Patent ID: 7125176

Claim:
High speed high data interconnect apparatus comprising: a stiffening plate with optical fiber mounting groove defined on a surface thereof, wherein the stiffening plate has a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately matching a coefficient of thermal expansion of the optical fiber for reducing relative movement between the stiffening plate and the optical fiber and substantially eliminating stress in the optical fiber; a length of optical fiber with opposed ends and defining an optical path between the opposed ends, the optical fiber being mounted in the groove on the surface of the stiffening plate in a longitudinally extending direction generally parallel to the surface of the stiffening plate; a reflecting surface positioned adjacent one of the opposed ends of the optical fiber, the reflecting surface being positioned to direct light at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the optical path between the opposed ends of the optical fiber; and a printed circuit board laminate encasing the stiffening plate and the optical fiber and including a light via for the passage of light reflected by the reflecting surface, and bond pads formed on a surface of the printed circuit board laminate adjacent the light via for the electrical connection of a light element.