Integrated circuit device

1. A packaged optronic integrated circuit device including:

an integrated circuit die containing at least one of a radiation emitter and radiation receiver,

said integrated circuit die having formed thereon at least one mechanical protective layer, comprising top and bottom planar surfaces, formed of electrically insulative and mechanically protective material,

at least one of said at least one mechanical protective layer being transparent to radiation,

at least one of said at least one mechanical protective layer comprising electrically insulative edge surfaces having pads,

the pads comprising solderable contacts extending onto at least one of the top and bottom planar surfaces of the at least one mechanical protective layer, and

at least one of said planar surfaces of said at least one mechanical protective layer including an edge configuration defining a step.

2. A packaged optronic integrated circuit device according to claim 1 wherein said step is coated with an opaque coating.

3. A packaged optronic device according to claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit die has top and bottom surfaces and said step is disposed entirely above the top surface of the die.

4. A packaged optronic device according to claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit die has top and bottom faces, said at least one mechanical protective layer includes a top protective layer transparent to radiation overlying the top face of said integrated circuit die and a bottom protective layer overlying said bottom face of said integrated circuit die.

5. A packaged optronic device according to claim 4 wherein said top protective layer has a top planar surface and said top surface includes said edge configuration defining said step.

6. A packaged optronic device according to claim 5 wherein said bottom protective layer has a bottom planar surface and said solderable contacts extend onto said bottom planar surface.