The present invention provides an optical bridge for interconnecting
optical networking components and methods of making optical bridges that
include a waveguide that are compatible with semiconductor processing
steps. The optical bridge of the present invention has less optical
losses and is less affected by misalignment that prior art
interconnections. The waveguide is formed of a curable optical material
that spans optically active areas of two components. In one embodiment of
the present invention, one optical component is an optical circuit board
and the connected optical component is an electro-optical integrated
circuit package containing light emitting or light receiving elements.
The method provides a curable optical liquid to the components, bringing
the components together to form a continuous optical liquid between the
components, and curing the optical liquid.