Package for opto-electrical components

The present invention relates to packages for opto-electrical components, the term “opto-electrical components” being used herein to designate in general those circuits, assemblies or sub-assemblies comprising electrical, optical as well as optoelectronic (e.g., photodetectors, laser sources, etc.) devices. Exemplary of such packages are transmitter/receiver packages for optical transmission systems.

Such packages must in general comply with a number of requirements which are at least partly conflicting among them. For instance, the package structure should provide all the external constant electrical connections both at radio frequency (RF) and DC, and optical feed-through, as well as mechanical protection. Flexibility in the internal layout is also an extensively felt need, in that such a layout should be preferably chosen depending on the configuration of components to be included in the device. Electrical connections should be ensured with a high degree of reliability, the same also applying to the mechanical structure of the package. Finally, assembling the package should be easy, leaving a reasonable degree of freedom of movement.

Such requirements do not appear to be satisfactorily met by prior art package solutions which generally are provided for a fixed design.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide an improved solution which better complies with the needs outlined in the foregoing.

According to the present invention, a package for opto-electrical components comprises a casing including (1) a chamber, (2) at least one of a set of electrical connections, and (3) an optical feed-through path between the chamber and the outside of the casing. At least one board or tile adapted to be housed in the chamber is adapted to carry the opto-electrical components. The board or tile adapted to be housed in the chamber creates a solid mechanical structure with the casing while providing electrical connections therewith.

The casing preferably includes: (1) a box-like portion defining the chamber, and (2) a base member supporting the box-like portion and having a protruding end carrying the set of electrical connections.

The electrical connections are preferably in the form of strip-like formations. The box-like portion preferably includes an opening defining the optical feed-through path. The opening is preferably positioned generally opposite the electrical connections. The casing is preferably molded electrical insulating material.

The casing also preferably includes a trench-like formation for receiving the board or tile that is adapted to be connected to the casing by solder.

The board or tile is adapted to be electrically connected to the casing by ball bonding or wedge bonding. The board or tile preferably includes a ceramic substrate and can be from an assortment of boards or tiles of different types.

The package structure of the invention provides all the external constant electrical ohmic connections (RF+DC), the optical feed-through as well as the required mechanical protection of the devices located therein. An interchangeable microboard allows flexibility in the internal electrical layout, which can be chosen in a wide gamut of alternative layouts depending on the configuration of the components to be included in the device and inserted in the package e.g. into a proper trench. Each microboard (or “tile”) includes tracks and pads appropriate for its supported components (e.g. integrated circuits, optoelectronic components, and so on) allowing a fully reliable ohmic electrical connection.

Preferably, the microboard is soldered to the package thus creating a reliable mechanical structure. Ohmic electrical connections between the microboard and the package are preferably provided through ball bonding or wedge bonding, depending on performance required. The components to be included in the package can at least partly be mounted on the microboard or tile before this is located in the package and soldered thereto, which results in an increased freedom of movement in assembling such components.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed descriptions of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a package according to the invention.

In the drawing, a package 1 includes opto-electrical components that are typically parts of an optical receiver used in high bit-rate optical transmission systems.

Package 1 essentially includes two parts or portions, namely:

(1) a basic structure or casing 2 having preferably an overall vat-like or dish-shaped configuration thus defining a housing chamber 2 a therein, and

(2) a microboard or “tile” 3 essentially comprised of a card-like member (preferably having the typical structure of a current printed circuit or hybrid circuit board) adapted to be housed in chamber 2 a.

The arrangement of package 1 allows different microboards or tiles 3 selected from a wide, virtually infinite, gamut to be assembled into a single type of casing 2 following different needs/operations or requirements.

Preferably, casing 2 includes a flat base member 4 constituting a sort of a socket having one end 4 a protruding from the remaining portion of casing 2 . This latter portion is essentially comprised of a sort of box-like member 5 extending upwardly from base member 4 .

Box-like member 5 (whose internal cavity constitutes chamber 2 a ) is substantially rectangular in shape. Other shapes (round, oval, etc.) can obviously be chosen. However, a rectangular shape is geld to better fit the shape of microboards or tiles 3 , which are usually rectangular.

End 4 a of base member 4 carries, on at least one of its surfaces, electrically conductive parts or strips 6 a , 6 b , 6 c which provide constant ohmic connections (RF+DC) between the component receiving volume in chamber 2 a intended to house microboards 3 and the outside of package 1 .

Preferably, contacts 6 a , 6 b , 6 c are in the form of strip members for enabling ohmic connection of package 1 e.g. to contact leads and/or a flexible ribbon cable (not shown).

The outer, peripheral wall of box-like member 5 of casing 2 also includes at least one opening 7 defining a so-called optical feed-through path i.e. a port for connecting one or more optical fibers (not shown) to respective components to be located within package 1 . Preferably, optical feed-through port 7 is located opposite to end 4 a carrying electrical connections 6 a , 6 b , 6 c.

Microboard or tile 3 includes tracks and pads (of a known type) adapted to carry the components to be supported by microboard or tile 3 . Microboard 3 (or each microboard 3 of a set or assortment of microboards adapted to be assembled into a single type of casing 2 ) is manufactured by methods which are well known in the area of printed circuit technology or hybrid circuit technology, thus making a detailed description of these methods unnecessary under the circumstances.

The lower portion of housing chamber 2 a preferably includes a shallow trench 8 into which microboard or tile 3 can be located.

Microboard or tile 3 is soldered to the rest of the package (essentially to the bottom of trench 8 ) thus creating a fully reliable mechanical structure inherently resistant to vibration and/or shock. Ohmic electrical connections between microboard or tile 3 (essentially the bottom surface thereof) and the rest of package 1 are preferably provided through ball bonding or wedge bonding depending on performance required.

Specific details of soldering microboard or tile 3 and ball bonding/wedge bonding thereof to casing 2 are not shown in the drawing but will be evident to those skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that such soldering/bonding techniques are fully compatible with a ceramic substrate for microboards or tiles 3 .

Casing structure 2 is advantageously made of a unitary moulded piece of electrical insulating materials, such as a plastics material, which also ensure the required mechanical protection of the components involved.

It will be appreciated that the components intended to be housed in package 1 can be mounted on microboard or tile 3 before the microboard or tile is placed in chamber 2 a and finally fixed (e.g. soldered) therein. Such premounting on microboard or tile 3 can include assembling opto-electrical assemblies or sub-assemblies requiring connection and accurate alignment of e.g. optical fibers with respect to optical sources/detectors and/or optical benches currently adopted in such units. Assembling and properly adjusting such arrangements before the respective microboard or tile 3 is assembled into the package is particularly advantageous because such assembling and adjusting steps allow a significantly higher degree of freedom of movement with respect to operations being carried out after board or tile 3 is already located in package 1 .

Of course, the basic principle of the invention remaining the same, the details and embodiments may significantly vary with respect to the exemplary embodiment shown and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the annexed claims. This applies particularly, but not exclusively, to the possibility of arranging a plurality of microboards or tiles 3 within a single casing 2 .