IP Library Granted Patent US 12704676
Granted Patent B2
US 12704676 · App. 18/315,464 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Semiconductor package, optical device and method of fabricating the same

Inventors: Chih-Tsung Shih (Hsinchu City, TW); Felix Yingkit Tsui (Cupertino, CA); Stefan Rusu (Sunnyvale, CA); Chewn-Pu Jou (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
G02B6/12014G02B6/0065G02B6/13G02B6/26H04B10/503
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704676
App. No.
18/315,464
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical device includes an input array, an output array and a waveguide array. The input array is connected to a first slab structure, while the output array is connected to a second slab structure. The waveguide array is optically coupled to the first slab structure and the second slab structure. The waveguide array includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part and a plurality of waveguide channels. The first connecting part is joined with the first slab structure. The second connecting part is joined with the second slab structure, wherein the second connecting part includes a central portion and at least one flank portion, the central portion is connected to and overlapped with the second slab structure, and the at least one flank portion extends over a side surface of the second slab structure. The waveguide channels are joining the first connecting part to the second connecting part.

Claims (44)

1 . A structure, comprising:

a first slab structure and a second slab structure;

a plurality of waveguide channels connected to and overlapped with a first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and connected to and overlapped with a second connecting surface of the second slab structure; and

at least one auxiliary channel spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the second connecting surface of the second slab structure, wherein the at least one auxiliary channel is optically coupled to the first slab structure and the second slab structure, and the at least one auxiliary channel is arranged adjacent to one waveguide channel of the plurality of waveguide channels with a first gap therebetween, and the first gap is equal to a second gap between each of the plurality of waveguide channels.

2 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one auxiliary channel comprises a plurality of auxiliary channels spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the second connecting surface of the second slab structure, and wherein the plurality of auxiliary channels extends over two side surfaces of the first slab structure and extends over two side surfaces of the second slab structure.

3 . The structure according to claim 2 , wherein a ratio of the number of the plurality of auxiliary channels to the number of the plurality of waveguide channels is in a range of 1:2 to 1:50.

4 . The structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first connecting part connecting the first slab structure to the plurality of waveguide channels and the at least one auxiliary channel, wherein the first connecting part comprises a central portion joined with the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and flank portions overhanging the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and the at least one auxiliary channel is joined with the flank portions of the first connecting part.

5 . The structure according to claim 1 , the first slab structure includes the first connecting surface, a first curved surface opposite to the first connecting surface, and first flat side surfaces joining the first connecting surface to the first curved surface;

the second slab structure includes the second connecting surface, a second curved surface opposite to the first connecting surface, and second flat side surfaces joining the second connecting surface to the second curved surface,

and wherein the first flat side surfaces of the first slab structure and the second flat side surfaces of the second slab structure have no waveguide channels connected thereto.

6 . The structure according to claim 5 , further comprising:

an input array connected to the first curved surface of the first slab structure; and

an output array connected to the second curved surface of the second slab structure.

7 . The structure according to claim 6 , wherein the input array consists of one input channel, and the output array consists of sixteen output channels.

8 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second gap between each of the plurality of waveguide channels is in a range of 0.5 μm to 1 μm.

9 . A structure, comprising:

a substrate;

a core layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the core layer comprises a grating coupler and a waveguide structure disposed aside the grating coupler, wherein the waveguide structure comprises:

slab structures;

connecting parts joined with connecting surfaces of the slab structures, wherein the connecting parts are overhanging side surfaces of the slab structures; and

a plurality of waveguide channels connected to the connecting parts and optically coupled to the slab structures;

a protection layer covering the core layer, wherein the protection layer includes an opening revealing the grating coupler of the core layer;

an interconnection layer disposed over the protection layer;

through vias penetrating through the protection layer and the core layer, and electrically connected to the interconnection layer; and

an optical fiber disposed in the opening and optically coupled to the grating coupler.

10 . The structure according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one auxiliary channel spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the connecting surfaces of the slab structures, wherein the at least one auxiliary channel is optically coupled to the slab structure through the connecting parts.

11 . The structure according to claim 9 , wherein the core layer further comprises a modulator disposed aside the waveguide structure for modulating optical signals.

12 . The structure according to claim 9 , further comprising an electronic die disposed on and electrically connected to the interconnection layer.

13 . The structure according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a second interconnection layer disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the through vias, wherein the second interconnection layer and the interconnection layer are located on two opposing surfaces of the through vias; and

conductive balls disposed on and electrically connected to the second interconnection layer.

14 . The structure according to claim 13 , further comprising a carrier substrate, wherein the conductive balls are electrically connected to bonding pads of the carrier substrate.

15 . A structure, comprising:

a first slab structure having a first connecting surface, a first curved surface, a first linear side surface and a second linear side surface, wherein the first linear side surface and the second linear side surface are arranged opposite to one another, and are directly joining the first connecting surface to the first curved surface;

a second slab structure having a second connecting surface;

a plurality of waveguide channels optically coupled to the first slab structure and the second slab structure, and extending from the first connecting surface to the second connection surface; and

a first connecting part disposed in between the first connecting surface of the first slab structure and the plurality of waveguide channels, wherein the first connecting part has a first surface joined with the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and a second surface joined with the plurality of waveguide channel, wherein a span of the first connecting part is greater than a span of the first connecting surface.

16 . The structure according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a second connecting part disposed in between the second slab structure and the plurality of waveguide channels, wherein the second connecting part has a first surface joined with the second connecting surface of the second slab structure, and a second surface joined with the plurality of waveguide channels, wherein a span of the second connecting part is greater than a span of the second connecting surface.

17 . The structure according to claim 15 , wherein the first connecting part is overhanging the first linear side surface and overhanging the second linear side surface of the first slab structure and physically separated from the first side surfaces.

18 . The structure according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one auxiliary channel spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the first connecting surface of the first slab structure, and spaced apart from and non-overlapped with the second connecting surface of the second slab structure, wherein the at least one auxiliary channel is optically coupled to the first slab structure and the second slab structure.

19 . The structure according to claim 18 , wherein the first connecting part comprises a central portion connected to the plurality of waveguide channels and a flank portion connected to the at least one auxiliary channel, and wherein from a top view of the structure, a width of the first connecting part is kept constant from the central portion to the flank portion.

20 . The structure according to claim 15 , wherein an interface exists between the first surface of the first connecting part and the first connecting surface of the first slab structure.