Patent ID: 8208778
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: G02B,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming optical paths, comprising: a) creating a first channel within a first planar layer in a first substrate of a multi-layered printed circuit board (PCB) and a second channel within a second planar layer in a second substrate of the multi-layered PCB, the first and second substrates each having a resulting face and an opposing face, the resulting face of the first substrate including a face of the first planar layer, and the resulting face of the second substrate including a face of the second planar layer; b) forming at least a portion of a first optical path within the first channel and forming at least a portion of a second optical path within the second channel; c) after forming the portions of the first and second optical paths, forming conductive traces on the resulting face of the first substrate and on the resulting face of the second substrate; d) optically coupling with a switch the first channel in the first substrate with the second channel in the second substrate, wherein the first optical path and the conductive traces of the first substrate and the second optical path and the conductive traces of the second substrate permit both electrical and optical signaling in a same planar layer; and e) after forming the conductive traces, stacking the first and second substrates such that the resulting face of the first substrate is adjacent to the opposing face of the second substrate.