuit board including a plurality of first insulating layers each having optical fibers embedded therein to transmit optical data signals and a plurality of second insulating layers each having electrically conductive strips and electrical power conductors to transmit electrical data signals and electrical power respectively, said plurality of first and second insulating layers being flat and arranged in a side-by-side stacked relationship with respect to each other, said optical fibers being provided with optically transmitting portions extending in substantially right angles through insulating layers to ends flush with top and bottom surfaces of said circuit board, and said electrically conductive strips and electrical power conductors being provided with electrically conducting portions extending in substantially right angles through insulating layers to ends flush with said top and bottom surfaces of said circuit board;

at least one integrated circuit having at least one optoelectronic component optically connected to lengths of fiber optics laterally extending therefrom to at least one of said ends of said optically transmitting portions and electrically connected to lengths of electrical conductors laterally extending therefrom to at least one of said ends of said electrically conducting portions; and

an integrated circuit socket disposed on either of said top and bottom surfaces of said circuit board, said socket having a cavity sized to fit and seat said integrated circuit therein to correspondingly align ends of said lengths of fiber optics and lengths of electrical conductors with said ends of said optically transmitting portions and electrically conducting portions, respectively to thereby permit optical transmission of optical data, electrical transmission of electrical data, and electrical transmission of electrical power between said circuit board and said integrated circuit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a circuit board connector on said circuit board having connector optical fibers embedded therein to transmit optical data signals, and electrically conductive connector strips to transmit electrical data and power signals therebetween.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ends of said optically transmitting portions and electrically conducting portions are at either of said top and bottom surfaces of said circuit board, and said connector optical fibers and electrically conductive connector strips of said circuit board connector have ends at a surface of said circuit board connector, individual ones of said ends at either of said top and bottom surfaces of said circuit board and individual ones of said ends at said surface of said circuit board connector board are aligned in corresponding pairs to thereby permit optical transmission of optical data, electrical transmission of electrical data, and electrical transmission of electrical power between said circuit board and said circuit board connector.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further including:

a backplane connector coupled to said circuit board connector having backplane connector optical fibers embedded therein to transmit optical data signals, and backplane connector electrical conductors to transmit electrical data and power signals therebetween.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said connector optical fibers and electrically conductive connector strips of said circuit board connector have ends at a surface of said circuit board connector, and said backplane connector optical fibers and backplane connector electrical conductors of said backplane connector have ends at a surface of said backplane connector, individual ones of said ends at said surface of said circuit board connector and individual ones of said ends at said surface of said backplane connector are aligned in corresponding pairs to thereby permit optical transmission of optical data, electrical transmission of electrical data, and electrical transmission of electrical power between said circuit board connector and said backplane connector.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including:

a backplane coupled to said backplane connector having backplane optical fibers embedded therein to transmit optical data signals, and backplane electrical conductors to transmit electrical data and power signals therebetween.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said backplane connector optical fibers and backplane connector electrical conductors of said backplane connector have ends at a surface of said backplane connector, and said backplane optical fibers and backplane electrical conductors of said backplane have ends at a surface of said backplane, individual ones of said ends at said surface of said backplane connector and individual ones of said ends at said surface of said backplane are aligned in corresponding pairs to thereby permit optical transmission of optical data, electrical transmission of electrical data, and electrical transmission of electrical power between said backplane connector and said backplane.