Enclosure for a laser package

1. An enclosure for a laser package, the enclosure being configured to receive a laser component within the enclosure, and further configured to receive for a driver integrated circuit (IC) on the exterior of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises first external electrical contacts electrically connected to respective first IC electrical contacts, and second IC electrical contacts electrically connected to respective first internal electrical contacts, the enclosure further comprising a shelf that externally extends from the enclosure, wherein the first and second IC electrical contacts are configured for electrical connection to the driver IC, and wherein the enclosure and first external electrical contacts are configured to be hot-swappable for receiving by a cage mounted on a printed circuit board, and at least one of the first external electrical contacts is placed on the surface of the shelf.

2. The enclosure according to claim 1 , wherein the number of second IC electrical contacts is greater than the number of first IC electrical contacts, and the number of first internal contacts is greater than the number of first external contacts.

3. The enclosure according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises second external electrical contacts electrically connected to respective second internal electrical contacts.

4. The enclosure according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second IC electrical contacts are provided in an external IC contact region of the enclosure that is adjacent to a face of the enclosure and set-back from the face.

5. The enclosure according to claim 4 , wherein the IC contact region is recessed within the face or comprises a recessed shelf adjacent the face.

6. The enclosure according to claim 1 , further comprising a driver IC provided on the exterior of the enclosure and electrically connected to the first and second IC electrical contacts.

7. The enclosure according to claim 6 , wherein the driver IC has a serial data input, a plurality of digital to analogue converters, and a plurality of analogue signal outputs, wherein the IC is operable to convert a serial data signal received at the serial data input into a plurality of analogue data signals at the output.

8. The enclosure according to claim 7 , wherein the driver IC is operable to control a wavelength tunable laser within the enclosure.

9. The enclosure according to claim 6 , wherein the driver IC is adjacent to a face of the enclosure and a face of the driver IC opposite to the enclosure is flush with or set-back from the face of the enclosure.

10. The enclosure according to claim 1 , further comprising a wavelength tunable laser electrically connected within the enclosure.

11. A laser package comprising an enclosure according to claim 1 , further comprising a driver IC provided on the exterior of the enclosure and electrically connected to the first and second IC electrical contacts, and a wavelength tunable laser provided within the enclosure and electrically connected to the first internal electrical contacts.

12. A laser package according to claim 11 , wherein the laser package is dimensioned to be received within an optical transceiver module that is one or more of:

a. hot-swappable; and

b. compliant with the SFP MSA standard; and

c. compliant with the XFP MSA standard.

13. An optical transmitter module compliant with the SFP or XFP MSA standard comprising a laser package according to claim 12 .