Patent ID: 6304690
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G02B,H04B,H05K

Abstract:
Apparatus for use in connecting a plurality of electrical circuit boards so each electrical circuit board can communicate with each other electrical circuit board, the apparatus comprising an optical circuit for association with each electrical circuit board, each optical circuit comprising a transmitter module and a receiver module;the transmitter module comprising:a plurality of electrical to optical converter means for converting a plurality of electrical signals into a plurality of optical signals each of a different wavelength,wavelength multiplexing means for multiplexing the optical signals of different wavelengths into a single optical waveguide, andoptical splitter means for dividing the multiplexed signal in the single optical waveguide into a plurality of identical signals for transmission to each of the receiver modules; andthe receiver module comprising:optical selecting means for selecting signals from one or more of the transmitter modules,wavelength demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the selected signal or signals into a plurality of signals each of a different wavelength, anda plurality of optical to electrical converter means for converting each of the said plurality of signals of different wavelengths into an electrical signal;wherein each optical circuit comprises one or more integrated optical circuits providing:wavelength multiplexing means comprising integrated directing means for directing the plurality of optical signals of different wavelengths into a single integrated optical waveguide;optical splitter means comprising an integrated optical waveguide which successively divides into a plurality of integrated optical waveguides;optical selecting means comprising a plurality of integrated optical input waveguides leading to a single integrated output waveguide;wavelength demultiplexing means comprising an integrated transmission or reflection grating for directing signals of different wavelengths to respective optical to electrical converter means.