Photonic waveguide

Abstract

The system provides a photonic waveguide formed on a substrate and a plurality of steering mirrors within the photonic waveguide. The steering mirrors can be configured to direct a light beam between two or more computing components. A plurality of steering mirror supports are located within the waveguide having preset locations. The steering mirror supports are configured to enable the steering mirrors to be selectively repositioned at the preset steering mirror supports within the photonic waveguide to create varying configurations. The steering mirrors in the varying configurations direct one or more optical beams to form multiple connectivity channels between computing components within the photonic waveguide.

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         6 . An optical module, comprising:
 a photonic waveguide formed on a substrate;   a plurality of steering mirrors within the photonic waveguide, configured to direct an optical beam between two or more computing components;   a plurality of steering mirror supports wherein the steering mirrors are removably positioned on the steering mirror supports and wherein the steering mirrors in varying communication configurations direct the optical beam to form at least one communication channel between computing components within the photonic waveguide.   
     
     
         7 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the steering mirrors are manually relocatable at the steering mirror supports. 
     
     
         8 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein one or more steering mirrors may be removed or added to the photonic waveguide to change communication connectivity of the optical beam between computing components. 
     
     
         9 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the photonic waveguide is removably attachable to a computing component. 
     
     
         10 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the photonic waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide that is replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a different configuration within the second photonic waveguide than steering mirrors within the first photonic waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the photonic waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and oriented in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
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         16 . An optical module in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of steering mirror supports have permanently fixed locations within the photonic waveguide. 
     
     
         17 . A computing system comprising:
 an optical signal beam;   a plurality of computing components coupled to at least one circuit board;   a photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirror supports; and   at least one steering mirror removably mounted on a first steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror supports, wherein the steering mirror is removable from the first steering mirror support and mountable on a different steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror supports.   
     
     
         18 . A computing system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the photonic waveguide is removably attachable to a computing component. 
     
     
         19 . A computing system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the photonic waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide that is replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a different configuration within the second photonic waveguide than steering mirrors within the first photonic waveguide. 
     
     
         20 . A computing system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the photonic waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and oriented in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
         21 . A computing system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of steering mirror supports have permanently fixed locations within the photonic waveguide. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 attaching a photonic waveguide to a plurality of computing components, the photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirror supports in preset fixed locations within the photonic waveguide;   removably positioning a first steering mirror on a first steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror supports to form a first communication channel between computing components within the photonic waveguide;   removing the steering mirror from the first the steering mirrors support; and   removably positioning a second steering mirror on a second steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror supports to form a second communication channel between computing components within the photonic waveguide.   
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the first steering mirror and the second steering mirror are the same steering mirror. 
     
     
         24 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the steering mirrors are manually relocatable at the steering mirror supports. 
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein one or more steering mirrors may be removed or added to the photonic waveguide to change communication connectivity of the optical beam between computing components. 
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the photonic waveguide is removably attachable to a computing component. 
     
     
         27 . A method in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the photonic waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide that is replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a different configuration within the second photonic waveguide than steering mirrors within the first photonic waveguide. 
     
     
         28 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the photonic waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and oriented in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
         29 . A method in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of steering mirror supports have permanently fixed locations within the photonic waveguide.