Optical data processing system

A method of fabricating an electrical-optical circuit board comprising the steps of:

• affixing a plurality of annular socket guides each having a plurality of notches therein onto a plate;
• threading an optical fiber between said socket guides and within said notches in a predetermined manner;
• encapsulating at least portions of the optical fibers with a potting material;
• affixing an apertured plate over the encapsulated optical fibers such that the apertures each align with a socket guide;
• removing any excess potting material and cutting optical fibers under each aperture of said apertured plate to form an optical socket including windows around the periphery of said guides;
• and
• inserting electrical-optical circuit wafers in said socket guides wherein said wafers are optically intercoupled in a predetermined manner.

A method of fabricating an electrical-optical circuit board comprising the steps of:

• supporting a plurality of socket guides in spaced relationship to each other wherein each socket guide includes a plurality of fiber receiving notches surrounding an aperture therein;
• threading at least one flexible optical fiber through notches in said socket guides in a predetermined manner;
• encapsulating said optical fiber and said socket guides to maintain the relative positioning between said guides and said fiber;
• removing encapsulating material from said notches of said socket guides and cutting away optical fibers extending into said apertures to form optical windows;
• and
• inserting electrical-optical circuit wafers in said socket guides wherein said wafers are optically intercoupled in a predetermined manner.