Electrical-Optical Circuit Board using Polysiloxane Optical Waveguide Layer

This paper reports on a new technology for the realization of an optical waveguide layer in electrical-optical circuit boards. The technology is based on casting of transparent polysiloxanes as low cost, low loss (0,05 dB/cm at 850 nm) and high temperature stable (> 250°C) material system. The waveguide layer fabrication will be discussed as well as the preparation of suitable casting moulds. Further issues are the material and waveguide properties of optical polysiloxanes, the coupling to OE-modules, and the lamination of optical layers into printed circuit boards.