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As end users continue to
demand greater bandwidth in optical and wireless communication,
so data-rate demand increases in high-end systems for switching
and routing. A major bottleneck that is fast approaching in such
systems is the backplane which links daughter boards with
switching and control boards. To ease this bottleneck the next
generation of backplanes is being developed which includes
optical waveguides – a technology which enables ultra-high
bandwidth and the design freedom of more distributed
architectures.
Optical backplanes
developed in the past, often for military applications, are seen
to be a poor solution for telecom/datacom systems due to their
poor compatibility with low-cost PCB manufacturing techniques. A
market review by BPA Consulting predicts that there will be an
explosion of use in optical backplanes by a factor of ~100 times
from 2000 to 2005 as applications extend from aerospace into
telecom and datacom.
Leading telecom system
suppliers are setting the agenda with performance specifications
that can only be met using optical techniques. Some high-end
systems already use optical connections such as direct fibre
links and optical fibre mesh technology. However, these first
generation optical technologies deliver only point to point
links, require expensive connectors and are unwieldy.
This is driving major
PCB manufacturers and associated companies to invest in new
solutions in optical technology to create low cost optical
backplanes to meet their customers needs.
Top of the shopping list
of the PCB companies is a material and robust manufacturing
process for the fabrication of the waveguides themselves. While
silica is held up by some to be a solution, principally due to
its low loss, many see polymers as being the prime candidate.
The requirements on the polymer are however demanding. In
essence, the polymer must be low loss, compatible with existing
PCB processes and photowritable. Terahertz Photonics have
developed a particular polymer, Truemode BackplaneTM, which
uniquely meets these requirements.
If you don't find what you're looking for,
Contact Us.
We may have a suitable product that's not listed, or we may be
able to develop a material to fit your specific needs.
Tel : (02)2217-3442 / Fax : (02)2704-4070
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