International Business Machines Corporation

Vario-optics Ag

Tobias Lamprecht

Roger F Dangel

Folkert Horst

Bert Jan Offrein

Daniel S Jubin

Thomas E Morf

Jonas R Weiss

Markus Michler

David Bischof

Markus Halter

Felix Betschon

Johannes Kremmel

Stefan Beyer

A test apparatus for electro-optical printed circuit boards having optical waveguides comprises a control device, a beamer and a camera, which can be positioned in such a way that light emitted by the beamer can be coupled by means of a first deflecting element to optical waveguides of the circuit board and can be coupled out by means of a second deflecting element into the field of vision of the camera. The beamer is used in a first phase to determine the position for each deflecting mirror of the first deflecting element which a light spot needs to assume in the image projected by the beamer so that the light spot illuminates the deflecting mirror. The beamer is used in a second phase to illuminate at least one deflecting mirror and to carry out the testing of the optical waveguide associated with the at least one deflecting mirror.

Test apparatus for electro-optical printed circuit boards

A method and spacer for assembling flexible optical waveguide ribbons and assembled stack of such ribbons. The method includes the steps of: providing at least two optical waveguide ribbons and a spacer, which includes at least two calibrated spaces; positioning a ribbon stack in the spacer, where the ribbon stack includes the at least two optical waveguide ribbons stacked on top of each other; constraining positioned ribbon stack in one of the calibrated spaces; and fixing constrained ribbon stack in the calibrated spaces.

Method and spacer for assembling flexible optical waveguide ribbons, and assembled stack of such ribbons

A method for fabricating an optical waveguide includes setting, on a lower cladding of an optical waveguide, a light-reflecting feature and at least one waveguide core distinct from the reflecting feature. An upper cladding is applied that embeds both the light-reflecting feature and the waveguide core.

Optical waveguide with embedded light-reflecting feature and method for fabricating the same

The invention is directed to a device (-) comprising: a set of on-chip circuits (-), each of the circuits configured to generate a magnetic field () perpendicular to a planar surface of the set when energized; a ferrofluidic layer () interfaced to the planar surface; and a logic circuit () configured to selectively energize () one ore more circuits of the set such as to generate a magnetic field at the energized circuits and a deformation () of the ferrofluidic layer in response thereto and to modulate optical beams (IR, IR) directed to the ferrofluid layer. Preferably, an additional liquid layer () is interfaced to the ferrofluid layer, opposite to the on-chip circuits, which is not miscible with the ferrofluid layer. The invention can be applied to micro-display/projection devices, programmable optical reflecting lenses, or to micro-molding applications for surface replication.

Deformable ferrofluid layer devices for optical modulation and micromolding

An optical waveguide device comprises a plurality of mirrors, wherein at least one mirror comprises a first and second reflective end that reflect and transmit light. The plurality of mirrors comprises at least one first material having at least one first refractive index; an axis line; a first cladding comprising a second material having a second refractive index; a second cladding, formed above the first, comprising a third material having a third refractive index; a core comprising a fourth material; and a plurality of core parts formed within at least one of the first or second claddings. The fourth material has a fourth refractive index that is greater than the second and third refractive indices and the core parts have a plurality of core part ends coupled to one of the reflective ends where at least one core part end is approximately parallel to one of the reflective ends.

Coupling device for use in optical waveguides

Printed circuit boards that include optical interconnects include a flexible optical waveguide embedded or locally attached to the board having at least one end mechanically decoupled from the board during fabrication that can be fitted with a mechanical connector. Also disclosed are processes for fabricating the circuit board.

Mechanically decoupled opto-mechanical connector for flexible optical waveguides embedded and/or attached to a printed circuit board

An optical coupling device for coupling light with an optical waveguide comprises a mirror formed within an optical waveguide. The mirror comprises a first material, a first reflective end, and a second reflective end. The first material is light conducting and has a first refractive index. The first and second reflective ends reflect and transmit light. The mirror has an axis line. The optical coupling device is useful for extracting light from a waveguide and providing a backlight for a liquid crystal display.

A method for passive alignment of adapters, enabling high-precision connection between components on a rigid or flexible substrate as part of a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. Removable alignment structures are positioned in an alignment area on a PCB, where the alignment structures are in accordance with a patterned layer. An adapter, having adapter mating pins or holes, respectively, and adapter alignment pins, is placed on the PCB in the alignment area such that the adapter is aligned with the alignment structures. The adapter alignment pins are inserted into holes in the alignment structures. A ferrule is fixed on the PCB in the alignment area, and the ferrule holes or pins, respectively, are aligned to mate with the adapter mating pins or holes, respectively. The adapter is removed from the alignment structures, and finally the alignment structures are removed.

Growing community of inventors

Berneck, Switzerland

Tobias Lamprecht