Circuit board construction for use in small form factor fiber optic communication system transponders

摘要

A transponder assembly for use with fiber optic digital communication cables having multiple parallel optic fiber elements. The transponder assembly features separate transmitter port and receiver ports and an electrical connector for connecting with computer or communication systems. The transponder assembly includes a parallel optic transmitter module and a parallel optic receiver module. The assembly also includes a circuit board on which a semiconductor chip useful for signal processing and the electrical connector are mounted. A Flex circuit is used in connecting the circuit board to the parallel optic modules. The semiconductor chip and electrical connector are mounted directly across from one another on opposite surfaces of the circuit board using ball grid arrays having overlapping attachment structures.