Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus for producing substrates, including printed circuit boards, in production lines. In one aspect, the present invention provides a production system, a plurality of production lines, wherein machines from one of the lines may be used to replace machines in one of the other lines. In another aspect, the present invention provides a printing system for use in circuit board production lines. The printing system includes a first printer, a second printer and a transfer station. In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispensing system for use is production lines. The dispensing system includes a shuttle conveyor system that allows parallel processing on multiple circuit boards.

Abstract: A new type of transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) especially suitable for fiber optic communication. The TOSA has a light source such as a laser diode, preferably of the surface-emitting type, with an inherent mode-field diameter matched without a lens to that of the optical fiber, resulting in enhanced light coupling, more relaxed tolerances, and less sensitivity to laser misalignment. The TOSA can be in a receptacle form, with an annulus having a light conductor matched to the light source and the fiber, or can be in "pigtail" form with a permanently attached buffered optical fiber. Only one active alignment is required, and can be eliminated, if the laser diode is aligned passively using lands on the annulus or the end of the fiber cladding, and matching lands on a mounting substrate, with molten solder alignment used to draw the two into alignment.