Miniaturized high speed optical module

1. An optical module to be mounted on a circuit carrier, the optical module comprising:

a carrier substrate including first electrical connection terminals on a first surface thereof, second electrical connection terminals on a second surface electrically connected to the first electrical connection terminals, the second electrical connection terminals being connectable to the circuit carrier;

an optically transparent carrier including first electrical connection terminals, wherein the carrier substrate includes a first opening on at least a first surface thereof and the optically transparent carrier is positioned completely within the first opening; and

an optical element electrically connected to the optically transparent carrier,

wherein the optically transparent carrier is mechanically attached and electrically connected to the carrier substrate within the first opening through corresponding first electrical connection terminals;

wherein said optical element is connected on a first surface of the optically transparent carrier and is adapted to emit/receive light through the optically transparent carrier to/from an optical coupling element facing a second surface of the optically transparent carrier opposing said first surface; and

wherein the carrier substrate has thermal characteristics similar to the thermal characteristics of the optically transparent carrier.

2. The optical module of claim 1 , further including the optical coupling element, said optical coupling element comprising a lens assembly and being arranged in the first opening and facing a second surface of the optically transparent carrier so that the lens assembly is aligned to the optical element.

3. The optical module of claim 2 , wherein the optical coupling element is attached to the second surface of the optically transparent carrier.

4. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent carrier is arranged so that the first surface faces outwards the carrier substrate.

5. The optical module of claim 2 , wherein the optical coupling element is adapted to receive a light guiding means, said light guiding means being aligned to the lens assembly and mounted by means of a fastener.

6. The optical module of claim 2 , wherein the carrier substrate include a second opening, the optical coupling element being adapted to receive the light guiding means through said second opening.

7. The optical module of claim 1 , further comprising a heat dissipating element arranged above the first surface of the optically transparent carrier and arranged so as to dissipate the heat of the optical element.

8. The optical module of claim 7 , wherein the heat dissipating element is attached to the optical module by means of a thermal sealant.

9. The optical module of claim 1 , further comprising at least one surface mount device electrically connected to the optically transparent carrier or the substrate carrier.

10. The optical module of claim 1 , further including an interposer adapted to be mounted on the circuit carrier and to electrically connect the carrier substrate to the circuit carrier.

11. The optical module of claim 10 , wherein the carrier substrate is fixable to the interposer by means of a fastening element.

12. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate carrier is made of a multi-layer ceramic or organic material.

13. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent carrier is made of pyrex glass substantially transparent to a wavelength of 850 nm.

14. The optical module of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent carrier is mechanically attached and electrically connected to the carrier substrate between a bottom surface of the carrier substrate and a top surface of the carrier substrate.