Wafer scale fiber optic termination
View Patent ↗An optical fiber terminator package ( 300 ) has a chip with a surface with one or more light emitting devices ( 314 ) and at least one photoreceptor ( 312 ) formed on or in the surface. A cap ( 302 ) is bonded to the surface of the chip to encapsulate the devices ( 312, 314 ). The cap ( 302 ) has one or more regions ( 316, 318 ) transparent to light passing to or from the devices ( 312, 314 ). The cap ( 302 ) has been bonded to the semiconductor chip at the wafer stage prior to separation of the wafer into individual packages.
1. An optical fiber terminator package including:
a) a semiconductor chip having a top surface and a bottom surface and including a first optical device which can emit or receive electromagnetic radiation, the first optical device residing on or in the top surface; and
b) a first hollow cap including:
(1) a central portion and first perimeter walls extending from a perimeter edge of the central portion with free edges of the first perimeter walls bonded to the top surface to provide a first cavity;
(2) the central portion overlying at least part or all of the first optical device:
(3) a first region of the central portion which is substantially transparent or translucent to the electromagnetic radiation; and
(4) first attachment means for attaching a first electromagnetic radiation transmitting fiber to the first hollow cap;
c) a second hollow cap bonded to the bottom surface of the semiconductor chip; wherein the first hollow cap has been bonded to the semiconductor chip at the wafer stage prior to separation of the wafer into individual packages.
2. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitted between the first optical device and the first fiber passes through the first region of the central portion.
3. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 2 , wherein the first region of the central portion is adapted to refract the electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough.
4. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor chip further includes a second optical device which can emit or receive electromagnetic radiation, the second optical device residing on or in the top surface.
5. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 4 , wherein the first hollow cap further includes second attachment means for attaching a second electromagnetic radiation transmitting fiber to the first hollow cap.
6. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitted between the second optical device and the second fiber passes through a second region of the central portion.
7. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 6 , wherein the second region of the central portion is adapted to refract the electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough.
8. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 4 , wherein the semiconductor chip includes more than two optical devices which can emit or receive electromagnetic radiation, the more than two optical devices residing on or in the top surface.
9. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 8 , wherein the first hollow cap further includes more than two attachment means for attaching more than two fibers to the first hollow cap.
10. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , wherein the first optical device emits or receives electromagnetic radiation at one or more wavelengths.
11. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , the first hollow cap including second perimeter walls extending from the periphery of the central portion away from the first perimeter walls.
12. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , the first hollow cap including at least one recess in the central portion.
13. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , wherein the first optical device is a light emitting device or a photoreceptor.
14. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 4 , wherein the second optical device is a light emitting device or a photoreceptor.
15. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 8 , wherein the more than two optical devices are individually either light emitting devices or a photoreceptors.
16. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 1 , wherein the second hollow cap, in plan view, overlaying at least part or all the first optical device.
17. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 4 , wherein the first optical device and the second optical device operate independently.
18. The optical fiber terminator package of claim 4 , wherein the first optical device and the second optical device are linked.