Optical Printed Circuit Board (O-PCB) for VLSI micro/nano-photonic application

Abstract

We present, in the form of review, the results of our study on the design, fabrication and assembly of optical printed circuit boards (O-PCBs) for VLSI micro/nano-photonic applications. The O-PCBs are designed to perform the functions of transporting, switching, routing and distributing optical signals on flat modular boards, substrates or chips, in a manner similar to the electrical printed circuit boards (E-PCBs). We have assembled and constructed O-PCBs using optical waveguide arrays and circuits made of polymer materials and have examined their information handling performances. We also designed power beam splitters and waveguide filters using nano-scale photonic band-gap crystals. We discuss scientific and technological issues concerning the processes of miniaturization, interconnection and integration of polymer optical waveguide devices and arrays for O-PCB and VLSI micro/nano-photonics as applicable to board-to-board, chip-to-chip, and intra-chip integration for computers, telecommunications, and transportation systems.