Patent ID: 11327225

Abstract:
A flexible polymer waveguide array structure serves as a stitch or jumper on an optical printed circuit board (OPCB). The flexible polymer waveguide array structure can be attached to the OPCB so that it can provide a chip-to-OPCB optical connection. The waveguide(s) in the flexible polymer waveguide array structure may be prefabricated before the flexible polymer waveguide array structure is attached to the OPCB. Alternatively, the waveguides may be fabricated after the flexible polymer waveguide array structure has been attached to the OPCB. The waveguide(s) may be subsequently formed using a printing process such as photolithography. As a consequence of forming the waveguide(s) after attachment of the flexible polymer waveguide array to the OPCB, the precision in the lateral alignment that is required when placing the flexible polymer waveguide array structure on the OPCB is generally significantly less than is required when the waveguide(s) are prefabricated.