Passive alignment of VCSELs to waveguides in opto-electronic cards and printed circuit boards

1. An opto-electronic package facilitating the passive alignment of VCSELs to waveguides; said package comprising:

a substrate bearing a first surface;

a first cladding layer positioned on said first surface of said substrate;

a contact pad positioned on at least a position of the surface of said first cladding layer;

a second cladding layer located on a further surface position of said first cladding layer;

a waveguide channel being positioned in said second cladding layer, said first and second cladding layers each being constituted of an organic material;

optical means being in optical communication with said waveguide channel in said second cladding layer and in electrical connection with said contact pad on said first cladding layer, at least one transmitter/receiver chip being coupled to said surface of said second cladding layer; and

at least one transmitter/receiver chip being coupled to said surface of said second cladding layer through the interposition of C4-joints.

2. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a low expansion material approaching the coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one chip so as to reduce and minimize strains encountered in the C4-joints.

3. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said substrate material is selected from the group of materials consisting of epoxy glass composites, utilizing thick yams and low expansion s-glass with a CTE of as low as 10 ppm/° C.

4. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an index-matched adhesive couples said second cladding layer directly to said at least one transmitter/receiver chip, and extends between said optical means and waveguide channel.

5. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second cladding layer has an integrated chip with optical inputs and outputs mounted on the surface of said cladding layer.

6. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said package comprises a constituent of a printed circuit board providing for the precise alignment of VCSELs to waveguides.

7. An opto-electronic package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said package comprises a constituent of an opto-electronic card providing for the passive alignment of VCSELs to waveguides.

8. A method of producing an opto-electronic package facilitating the passive alignment of VCSELs to waveguides; said method comprising:

providing a substrate having a first surface;

positioning a first cladding layer on said first surface of said substrate;

arranging a contact pad on at least a portion of the surface of said first cladding layer;

locating a second cladding layer on a further surface portion of said first cladding layer;

positioning a waveguide channel in said second cladding layer, said first and second cladding layers each being constituted of an organic material;

providing optical means in optical communication with said waveguide channel in said second cladding layer and in electrical connection with said contact pad on said first cladding layer, at least one transmitter/receiver chip being coupled to said surface of said second cladding layer; and

at least one transmitter/receiver chip is coupled to said surface of said second cladding layer through the interposition of C4-joints.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said substrate comprises a low expansion material approaching the coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one chip so as to reduce and minimize strains encountered in the C4 joints.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said core material is selected from the group of materials consisting of epoxy glass composites, utilizing thick yarns and low expansion S-glass with a CTE of as low as 10 ppm/° C.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein an index-matched adhesive couples said second cladding layer directly to said at least one transmitter/receiver chip, and extends between said optical means and waveguide channel.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein an integrated chip with optical inputs and outputs is mounted on the surface of said second cladding layer.

13. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said package comprises a constituent of a printed circuit board providing for the precise alignment of VCSELs to waveguides.

14. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said package comprises a constituent of an opto-electronic card providing for the passive alignment of VCSELs to waveguides.