High-density fiber-optic module with multi-fold flexible circuit

A fiber optic module, comprising:

• flexible printed circuit board, comprising:
• plurality of conductive traces,
• first set of bends in the board, the first set of bends defining a front face, and
• second set of bends in the board, the second set of bends defining a plurality of side faces and a bottom face, wherein the plurality of traces traverses from the front face through the side faces to the bottom face, wherein the front face is formed from a central portion of the flexible printed circuit board and the bottom face is formed from opposing, distal end portions of the flexible printed circuit board.

An optical transceiver module, comprising:

• a flexible printed circuit board, comprising:
• a plurality of transmitting traces,
• a plurality of receiving traces,
• a first set of bends in the board, the first set of bends defining a front face, and
• second set of bends in the board, the second set of bends defining a first side face, a second side face, and a bottom face, wherein the plurality of transmitting traces traverse from the bottom face through the first side face to the front face, wherein the plurality of receiving traces traverse from the front face through the second side face to the bottom face, wherein the front face is formed from a central portion of the flexible printed circuit board and the bottom face is formed from opposing, distal end portions of the flexible printed circuit board.

A method for providing a flexible printed circuit board, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of conductive traces in the flexible printed circuit board;
• (b) bending the board to define a front face;
• and
• (c) bending the board again to define a plurality of side faces and a bottom face, wherein the plurality of traces traverses from the front face through the side faces to the bottom face, wherein the front face is formed from a central portion of the flexible printed circuit board and the bottom face is formed from opposing, distal end portions of the flexible printed circuit board.

A fiber optic module comprising:

• an opto-electronic chip;
• an electrical connector;
• and
• a substantially continuous flexible substrate having a central portion and a plurality of branches, said plurality of branches separately extending from the central portion and where the central portion supports the opto-electronic chip, at least one branch of the plurality of branches having a plurality of conductive traces disposed on a first side of the at least one branch and where at least some traces of the plurality of traces are connected on a first end to the opto-electronic chip with a distal end of each branch of the plurality of branches being juxtaposed for connection of the at least some conductive traces on a second end to the electrical connector, at least one branch of the plurality of branches having a plurality of bends at a plurality of respective predetermined locations to provide a spatial separation among the plurality of branches that reduces crosstalk among signals transmitted through the traces without a need to criss-cross the traces.