Integration of polymer optical waveguides into printed circuit boards

Temperature stable polymer optical waveguides have been realised and integrated into printed circuit boards (PCBs). A special waveguide fabrication process has been developed which is compatible with standard PCB processing technologies. Multimode waveguides with a 100 x 100 mu m(2) cross-section have been produced by hot embossing thin polymer foils. Embedding of the waveguide foils into multilayer PCBs has led to a hybrid electrical-optical circuit board solution.