Optical Waveguide Interconnect System ​

The Optical Waveguide Interconnect System working group creates standards for optical waveguide-embedded-PCB to solve the imminent bandwidth and power issues through removing copper traces. Traditional PCB design tools are based on schematic diagrams composed of electrical copper traces and components, where optical components are populated and interconnection between optical components are implemented by an overlay of fibers.  As using embedded optical waveguides instead of fibers needs to be part of the PCB manufacturing process, there are additional steps to utilize the current EDA tools with polymeric film based optical waveguide. 

​

Focus:

• Consolidating implementation groups achievements into single target system

• "Chip to chip" optical waveguide interconnect system channel

• "Chip to module" optical waveguide interconnect system channel   

• Optimized system channel
   

Ecosystem Standards Drive:

• Optical waveguide interconnect system "chip to chip"/"chip to module" alternative to the IEEE 802.3 Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) Chip to Chip (C2C)/Chip to Module (C2M) standard

• Optical waveguide interconnect system long reach/very short reach alternative to the OIF Common Electrical I/O (CEI) Long Reach (LR)/Very Short Reach (VSR) standard