Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIV |
| Editors | Cornelius F. Hahlweg, Joseph R. Mulley |
| Publisher | SPIE |
| ISBN (electronic) | 9781510644687 |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
| Event | Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIV 2021 - San Diego, United States Duration: 1 Aug 2021 → 5 Aug 2021 Conference number: 24 |
Publication series
| Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
|---|---|
| Volume | 11815 |
| ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
| ISSN (electronic) | 1996-756X |
Abstract
Printing of optical waveguides is an approach to large-volume implementation of optical data transmission in conventional electronic systems. Flexographic printing can be used to apply optical waveguides with circular-segment cross-sections to planar substrates. In this work, a concept for integrating printed optical waveguides into printed circuit boards (PCBs) is investigated, taking the requirements of industrial processing into account. A planar waveguide structure model is defined that is applicable to lamination processes used in PCB manufacturing. Due to thermal stress on the substrate during this process, polymer waveguides are printed on polyimide (PI) substrate. To ensure optical functionality, matching refractive indices in the form of printed cladding structures are required. Manufacturing multilayer waveguide structures requires new processes for generating the end facets of the waveguide core. To reduce the attenuation caused by optical coupling, one primary requirement is low facet roughness. In this paper, we present a way to flexographic print fully cladded waveguides on PI substrates. Different waveguide layer compositions are characterized with respect to their geometry by confocal measurements. Milling with monocrystalline diamond cutters is presented as a method for preparing the end facets. Finally, the attenuation of the prepared waveguides is measured and discussed as a function of the waveguide and end facet properties. By this, flexographic printed and ready-to-integrate waveguides are achieved, approaching the target of optical PCBs.
Keywords
- Integrated optical systems, Optical PCB, Optical quality milling, Printed optical waveguides
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science(all)
- Computer Science Applications
- Mathematics(all)
- Applied Mathematics
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
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Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIV. ed. / Cornelius F. Hahlweg; Joseph R. Mulley. SPIE, 2021. 118150A (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 11815).
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Industrial processing for printed polymer optical waveguides
AU - Evertz, A.
AU - Hoffmann, G. A.
AU - Olsen, E.
AU - Overmeyer, L.
N1 - Conference code: 24
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Printing of optical waveguides is an approach to large-volume implementation of optical data transmission in conventional electronic systems. Flexographic printing can be used to apply optical waveguides with circular-segment cross-sections to planar substrates. In this work, a concept for integrating printed optical waveguides into printed circuit boards (PCBs) is investigated, taking the requirements of industrial processing into account. A planar waveguide structure model is defined that is applicable to lamination processes used in PCB manufacturing. Due to thermal stress on the substrate during this process, polymer waveguides are printed on polyimide (PI) substrate. To ensure optical functionality, matching refractive indices in the form of printed cladding structures are required. Manufacturing multilayer waveguide structures requires new processes for generating the end facets of the waveguide core. To reduce the attenuation caused by optical coupling, one primary requirement is low facet roughness. In this paper, we present a way to flexographic print fully cladded waveguides on PI substrates. Different waveguide layer compositions are characterized with respect to their geometry by confocal measurements. Milling with monocrystalline diamond cutters is presented as a method for preparing the end facets. Finally, the attenuation of the prepared waveguides is measured and discussed as a function of the waveguide and end facet properties. By this, flexographic printed and ready-to-integrate waveguides are achieved, approaching the target of optical PCBs.
AB - Printing of optical waveguides is an approach to large-volume implementation of optical data transmission in conventional electronic systems. Flexographic printing can be used to apply optical waveguides with circular-segment cross-sections to planar substrates. In this work, a concept for integrating printed optical waveguides into printed circuit boards (PCBs) is investigated, taking the requirements of industrial processing into account. A planar waveguide structure model is defined that is applicable to lamination processes used in PCB manufacturing. Due to thermal stress on the substrate during this process, polymer waveguides are printed on polyimide (PI) substrate. To ensure optical functionality, matching refractive indices in the form of printed cladding structures are required. Manufacturing multilayer waveguide structures requires new processes for generating the end facets of the waveguide core. To reduce the attenuation caused by optical coupling, one primary requirement is low facet roughness. In this paper, we present a way to flexographic print fully cladded waveguides on PI substrates. Different waveguide layer compositions are characterized with respect to their geometry by confocal measurements. Milling with monocrystalline diamond cutters is presented as a method for preparing the end facets. Finally, the attenuation of the prepared waveguides is measured and discussed as a function of the waveguide and end facet properties. By this, flexographic printed and ready-to-integrate waveguides are achieved, approaching the target of optical PCBs.
KW - Integrated optical systems
KW - Optical PCB
KW - Optical quality milling
KW - Printed optical waveguides
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118141924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.2596378
DO - 10.1117/12.2596378
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85118141924
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIV
A2 - Hahlweg, Cornelius F.
A2 - Mulley, Joseph R.
PB - SPIE
T2 - Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXIV 2021
Y2 - 1 August 2021 through 5 August 2021
ER -