Optical bus with optical transceiver modules and method of manufacture

Claim 1

An optical transceiver module characterized by: a light detector (72) having an optical input (74) and an electrical terminal (65) positioned on a first surface (75) thereof; a light generator (72) having an optical output (74) and an electrical terminal (65) positioned on a first surface (75) thereof; an optical waveguide (40) including a plurality of spaced apart light conducting cores (45) each having first and second ends optically accessible at opposite ends of the waveguide, a plurality of electrical conductors (50) each being associated with a different one of the plurality of cores (45) and having an externally accessible contact (52) positioned in a first end (55) of the waveguide adjacent the first end of the associated core (45) and an externally accessible portion (58) positioned on an external surface of the optical waveguide (40), the waveguide (40) further having a plurality of alignment ferrules (16) formed in a second end of the waveguide (40) opposite the first end (55); the light detector (72) being affixed to the end of the waveguide (40) with the optical input (74) substantially aligned with the first end of a first core (45) of the plurality of cores and the electrical terminal (65) in electrical contact with the externally accessible contact (52) of the electrical conductor (50) associated with the first core (45); the light generator (72) being affixed to the end of the waveguide (40) with the optical output (74) substantially aligned with the first end of a second core (45) of the plurality of cores and the electrical terminal (65) in electrical contact with the externally accessible contact (52) of the electrical conductor (50) associated with the second core; a first integrated circuit (36) including a transmitter with electrical input and output terminals (26, 31); a second integrated circuit (37) including a receiver with electrical input and output terminals (26, 32); an electrical interconnect and mounting board (25) including a first mounting area (27) having the optical waveguide (35) mounted thereon with the second end of the waveguide being positioned adjacent an external edge of the board and facing outwardly therefrom, a second mounting area (28) having the first integrated circuit (36) mounted thereon and including electrical conductors (31) extending from adjacent the first mounting area (27) to adjacent the second mounting area (28), and a third mounting area (29) having the second integrated circuit mounted thereon and including electrical conductors (32) extending from adjacent the first mounting area (27) to adjacent the third mounting area (29), the board (25) further including electrical input and output terminals (18); and the electrical conductors (31) extending from adjacent the first mounting area (27) to adjacent the second mounting area (28) being connected in electrical contact with the electrical output terminal of the transmitter and the externally accessible portion (58) of the electrical conductor (50) associated with the first core (45), and the electrical input terminal of the transmitter being connected in electrical contact with an input terminal (18) of the electrical interconnect and mounting board (25), the electrical conductors (32) extending from adjacent the first mounting area (27) to adjacent the third mounting area (29) being connected in electrical contact with the electrical input terminal of the receiver and the externally accessible portion (58) of the electrical conductor (50) associated with the second core (45), and the electrical output terminal of the receiver being connected in electrical contact with an output terminal (18) of the electrical interconnect and mounting board (25).