Compact laser package with integrated temperature control
View Patent ↗This disclosure concerns optical packages such as may be used in optical transceivers and transmitters. In one example, an optical package includes a header assembly having a base portion to which is attached a header structure that is split into first and second portions that are separated from each other by a space. The header structure further includes one or more electrical leads extending through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure. An active temperature control device is included in the optical package and resides in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure. Finally, an optical element, such as a laser, is provided that is arranged for thermal communication with the active temperature control device so that operation of the optical element can be controlled by way of the active temperature control device.
1. An optical package, comprising:
a header subassembly, including:
a base portion;
a header structure attached to the base portion, the header structure being split into first and second portions that are separated from each other by a space; and
a plurality of electrical leads, two or more of which extend through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure;
an active temperature control device at least partially residing in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure and at least indirectly connected to at least one electrical lead; and
an optical element in thermal communication with the active temperature control device and at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead.
2. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the header structure are substantially mirror images of each other.
3. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the active temperature control device comprises a thermoelectric cooler responsive to control signals generated by an external control circuit and receivable by way of at least one of the electrical leads.
4. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises an optical emitter.
5. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).
6. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical element is mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device.
7. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the active temperature control device defines a plurality of component mounting surfaces.
8. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the active temperature control device comprises:
a first passive heat sink;
a second passive heat sink; and
a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the first and second passive heat sinks.
9. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises an optical emitter, and further comprising:
a thermistor located proximate the optical emitter and mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device, the thermistor being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead; and
a photodiode arranged for optical communication with the optical emitter and mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device, the photodiode being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead.
10. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the active temperature control device includes a plurality of bond pads, each of which is at least indirectly connected to a corresponding electrical lead extending through the base portion of the header structure.
11. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a header can attached to the header subassembly and including a window arranged for optical communication with the optical element.
12. The optical package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical package is substantially compliant with the GBIC standard.
13. An optical package, comprising:
a header can having a window disposed at one end;
a header subassembly attached to the header can, including:
a base portion;
a header structure attached to the base portion, the header structure being split into first and second portions that are separated from each other by a space; and
a plurality of electrical leads, two or more of which extend through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure;
an active temperature control device at least partially residing in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure and at least indirectly connected to at least one electrical lead; and
an optical element at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead, the optical element being arranged for optical communication with the window of the header can, and also arranged for thermal communication with the active temperature control device.
14. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the window of the header can includes an integrated lens.
15. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first and second portions of the header structure are substantially mirror images of each other.
16. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the active temperature control device comprises a thermoelectric cooler responsive to control signals generated by an external control circuit and receivable by way of at least one of the electrical leads.
17. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the optical element comprises a laser.
18. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the optical element is mounted to the active temperature control device by way of a submount.
19. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the active temperature control device defines a plurality of component mounting surfaces.
20. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the optical element comprises an optical emitter, and further comprising:
a thermistor located proximate the optical emitter and mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device, the thermistor being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead; and
a photodiode arranged for optical communication with the optical emitter and mounted to the active temperature control device by way of a submount, the photodiode being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead.
21. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the active temperature control device includes a plurality of bond pads, each of which is at least indirectly connected to a corresponding electrical lead extending through the base portion of the header structure.
22. The optical package as recited in claim 13 , wherein the optical package is substantially compliant with the GBIC standard.
23. An optoelectronic module, comprising:
a module housing; and
an optical package substantially disposed within the module housing and comprising:
a header subassembly, including:
a base portion;
a header structure attached to the base portion, the header structure being split into first and second portions that are separated from each other by a space; and
a plurality of electrical leads, at least two of which extend through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure;
an active temperature control device at least partially residing in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure and at least indirectly connected to at least one electrical lead; and
an optical element in thermal communication with the active temperature control device and at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead.
24. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optoelectronic module is substantially compliant with the dimensional and form factor requirements of the SFP MSA.
25. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optical package is substantially compliant with the GBIC standard.
26. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the first and second portions of the header structure are substantially mirror images of each other.
27. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optical element comprises an optical emitter.
28. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optical element comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).
29. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optical element is mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device.
30. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the active temperature control device defines a plurality of component mounting surfaces.
31. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the active temperature control device comprises:
a first passive heat sink;
a second passive heat sink; and
a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the first and second passive heat sinks.
32. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , wherein the optical element comprises an optical emitter, and further comprising:
a thermistor located proximate the optical emitter and mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device, the thermistor being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead; and
a photodiode arranged for optical communication with the optical emitter and mounted at least indirectly to the active temperature control device, the photodiode being at least indirectly connected with at least one electrical lead.
33. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , further comprising a header can attached to the header subassembly and including a window arranged for optical communication with the optical element.
34. The optoelectronic module as recited in claim 23 , further comprising a control circuit in operative communication with the active temperature control device.
35. An optical package, comprising:
a header can having a window disposed at one end;
a header subassembly attached to the header can, including:
a base portion;
a header structure attached to the base portion, the header structure being split into first and second portions that are substantially mirror images of each other and that are separated from each other by a space; and
a plurality of electrical leads, at least some of which extend through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure;
an active temperature control device at least partially residing in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure and at least indirectly connected to a pair of electrical leads, the active temperature control device defining a plurality of mounting surfaces;
a laser mounted at least indirectly to a mounting surface of the active temperature control device and at least indirectly connected to a pair of electrical leads, the laser being arranged for optical communication with the window of the header can;
a photodiode mounted at least indirectly to a mounting surface of the active temperature control device and at least indirectly connected to a pair of electrical leads, the photodiode being arranged for optical communication with the laser; and
a thermistor mounted to a mounting surface of the active temperature control device and at least indirectly connected to a pair of electrical leads.
36. The optical package as recited in claim 35 , wherein the window of the header can includes an integrated lens.
37. The optical package as recited in claim 35 , wherein the active temperature control device comprises a thermoelectric cooler responsive to control signals generated by an external control circuit and receivable by way of the electrical leads connected at least indirectly to the thermoelectric cooler.
38. The optical package as recited in claim 35 , wherein the laser comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).
39. The optical package as recited in claim 35 , wherein the optical package is substantially compliant with the GBIC standard.
40. The optical package as recited in claim 35 , wherein the laser, photodiode and thermistor each are mounted to different respective mounting surfaces of the active temperature control device.