摘要:
The invention provides an optical connection between a component (226, 228) on a printed circuit board ("PCB) and an optical fiber (224) embedded in the PCB. The optical connection comprises an optical via (230,232) for allowing light to travel through the matrix material between the surface of the PCB and the embedded optical fiber and an optical redirector (234, 236) for redirecting light received from the optical fiber (224) along the optical via (230,232) toward the surface of the device and for redirecting light received from the optical via (230,232) into the optical fiber. By optically connecting the component with the optical fiber, the component may use the optical fiber (224) for high speed optical data communication. The invention further provides a method comprising forming an optical via in a printed circuit board to access an optical pathway through the printed circuit board, wherein forming an optical via comprises forming a first well in matrix material of the printed circuit board and wherein forming an optical via further comprise forming a light blocking layer on at least part of side walls of the first well to prevent at least some light from entering the matrix material of the printed circuit board as the light travels along the optical via; placing an optical redirector within the optical via; and adjusting the optical redirector to redirect light directed into the optical via so that the light is coupled into the optical pathway.