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US 8,588,558 B2Granted
Optical link circuit and method of making same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid William Vernooy, Samhita Dasgupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit includes a flexible circuit having an optical waveguide embedded therein, a first device attached to the flexible circuit and configured to convert a first electrical signal to an optical signal, the first device positioned to emit the optical signal to an input end of the optical waveguide, and a second device attached to the flexible circuit and configured to convert the optical signal into a second electrical signal, the second device positioned to receive the optical signal from an output end of the optical waveguide.
Claims26
A circuit for a cell phone comprising:
- a flexible circuit having an optical waveguide embedded therein;
- a video processor coupled to a first device via a first printed circuit board, the video processor configured to output a first electrical signal to the first device, the first device attached to the flexible circuit and configured to convert the first electrical signal to an optical signal, the first device positioned to emit the optical signal to an input end of the optical waveguide, wherein the flexible circuit is coupled to the first printed circuit board via a first connector at the input end of the optical waveguide;
- a second device attached to the flexible circuit and configured to convert the optical signal into a second electrical signal, the second device positioned to receive the optical signal from an output end of the optical waveguide, wherein the flexible circuit is coupled to a second printed circuit board, via a second connector, at an output end of the optical waveguide;
- a video display coupled to the second device and configured to receive the second electrical signal;
- and
- a test pad positioned on the flexible circuit separate from the first connector and the second connector, the test pad configured as a tester interface to test the flexible circuit during manufacturing separate from using the first connector and the second connector.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a cell phone circuit comprising:
- enclosing a first material in a second material, the first material having an index of refraction greater than the second material, the first material having an input end and an output end;
- attaching a photon emitter to the second material such that an output of the photon emitter is optically coupled to the input end of the first material;
- attaching a photon receiver to the second material such that an input of the photon receiver is coupled to the output end of the first material;
- attaching a first connector to the cell phone circuit and electrically coupling the first connector to the photon emitter, wherein the first connector is connectable to a first printed circuit board;
- attaching a second connector to the cell phone circuit and electrically coupling the second connector to the photon receiver, wherein the second connector is connectable to a second printed circuit board;
- coupling interfacing electronics to one of the photon emitter and the photon receiver;
- and
- attaching a test pad to the cell phone circuit and testing the interfacing electronics via the test pad prior to connecting the first connector to the first printed circuit board and prior to connecting the second connector to the second printed circuit board.
5 more elements
A communication link configured to convey signals at the speed of light, the communication link comprising:
- an optical waveguide buried within a polymer, the optical waveguide having an input end and an output end;
- a first device attached to the communication link and coupled to the input end of the optical waveguide via a first connector at the input end of the optical waveguide, the first device configured to emit photons into the optical waveguide;
- a second device attached to the communication link, the second device coupled to the output end of the optical waveguide via a second connector at the output end of the optical waveguide and configured to convert photons emitted into the optical waveguide into an electrical signal;
- a driver amplifier attached to the communication link, the driver amplifier having an output coupled to the first device such that electrical signals from the driver amplifier are converted to photons and conveyed along the optical waveguide;
- and
- a test pad positioned on the communication link separate from the first connector and the second connector, the test pad configured as a tester interface to test the communication link during manufacturing separate from using the first connector and the second connector;
- wherein the driver amplifier is configured to temporarily store electrical signals during operation and send the electrical signals to the first device in a burst mode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.