Method of mounting optoelectronic devices on an optical element and article

A method of mounting electro-optical devices on an optical element using an auxiliary substrate is provided herein. Electro-optical fiber optic assemblies are also described herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the preparation of substrates for optoelectronic devices and, more specifically, to a method of preparing an optoelectronic wafer for use with an active component. Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to fiber optic assemblies and individual components thereof which can be used in connection with optoelectronic devices.

Fiber optic technology is widely utilized in today's telecommunication and computer networks. One important aspect of fiber optic technology is the interconnection of optical fibers to optoelectronic devices, such as semiconductor lasers, photo-detectors, etc., wherein the optoelectronic devices either receive light signals from the optical fibers or the optoelectronic devices emit light signals into the fibers. A good optical interconnect between an optical fiber and an optoelectronic device requires high coupling efficiency (i.e., low loss of light from the coupling), ease of manufacture and a commercially viable manufacturing cost.

The demand for increased data transmission speed and the increase in computer processing speeds have driven the development of fiber optic technology. To achieve the necessary high density, rapid data transmission signals, optical interconnect assemblies are used in various communication and computer networks. Optoelectronic interconnects achieve higher rates of data transmission than electrical interconnects while maintaining lower power consumption.

In order to assemble high density optoelectronic interconnects, it is necessary to construct arrays of optical signal emitters and detectors which are interconnected by optical fibers. The emitters used to send the optical signals through the optical channels receive their input from electrical signals. These electrical signals can originate from an integrated circuit (IC) or the like. At the other end of the optical fibers are detectors which convert the received optical signals into electrical signals that can be processed. The connections must be extremely precise in order to avoid optical signal loss, and as the number of emitters and detectors increases, it becomes more difficult to maintain this precise alignment in constructing the connecting components. One known system of addressing this is disclosed in EP-0977064A (IMEC) in which alignment structures are formed on a faceplate. However, alignment of optic fibers with the faceplate is not addressed.

One type of light source that is used in fiber optic communication systems is the Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) which is essentially an extremely small laser (about three microns long). The VCSEL is generally constructed using two mirror stacks located on opposite sides of an active region. The mirrors reflect back and forth the light generated in the active region. This reflection back and forth results in a “stimulated emission” that produces light at a single wavelength or color. Such “coherent” emission is the hallmark of lasing technology. Conventional VCSELs in production today are typically based on a substrate of gallium arsenide. To form an array of light emitters, a semiconductor wafer consisting of multiple groups of VCSELs is typically produced. VCSELs may be top emitting or bottom emitting through the substrate, if a transparent substrate is used. Other types of light emitters, such as LEDs can also be used, if desired. Semiconductor wafers can be produced which include a large number of VCSELs grouped in precision arrays, which are then separated into individual arrays and processed and finished into optoelectronic components which must be connected to an active component in order to be able to emit optical signals.

The VCSELs are typically wire bond mounted to the active components, such as VLSI chips or the like, and an optical window is typically positioned over the VCSELs to protect them from damage as well as allow optical signal transmission from the VCSELs for communication with remainder of the optoelectronic system. However, assembly of damaged VCSELs to the active components and difficulty in positioning the VCSELs on the active components results in some of the VCSEL and active component packages being scrapped during manufacturing. Additionally, the mounting of individual optical fibers to the optical elements having a window facing the VCSEL, has been difficult to reliably accomplish in a cost effective manner. One known method is to utilize perforated alignment plates to align the fibers, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,590, which is assigned to AT&T.

It would be advantageous to provide a method for VCSELs to be mounted on active components of ICs that reduces the need to scrap active components due to VCSELs being inoperative due to damage or defects incurred during formation, that simplifies the proper alignment of the VCSEL wafer with an optical element, and that allows for a better connection between the active component and the associated wafer. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide an optical element to which an optic fiber can be readily attached. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to develop a method of mounting VCSELs to active components that is more efficient and cost effective than the prior known method.

SUMMARY

Briefly speaking, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method of mounting electro-optical devices on an optical element. The method includes: providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of electro-optical devices located thereon, which are adapted to emit optical signals from a first surface thereof; positioning the first surface of the semiconductor wafer in a facing orientation with an auxiliary substrate which includes a carrier material, an intermediate layer, and a transfer layer; securing the semiconductor wafer to the transfer layer of the auxiliary substrate; processing at least a portion of a second major surface of the semiconductor wafer and separating the semiconductor wafer with the attached auxiliary substrate into seperate electro-optical wafer components, each including a plurality of electro-optical devices; dissolving the intermediate layer and removing the carrier layer; and affixing the transfer layer of at least one electro-optical wafer component onto an optical element.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an electro-optical fiber optic assembly including a fiber optic faceplate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of apertures in the second surface. A layer of adhesive is disposed on the first surface of the fiber optical faceplate. A finished, processed semiconductor wafer is provided having a plurality of electro-optical devices located thereon which are adapted to emit optical signals from a first surface thereof. The first surface of the finished semiconductor wafer is disposed on the layer of adhesive in facing engagement with the first surface of the fiber optic faceplate. The electro-optical devices are aligned with the apertures in the faceplate.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a fiber optic assembly including a fiber optic faceplate having first and second surfaces. The second surface includes a plurality of apertures defined therein adapted to receive optical fibers. The apertures extend partially through the faceplate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only is not considered limiting. The terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted otherwise. The term “VCSEL,” as used in the specification, means “Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser” or its equivalent. The term “electro-optical device” refers to any optical signal emitting and/or receiving device, such as a light emitting diode, a VCSEL, an optical signal detector or the like.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of mounting a plurality of electro-optical devices10, such as VCSELs on a finished, processed semiconductor wafer which forms an electro-optical wafer component24, to an optical element12. Referring toFIG. 5, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to an electro-optical fiber optic assembly50. A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a fiber optic assembly including a fiber optic faceplate16having a plurality of apertures18defined therein and adapted to receive optical fibers20therein.

In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, electro-optical devices10are mounted on an optical element12as follows. Referring toFIG. 1, a semiconductor wafer22is provided that has a plurality of electro-optical devices10located thereon. The electro-optical devices10can include optical signal emitters, optical signal detectors, or a combination of optical signal emitters and detectors which are preferably formed in groups of ordered arrays, as shown. In the preferred embodiment, the electro-optical devices10are VCSELs. The VCSELs may be top emitters or bottom emitters, and the emitting surface is oriented toward an optical channel, such as a fiber optic faceplate12, upon final assembly. The electro-optical devices10are adapted to emit or detect optical signals from a first surface thereof which, as explained above, is oriented toward an optical channel.

Referring toFIG. 2, the first surface26A of the semiconductor wafer22is positioned in a facing orientation with an auxiliary substrate28. The auxiliary substrate28includes a carrier material30, an intermediate layer32, and a transfer layer34. The carrier material30and the transfer layer34sandwich the intermediate layer32therebetween. The semiconductor wafer22is disposed in facing orientation with the transfer layer34.

The semiconductor wafer22is secured to the transfer layer34of the auxiliary substrate28, preferably using an optical adhesive, such as a clear epoxy or UV curable adhesive. Referring toFIG. 3, at least a portion of a second surface26B of the semiconductor wafer22is processed and finished. The processing and finishing of the semiconductor wafer22can be completed using known etching, mechanical lapping and electrode depositing techniques, and the auxiliary substrate28provides firm support for easier handling as well as protection for the transmission or detection sides of the electro-optical devices10. The semiconductor wafer22, as well as the attached auxiliary substrate28, is then separated into individual electro-optical wafer components24, as shown in FIG.4. Each of the electro-optical wafer components24includes a plurality of electro-optical devices10. The wafer28can be separated using any known methods, such as using a wafer saw, to form electro-optical wafer components24. The auxiliary substrate28provides a relatively strong base for supporting the semiconductor wafer22and simplifies the manipulation and processing of the semiconductor wafer22, and protects as well as maintains the position of the electro-optical devices10during processing and attachment to the optical element12.

Still with reference toFIGS. 3-4, the intermediate layer is then dissolved and the carrier layer30is removed. Then, the transfer layer34of at least one electro-optical components24is affixed onto an optical element12. The electro-optical wafer component24is preferably secured to the optical element12by an adhesive layer36between the transfer layer34and the optical element12. It is preferred that the optical element12is a fiber optic faceplate16. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the optical element12can be any light guide, optical fiber, optical bundle, or the like without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is preferred that the optical element12includes the fiber optic faceplate16having a surface38opposite from the electro-optical components24. The surface38preferably includes a plurality of apertures18located therein in aligned positions with electro-optical devices10. The apertures18are preferably adapted to receive optical fibers20. As shown inFIG. 4, the tops of the apertures18preferably have a generally conical shape to facilitate the insertion of optical fibers20or other wave guides.

It is preferable that an active component42is positioned in electrical communication with the at least one electrode of the electro-optical wafer component24and that optical fibers20are secured in the apertures18of the fiber optic faceplate16such that the active component42can operate the electro-optical devices10to transmit and/or detect optical signals to and/or from the fiber optic faceplate16through the optical fibers20. The active component42can be any one, or a combination, of CMOS technology devices, logic circuits, drivers, VLSI chips, or the like within the scope of the present invention. It is preferred that the individual electro-optical devices10on the electro-optical wafer component24are tested prior to connecting the active component42to the electro-optical components24. By testing the electro-optical devices10on the electro-optical wafer components24prior to attachment to the active components42, the loss of active components42during manufacturing is reduced since the active components are only connected to the electro-optical wafer components24when the assembly14is determined to be satisfactory. Due to the typically very small scale of the fiber optic assembly14, once the fiber optic assembly14is attached to the active component(s)42, it is generally not possible to try to separate the fiber optic assembly14from the active components42without damaging the active component42. Thus, when testing of the fiber optic assembly14is performed after attachment of the fiber optic assembly14to the active component42, any defect of the fiber optic assembly14results in the disposal of the fiber optic assembly14and the active component42. Due to the small scale and complicated processing that is necessary to produce the fiber optic assembly14, a number of fiber optic assemblies14are not suitable for connection to active components42. Thus, by eliminating the unsatisfactory fiber optic assemblies14prior to attachment to active components42, a significant savings over current manufacturing methods can be realized. This reduction in the costs created by failed fiber optic assemblies14resulting from avoiding the loss of associated active components42, reduces the average manufacturing cost per acceptable fiber optic assembly14and active component42package. This allows electro-optical components24to be incorporated in an increasing number of electro-optical applications.

Referring toFIG. 5, the second embodiment of the present invention is directed to an electro-optical fiber optic assembly50. The fiber optic faceplate16, as described above, has first and second surfaces44A,44B and has a plurality of apertures18in the second surface44B. It is preferred that a portion of each of the apertures18flares outwardly proximate to the second surface44B. As detailed above, this generally conical portion facilitates the insertion of optical fibers20therein. It is preferred that the optical fibers20are secured in the apertures18via an adhesive. It is also preferred that the adhesive comprise an ultraviolet light activated adhesive.

A layer of adhesive36is disposed on the first surface of the fiber optic faceplate44A. It is preferred that the adhesive layer36is an ultraviolet light (uv) activated adhesive. It is also preferred that the fiber optic faceplate16, the layer of adhesive36, the adhesive (which secures the optical fibers20within the apertures18), and the optical fibers20have the same index of refraction. This reduces signal loss in transmitted or received optical signals.

A finished, processed semiconductor wafer, such as wafer component24, having a plurality of electro-optical devices10located thereon that are adapted to emit and/or detect optical signals from a first surface48thereof is located on the layer of adhesive36and is properly aligned with the fiber optic faceplate16so that the electro-optical devices10(that are positioned on or in the electro-optical wafer component24) are aligned with the apertures18in the faceplate16. It is preferable that optical fibers20are inserted in the apertures18such that optical signals emitted from the electro-optical devices10can be transmitted through the fiber optic faceplate16and the optical fibers20.

It is preferable that the electro-optical wafer component24is connected to an active component42to at least one of send or receive optical signals. As detailed above, each electro-optical wafer component24can include both electro-optical devices10that send optical signals and electro-optical devices10that detect optical signals.

The third preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a fiber optic assembly14as follows. The fiber optic assembly14includes the fiber optic faceplate16having first and second surfaces44A,44B. The second surface44B includes a plurality of apertures18defined therein and adapted to receive optical fibers20. The apertures18extend partially through the faceplate16. As mentioned above, it is preferred that a portion of each of the apertures18flares outwardly proximate to the second surface44B of the fiber optic faceplate16to facilitate the insertion of optical fibers20therein. While the apertures can be formed by any known method, it is preferred that the apertures18are formed by a photo-lithographic mask and etching process such that the location of the apertures18is controlled within two (2) microns or less.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, one embodiment of the present invention is carried out as follows. A semiconductor wafer22is provided that has a plurality of electro-optical devices10, such as VCSELs or the like, located thereon. The first surface of the semiconductor wafer22is positioned in facing orientation with an auxiliary substrate28. The auxiliary substrate28provides a relatively stronger base to simplify the manipulation and processing of the semiconductor wafer22. The semiconductor wafer22is secured to the transfer layer34of the auxiliary substrate28. At least a portion of the second surface of the semiconductor wafer22is processed and finished, prior to being separated into individual (preferably miniaturized) electro-optical wafer components24that each include a plurality of electro-optical devices10. The intermediate layer32is dissolved and the carrier material30is removed so that the transfer layer34of the at least one electro-optical component24can be affixed onto an optical element12, such as a fiber optic faceplate16, a waveguide, or the like. As mentioned above, it is preferred that the resulting fiber optic assembly14is tested prior to being attached to active component(s)42. This allows defective fiber optic assemblies14to be disposed of and significantly reduces the cost of producing combination fiber optic assembly and active component packages.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, which should be considered as merely exemplary. Further modifications and extensions of the present invention may be developed and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.