International Business Machines Corporation

Christoph Berger

John Ulrich Knickerbocker

Casimer M DeCusatis

Russell Alan Budd

Stefano Sergio Oggioni

Lawrence Jacobowitz

Bert Jan Offrein

Folkert Horst

Laurent A Dellmann

Cameron James Brooks

Phillip G Emma

Urs H Bapst

Substrates are connected by demountable coupling by connecting an electronic module to a substrate. An electronic module and a substrate carrying electrical and/or optical circuits are provided. A connector electrical circuit is connected between the substrate and the electronic module. The connector electrical circuit is electrically demountable dry connected to the electronic module.

Demountable dry connection for flexible circuits to circuit boards

Techniques for circuit board processing are provided. In one aspect, a method of processing a circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is provided. The method comprises the following steps. One or more etch stop layers in proximity to the one or more waveguides are provided, at least one of the etch stop layers comprising one or more fiducials therein. From a surface of the circuit board, the one or more etch stop layers are used to selectively remove material to provide openings having a defined positioning and depth in the circuit board. A circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is also provided.

Circuit board integrated optical coupling elements

An apparatus and method for forming a staircase arrangement for the connection of optical waveguides between a card and backplane. A card having optical waveguides and electrical conductors embedded in the card has an edge ending in a staircase arrangement with optical fiber-ribbons protruding from the edge. A guidance structure is connected to the edge and contains channels to guide and align the optical fiber-ribbons. A backplane having embedded optical waveguides and electrical conductors also has an edge ending in a staircase arrangement with a guidance stricture connected to the edge and tapered openings which receive and guide the optical fiber-ribbons into close proximity with the optical waveguides and forming a staircase arrangement of connected waveguides between a card and backplane.

Optical backplane array connector

Growing community of inventors

Horgen, Switzerland

Christoph Berger