Patent ID: 7684663

Claim:
A flexible interconnect assembly for transmitting data, the assembly comprising: a flexible substrate; at least one optical waveguide suitable for transmitting optical signals, the at least one waveguide mounted onto the flexible substrate; an attachment fixture to enable the flexible interconnect assembly to be reversibly coupled to an attachment apparatus; and first and second interfaces situated at first and second ends of the flexible interconnect assembly respectively, each interface comprising: an interface substrate; a header substrate mounted on the interface substrate; one or more conversion devices embedded within the interface and positioned on the header substrate, the one or more conversion devices in optical alignment with the optical waveguide and configured to convert between electrical and optical signals and arranged such that all conversion between optical and electrical signals performed at the flexible interconnect assembly takes place only in the interfaces at the ends of the flexible interconnect assembly; a plurality of electrically conductive traces, ones of the conductive traces electrically connected with associated ones of the one or more conversion devices; and a plurality of exposed electrical contacts that are formed on the exterior of the interface, ones of the exposed electrical contacts being electrically connected with ones of the conversion devices via ones of the electrically conductive traces, the plurality of exposed contacts arranged to be coupled with an electrical device external to the flexible interconnect assembly.