Wavelength Division Multiplexing Using Buried Optical Waveguides for High-Speed Communication Within Circuit Boards and Backplanes

Embedded optical waveguides, with their inherently large transmission bandwidth capabilities, can be utilized to achieve digital transmission speeds that are not possible using copper trace interconnects. Single mode waveguides are not as limited by modal dispersion when compared to multi-mode waveguides; therefore, single mode waveguides will be able to push the limits of digital communications within printed circuit boards well beyond the bandwidths of multi-mode waveguides through the use of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). In addition, capabilities such as built-in-test and technology insertion will be possible. The outcome of this research will be to determine the implementation and feasibility of single mode waveguides embedded within printed circuit boards. Modeling and simulation of the waveguides and structures as well as a cost effective and accurate method of fabrication and implementation of single mode waveguides within printed circuit boards will be performed. Previous and current research and development work that has been performed on the implementation of multimode waveguides will be leveraged in order to make printed circuit board level manufacturing and implementation of single-mode waveguides as cost efficient and seamless as possible.