High-speed fiber optic electronic packaging gets ruggedized

High-speed fiber optic electronic packaging gets ruggedized

TE Connectivity launches new optical flex circuit cable assemblies for electronic packaging in aerospace and defense.

Optical flex circuit cable assemblies by TE Connectivity offer high-speed solutions for electronic packaging.
Optical flex circuit cable assemblies by TE Connectivity offer high-speed solutions for electronic packaging.

TE Connectivity (TE) has released its newly developed optical flex circuit cable assemblies. These compact, robust fiber optic circuits offer a multifiber management solution for high-speed electronic packaging. Fully customizable for both card-to-card and backplane applications, TE’s new optical flex circuits are ruggedized for the harsh environments of aerospace, commercial and military aircraft, and defense systems.

Optical flex circuits are made up of thousands of individual fibers precisely positioned on a single rugged substrate that employs crossovers to minimize stress while maximizing opportunities for complex routing arrangements. A thin film encapsulating each fiber helps provide enhanced protection from harsh environments and allows for high-density packaging that saves valuable space. Added durability and low insertion loss are achieved through controlled optical circuit routing using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine.

Optical flex circuits manage high fiber counts in small spaces to simplify routing. They can accommodate up to 12 layers stacked and up to six fiber crossings.