Abstract: A woven structure is described in which optical fibers are positioned and held in the structure in a manner to maximize their optical efficiency. The structure consists of non-optical fibers extending in both the warp and woof direction, the optical fibers are positioned in channels between supporting fibers in the warp direction. Selected ones of the non-optical fibers in the warp direction may be electrical conductors. The structure is manufactured using conventional weaving equipment by positioning both the optical fibers and the non-optical warp fibers, and then weaving the woof fibers into place without causing micro-bends or discontinuities in the optical fibers. The structure is woven with the optical fibers positioned in zero warp. The woven grid-like mat can be coated with a protective material that either enables it to form a flexible sheet or a rigid, hard, grid-like mat which has aligned zero warp optical fibers embedded therein.

Abstract: A woven material is described in which optical fibers are positioned and held in the material in a manner to maximize their optical efficiency. The material consists of fibers extending in both the warp and woof direction, the optical fibers are positioned in channels between the supporting fibers in the warp direction. The material is manufactured using conventional weaving equipment by positioning both the optical fibers and the warp fibers, and then weaving the woof fibers into place without bending the optical fibers. The fibers are thusly woven so that the optical fibers have zero warp. The woven grid-like mat can be coated with a protective material that either enables it to form a flexible sheet of ribbon or a rigid, hard, grid-like mat which has aligned zero warp optical fibers embedded therein. The material shown can be used to provide sensing, imaging or communications. It can be utilized for optical backplanes for optoelectronic systems or a housing for optoelectronic components.

Abstract: A woven material is described in which optical fibers are positioned and held in the material in a manner to maximize their optical efficiency. The material consists of fibers extending in both the warp and woof direction, the optical fibers are positioned in channels between the supporting fibers in the warp direction. The material is manufactured using conventional weaving equipment by positioning both the optical fibers and the warp fibers, and then weaving the woof fibers into place without bending the optical fibers. The fibers are thusly woven so that the optical fibers have zero warp. The woven grid-like mat can be coated with a protective material that either enables it to form a flexible sheet of ribbon or a rigid, hard, grid-like mat which has aligned zero warp optical fibers embedded therein. The material shown can be used to provide sensing, imaging or communications. It can be utilized for optical backplanes for optoelectronic systems or a housing for optoelectronic components.

Abstract: A woven material is described in which optical fibers are positioned and held in the material in a manner to maximize their optical efficiency. The material consists of fibers extending in both the warp and woof direction, the optical fibers are positioned in channels between the supporting fibers in the warp direction. The material is manufactured using conventional weaving equipment by positioning both the optical fibers and the warp fibers, and then weaving the woof fibers into place without bending the optical fibers. The fibers are thusly woven so that the optical fibers have zero warp. The woven grid-like mat can be coated with a protective material that either enables it to form a flexible sheet of ribbon or a rigid, hard, grid-like mat which has aligned zero warp optical fibers embedded therein. The material shown can be used to provide sensing, imaging or communications. It can be utilized for optical backplanes for optoelectronic systems or a housing for optoelectronic components.