Details
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Optical Interconnects and Packaging 2025 |
Editors | Ray T. Chen, Henning Schroder |
Publisher | SPIE |
ISBN (electronic) | 9781510684928 |
Publication status | Published - 30 Mar 2025 |
Event | SPIE Photonics West OPTO 2025 - San Francisco, United States, San Francisco, United States Duration: 25 Jan 2025 → 31 Jan 2025 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
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Volume | 13372 |
ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
ISSN (electronic) | 1996-756X |
Abstract
Flexographic printing of optical waveguides is a technology primarily suitable for cm-range waveguide structures. So far, these waveguides have been implemented on PMMA substrates, achieving optical attenuations at around 1 dB/cm. In this domain, optical network structures are already available since the waveguide application process widely relies on parallel material transfer. Integrating such waveguide structures as an optical interlayer in PCB has been challenging due to the unsuitable thermal stability of PMMA substrate. With PI as an established substrate in PCB processes, optical cladding structures must be printed to enable optical waveguiding. The first results show a significant attenuation increase compared to PMMA-based waveguides. This research demonstrates and characterizes EOCB based on flexo-printed waveguides. These waveguides are manufactured using a novel fixed-sheet printing machine designated for functional printing. Thus, high infeed accuracy in the single-micron range can be achieved, and so far, unseen material transfer precision can be shown. The printing process for each optical layer is evaluated according to confocal measurements. Waveguide networks are integrated into a demonstration PCB system, and their split ratio and optical attenuation are measured. Finally, use cases such as bidirectional optical couplers for polymer optical fibers are highlighted, which utilize the novel integrated waveguides.
Keywords
- Electro-Optical Circuit Board, High-Volume Additive Manufacturing, Integrated Optics, Printed Optical Waveguides
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science(all)
- Computer Science Applications
- Mathematics(all)
- Applied Mathematics
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
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Optical Interconnects and Packaging 2025. ed. / Ray T. Chen; Henning Schroder. SPIE, 2025. 133720W (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13372).
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review
}
TY - GEN
T1 - PCB integrated flexo-printed waveguide network structures
AU - Evertz, Andreas
AU - Fütterer, Laura
AU - Overmeyer, Ludger
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 SPIE.
PY - 2025/3/30
Y1 - 2025/3/30
N2 - Flexographic printing of optical waveguides is a technology primarily suitable for cm-range waveguide structures. So far, these waveguides have been implemented on PMMA substrates, achieving optical attenuations at around 1 dB/cm. In this domain, optical network structures are already available since the waveguide application process widely relies on parallel material transfer. Integrating such waveguide structures as an optical interlayer in PCB has been challenging due to the unsuitable thermal stability of PMMA substrate. With PI as an established substrate in PCB processes, optical cladding structures must be printed to enable optical waveguiding. The first results show a significant attenuation increase compared to PMMA-based waveguides. This research demonstrates and characterizes EOCB based on flexo-printed waveguides. These waveguides are manufactured using a novel fixed-sheet printing machine designated for functional printing. Thus, high infeed accuracy in the single-micron range can be achieved, and so far, unseen material transfer precision can be shown. The printing process for each optical layer is evaluated according to confocal measurements. Waveguide networks are integrated into a demonstration PCB system, and their split ratio and optical attenuation are measured. Finally, use cases such as bidirectional optical couplers for polymer optical fibers are highlighted, which utilize the novel integrated waveguides.
AB - Flexographic printing of optical waveguides is a technology primarily suitable for cm-range waveguide structures. So far, these waveguides have been implemented on PMMA substrates, achieving optical attenuations at around 1 dB/cm. In this domain, optical network structures are already available since the waveguide application process widely relies on parallel material transfer. Integrating such waveguide structures as an optical interlayer in PCB has been challenging due to the unsuitable thermal stability of PMMA substrate. With PI as an established substrate in PCB processes, optical cladding structures must be printed to enable optical waveguiding. The first results show a significant attenuation increase compared to PMMA-based waveguides. This research demonstrates and characterizes EOCB based on flexo-printed waveguides. These waveguides are manufactured using a novel fixed-sheet printing machine designated for functional printing. Thus, high infeed accuracy in the single-micron range can be achieved, and so far, unseen material transfer precision can be shown. The printing process for each optical layer is evaluated according to confocal measurements. Waveguide networks are integrated into a demonstration PCB system, and their split ratio and optical attenuation are measured. Finally, use cases such as bidirectional optical couplers for polymer optical fibers are highlighted, which utilize the novel integrated waveguides.
KW - Electro-Optical Circuit Board
KW - High-Volume Additive Manufacturing
KW - Integrated Optics
KW - Printed Optical Waveguides
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004273482&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.3041905
DO - 10.1117/12.3041905
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:105004273482
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Optical Interconnects and Packaging 2025
A2 - Chen, Ray T.
A2 - Schroder, Henning
PB - SPIE
T2 - SPIE Photonics West OPTO 2025
Y2 - 25 January 2025 through 31 January 2025
ER -