Patent Description:
With rapid development of Next Generation Internet, mobile communications, cloud computing, and big data technologies, technologies of optical interconnection, optical communications, and optical processing using light as an information carrier become a basis of development of an information society and an intelligent city.

Light becomes an information carrier by using an optical component. Optical components are classified into an active optical component and a passive optical component. The active optical component is an optical component that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, or converts an optical signal into an electrical signal, and needs to be driven by additional energy to work. The passive optical component is an optical component that does not need to be driven by additional energy to work.

To meet a requirement for reliability during use of an optical component, the optical component needs to be packaged. Especially for an active optical component, it is extremely easy for the active optical component to fail in a non-hermetic environment under the action of oxygen and water vapor. Therefore, hermetic package of the active optical component is very important for reliability of the active optical component.

Currently, common structures of packaging apparatuses for hermetically packaging an active optical component include:.

Therefore, how to hermetically seal an optical component with low costs and implement optical coupling of the optical component has become a technical problem urgently needing to be resolved by a person skilled in the art.

<CIT> discloses photonic integrated circuit chip packaging.

<CIT> discloses a capping method for laser diode protection.

<CIT> discloses micro-hermetic packaging of optical devices.

<CIT> discloses an optoelectronic module that includes a first sub-module and a second sub-module. The first sub-module has a surface with a cavity formed therein, and includes an integrated waveguide provided with a first optical port accessible from the cavity. The second sub-module faces the first sub-module. A metallic wall extends from the first sub-module to the second sub-module, and surrounds the cavity to define a hermetically closed chamber. An optoelectronic device is coupled to at least one of the first and second sub-modules, and is included in the chamber.

This application provides an optical component packaging apparatus, an optical module, and an optical component packaging method according to the claims, to resolve a prior-art problem that an optical component packaging apparatus can implement neither hermetic package of an optical component with low costs nor optical coupling of the optical component.

In the optical component packaging apparatus according to claim <NUM>, the optical component is packaged by using the packaging cavity that is formed through matching by the two packaging substrates. Compared with the prior art in which a packaging apparatus having a metal case is used, the optical component packaging apparatus according to claim <NUM> has lower costs, the optical waveguide that is configured to couple to the optical component and perform optical coupling is disposed in the packaging substrate, and the optical component in the packaging cavity can implement optical switching with the outside by using the optical waveguide, so that optical input and output are implemented while the optical component is sealed. Therefore, based on the optical component packaging apparatus, a problem of hermetic package of the optical component with low costs and a problem of the optical coupling of the optical component are resolved.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for the embodiments.

The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is an exploded schematic structural view of an optical component packaging apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM>. The optical component packaging apparatus includes an optical component <NUM>, and a first packaging substrate <NUM> and a second packaging substrate <NUM> that are disposed opposite to each other. The optical component <NUM> in this embodiment may be an active optical component or a passive optical component. When the optical component is an active optical component, the optical component <NUM> may be a light source or an optical detector, and may be specifically, for example, a laser chip or a detector chip. In a specific implementation, areas and thicknesses of the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM> are set based on an outline dimension of a corresponding optical component, and sizes of the two packaging substrates may be the same or may be different.

<FIG> and <FIG> each are a cross-sectional schematic structural view of the optical component packaging apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM>. A packaging cavity <NUM> filled with a protective gas is formed between the two packaging substrates, and the optical component <NUM> is disposed in the packaging cavity <NUM>. It should be noted that, the packaging cavity <NUM> is a sealed hollow structure formed between the two packaging substrates, and the optical component is packaged in the sealed hollow structure, to isolate external water vapor and oxygen. For a specific manner of disposing the packaging cavity <NUM>, refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. The first packaging substrate <NUM> includes a surface <NUM>, and the second packaging substrate <NUM> includes a surface <NUM>. The surface <NUM> and the surface <NUM> are disposed opposite to each other, and the surface <NUM> and the surface <NUM> each are provided with a groove, that is, the first packaging substrate <NUM> is provided with a first groove <NUM>, and the second packaging substrate <NUM> is provided with a second groove <NUM>. The two grooves accommodate the optical component, and peripheries of the two grooves are connected by using a sealant <NUM>, to form the packaging cavity. In examples that do not fall under the scope of the claims, there may be no groove provided between the two packaging substrates, and only a sealant is used for connection, or a spacer having a specific thickness is used for connection, to form the packaging cavity. The optical component in the packaging cavity may be fastened by using an adhesive and the like. Alternatively, in examples that do not fall under the scope of the claims, a groove may be provided on either of the substrates, parts that are of the two substrates and that are located around the groove are attached to each other to seal the groove, to form the packaging cavity. The protective gas may be a common gas such as helium, argon, and nitrogen, and may be specifically selected based on a production process. It should be noted that, in an implementation process that does not fall under the scope of the claims, there may be no protective gas filled in the packaging cavity <NUM>, instead, the packaging cavity <NUM> is set to be vacuum, and the vacuum packaging cavity can also package the optical component.

Still referring to <FIG>, an optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed in the first packaging substrate <NUM>, and the optical waveguide <NUM> has two coupling ends. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an end face of a first coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on an inner surface of the packaging cavity <NUM> and is coupled to the optical component <NUM>, and an end face of a second coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on an external surface of the first packaging substrate <NUM>. The optical waveguide <NUM> extends in the first packaging substrate <NUM>, to guide light to or out of the packaging cavity <NUM>, so that the optical component <NUM> in the packaging cavity <NUM> performs optical switching with the outside of the packaging cavity <NUM>. In a specific implementation, when the optical component <NUM> is an active optical component, for example, when the optical component <NUM> is a light source, the first coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is an input end, and the second coupling end <NUM> is an output end. If the optical component <NUM> is an optical detector, the first coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is an output end, and the second coupling end <NUM> is an input end. In another implementation, the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM> may each be provided with an optical waveguide <NUM>, and there may be at least two optical waveguides <NUM> in each packaging substrate.

For a method of disposing the optical waveguide <NUM>, refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. In an implementation, refer to <FIG>, an extension direction of the optical waveguide <NUM> is parallel to the first packaging substrate <NUM>, the end face of the first coupling end <NUM> of each optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on a side wall of the first groove <NUM>, and the end face of the second coupling end <NUM> of each optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on a side surface of the first packaging substrate <NUM>, so that an optical signal may be input to or output from the optical component <NUM> from a side surface of the second packaging substrate <NUM>. It should be noted that, in this implementation, an optical input/output port of the optical component <NUM> faces toward the side wall of the first groove <NUM>. In addition to accommodating the optical component <NUM>, the first groove <NUM> can further enable the optical input/output port of the optical component <NUM> to butt the end face of the first coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM>.

In another implementation, referring to <FIG>, an extension direction of each optical waveguide <NUM> is perpendicular to the first packaging substrate <NUM>, the end face of the first coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on a surface that is of the first packaging substrate <NUM> and that is in the packaging cavity <NUM>, and the end face of the second coupling end <NUM> of the optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed on a surface that is of the first packaging substrate <NUM> and that is away from the packaging cavity <NUM>, so that an optical signal may be input to or output from the optical component <NUM> from the bottom of the second packaging substrate <NUM>. It should be noted that, in this implementation, the optical component <NUM> may not be fastened by using the first groove <NUM>, and the first packaging substrate <NUM> may be provided with no groove.

The two packaging substrates each are provided with an optical waveguide <NUM>. Alternatively, when there are a plurality of optical waveguides <NUM>, the optical waveguides <NUM> may all be disposed in the foregoing two manners.

In a specific implementation, the sealant <NUM> may be implemented by using an adhesive. To simplify a packaging process of the two packaging substrates, in a specific implementation, to simplify a connection structure between the two packaging substrates, refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of the first packaging substrate <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of the second packaging substrate <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. A first ring pad <NUM> is disposed on the surface <NUM> of the first packaging substrate <NUM>, a second ring pad <NUM> is disposed on the surface <NUM> of the second packaging substrate <NUM>, and the first ring pad <NUM> and the second ring pad <NUM> each are disposed around the optical component. The sealant <NUM> is a solder, and the solder is connected to the first ring pad <NUM> and the second ring pad <NUM> in a sealed manner, to butt the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM>.

In the connection process of the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM>, the solder may be disposed on the first ring pad <NUM> or the second ring pad <NUM> in advance, and the solder is melted through reflow soldering, to connect the first ring pad <NUM> and the second ring pad <NUM>. Soldering between the first ring pad <NUM> and the second ring pad <NUM> may be integrated with another soldering process of the optical component, to further reduce production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus.

In a specific implementation, the solder may be a copper-zinc alloy solder, a silver-copper alloy solder, or a silver-copper-zinc alloy solder that is commonly used in a reflow soldering process, and air-tightness of the solder is superior to that of an adhesive.

In another implementation that does not fall under the scope of the claims, the two packaging substrates may be directly connected in a manner such as splicing, or the sealant <NUM> is replaced with a spacer having a specific thickness.

When the optical component <NUM> is an active optical component, power needs to be supplied to the optical component, and the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM> should be provided with a power supply circuit. A power output end of the power supply circuit is located in the packaging cavity <NUM> and is connected to the optical component, and a power input end of the power supply circuit is located outside the packaging cavity <NUM>.

In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM> are provided with a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit specifically includes an electrode <NUM> disposed on the first packaging substrate <NUM> and a power-on interface <NUM> disposed on the second packaging substrate <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, an output end <NUM> of the electrode <NUM> is located in a region surrounded by the first ring pad <NUM>, and is connected to the optical component <NUM> by using a lead, and an input end <NUM> of the electrode <NUM> is located outside the region surrounded by the first ring pad <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, when the first packaging substrate <NUM> and the second packaging substrate <NUM> are butted, the input end <NUM> of the electrode <NUM> is connected to the power-on interface <NUM>. The power-on interface <NUM> may be specifically implemented by disposing a pad on the second packaging substrate <NUM>. In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG>, the output end <NUM> of the electrode <NUM> is connected to the optical component <NUM> by using a lead. In another implementation, the optical component <NUM> may be directly connected to the output end of the electrode <NUM>. Specifically, the optical component <NUM> may be is mounted inversely on the first packaging substrate <NUM>.

The foregoing power supply circuit may alternatively be disposed only on the first packaging substrate <NUM> or the second packaging substrate <NUM>, that is, both the electrode and the power-on interface may be disposed on a same packaging substrate.

In order that the electrode <NUM> extending into the region surrounded by the first ring pad <NUM> or the second ring pad <NUM> causes no impact on sealing performance of the packaging cavity <NUM>, the electrode <NUM> of the power supply circuit is disposed between the ring pad and the packaging substrate on which the electrode <NUM> is located. In a specific implementation, the ring pad and the electrode of the power supply circuit may be disposed at different layers, that is, a pad layer and a circuit layer are formed on a surface of the packaging substrate, and the pad layer is located above the circuit layer.

In a specific implementation, the optical component <NUM> may be coupled to the optical waveguide <NUM> through butt-coupling, grating coupling, or evanescent wave coupling, and the coupling manner is specifically selected based on the production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus and required coupling efficiency.

In order that multi-channel integration and multi-function integration are implemented on the first packaging substrate <NUM> or the second packaging substrate <NUM>, the optical component <NUM> packaged in the optical component packaging apparatus includes at least one of the following components:
a modulator, a filter, a beamsplitter, a beam combiner, a detector, or a light source.

In a specific implementation, based on an actual requirement, some optical components that do not need to be hermetically packaged may be disposed outside the packaging cavity <NUM>, to simplify the production process of the optical component packaging apparatus.

In a specific implementation, when the optical waveguide <NUM> and the electrode <NUM> need to be disposed on a packaging substrate, for example, the first packaging substrate <NUM> in this embodiment, the packaging substrate is manufactured by using a material that can manufacture an optical waveguide and an electrode, for example, the packaging substrate may be a silicon on insulator substrate, a glass substrate, a lithium niobate substrate, or a polymer substrate. When one of the two packaging substrates, for example, the second packaging substrate <NUM> in this embodiment, is provided with no optical waveguide <NUM>, the packaging substrate may be a ceramic substrate.

In a specific implementation, the optical waveguide <NUM> is an optical waveguide manufactured by using a silicon, silicon nitride, or silicon oxide material.

In the optical component packaging apparatus provided in Embodiment <NUM>, the packaging cavity <NUM> is formed through matching by the two packaging substrates, to package the optical component. Compared with a packaging apparatus using a metal case in the prior art, the optical component packaging apparatus provided in Embodiment <NUM> does not have a metal case, and therefore has lower production costs, and the production costs can further be reduced when the optical component is packaged through reflow soldering.

In addition, the optical waveguide <NUM> is disposed in the packaging substrate, and causes no impact on the sealing performance of the packaging cavity <NUM>, the optical component in the packaging cavity <NUM> is coupled to the optical waveguide <NUM>, and can implement optical switching with the outside by using the optical waveguide <NUM>, so that optical input and output are implemented while the optical component is sealed. Therefore, based on the optical component packaging apparatus, hermetic package of the optical component with low costs is implemented and a problem of optical coupling output of the optical component is resolved.

Based on a same invention concept, this embodiment provides an optical module, including an optical transmission end. The optical transmission end includes a fiber, and further includes the optical component packaging apparatus provided in Embodiment <NUM>. The optical transmission end is coupled to a second coupling end of at least one optical waveguide in the optical component packaging apparatus.

In a specific implementation, butt-coupling, grating coupling, or evanescent wave coupling is performed on the optical transmission end and each optical waveguide, and the coupling manner is specifically selected based on the production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus and required coupling efficiency.

Similar to a principle in which hermetic package of the optical component with low costs is implemented and the problem of optical coupling output of the optical component is resolved based on the optical component packaging apparatus provided in Embodiment <NUM>, based on the optical module provided in this embodiment, hermetic package of the optical component with low costs can also be implemented and the problem of optical coupling output of the optical component can also be resolved. For a specific implementation of the optical module provided in this embodiment, refer to Embodiment <NUM>. Details are not described again.

Based on a same invention concept, this embodiment provides an optical component packaging method according to claim <NUM>, including:
coupling an optical component disposed between two opposite packaging substrates to an end face of a first coupling end of an optical waveguide in at least one packaging substrate in which the optical waveguide is disposed; and connecting two opposite surfaces of the two packaging substrates in a sealed manner, to form a packaging cavity around the optical component.

Specifically, in the packaging substrate provided with the optical waveguide, the end face of the first coupling end of each optical waveguide is disposed on an inner surface of the packaging cavity formed by the two connected packaging substrates, and each optical waveguide further includes a second coupling end whose end face is disposed on a surface that is of a corresponding packaging substrate and that is located outside the packaging cavity.

In a specific implementation, in the foregoing packaging method, first, the optical component may be coupled to the optical waveguide, and then the packaging cavity is formed around the optical component. <FIG> is a flowchart of a packaging method for an optical component according to Embodiment <NUM>. The foregoing packaging method may be implemented according to the following steps:.

In another implementation, first, a packaging cavity may be formed around the optical component, and then the optical component is coupled to the optical waveguide. <FIG> is a flowchart of another packaging method for an optical component according to Embodiment <NUM>. The foregoing packaging method may be implemented according to the following steps:.

It should be noted that, the foregoing packaging method may be performed in an environment filled with a protective gas, or a protective gas may be injected into the packaging cavity after the packaging cavity is formed. Similarly, the foregoing packaging method may be implemented in a vacuum environment, or vacuum pumping is performed on the packaging cavity after the packaging cavity is formed.

According to the claimed invention, the connecting two opposite surfaces of two packaging substrates in a sealed manner, to form a packaging cavity around an optical component specifically includes:
connecting the two opposite surfaces of the two packaging substrates in a sealed manner by using a sealant, where the sealant is disposed around the optical component and forms a closed ring structure.

In a specific implementation, an adhesive may be selected as the foregoing sealant. To further improve sealing performance of the sealant and reduce production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus, according to the claimed invention, the two packaging substrates are connected through soldering and form the packaging cavity, and the connecting the two opposite surfaces of the two packaging substrates in a sealed manner by using a sealant specifically includes:.

In a specific implementation, the soldering manner may be reflow soldering, to melt the solder and connect a first ring pad and a second ring pad. The reflow soldering is a common soldering process, and use of the protective gas in the reflow soldering is also a common process, so that the production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus are not additionally increased, and soldering between the first ring pad and the second ring pad may be integrated with another soldering process of the optical component, to further reduce the production costs of the optical component packaging apparatus. In a specific implementation, the protective gas may be nitrogen.

In a specific implementation, the foregoing solder may be a copper-zinc alloy solder, a silver-copper alloy solder, or a silver-copper-zinc alloy solder, and sealing performance of the solder is superior to that of an adhesive.

In another implementation that does not fall under the scope of the claims, the two packaging substrates may be directly connected in a manner such as splicing, or the sealant is replaced with a spacer having a specific thickness.

In the optical component packaging method provided in this embodiment, the packaging cavity is formed through matching by the two packaging substrates, to package the optical component. Compared with a packaging apparatus using a metal case in the prior art, the optical component packaging apparatus provided in this embodiment does not have a metal case, and therefore has lower production costs, and the production costs can further be reduced when the optical component is packaged through reflow soldering.

In addition, the optical waveguide is disposed in the packaging substrate, and causes no impact on sealing performance of the packaging cavity, the optical component in the packaging cavity is coupled to the optical waveguide, and can implement optical switching with the outside by using the optical waveguide, so that optical input and output are implemented while the optical component is sealed. Therefore, based on the optical component packaging method, hermetic package of the optical component with low costs is implemented and a problem of optical coupling of the optical component is resolved.

Claim 1:
An optical component packaging apparatus, comprising an optical component (<NUM>) and two packaging substrates (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed opposite to each other, wherein
a packaging cavity (<NUM>) filled with a protective gas is formed between the two packaging substrates (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the optical component (<NUM>) is disposed in the packaging cavity (<NUM>); and
at least one packaging substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>) is provided with an optical waveguide (<NUM>), an end face of a first coupling end (<NUM>) of each optical waveguide (<NUM>) is disposed on an inner surface of the packaging cavity (<NUM>) and is coupled to the optical component (<NUM>), and an end face of a second coupling end (<NUM>) of each optical waveguide (<NUM>) is disposed on a surface that is of a corresponding packaging substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>) and that is located outside the packaging cavity (<NUM>);
wherein the packaging cavity (<NUM>) is formed through matching by two opposite surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the two packaging substrates (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a sealant (<NUM>) that is connected to the two opposite surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the two packaging substrates (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a sealed manner, and the sealant (<NUM>) is disposed around the optical component (<NUM>) and forms a closed ring structure;
wherein the two opposite surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the two packaging substrates (<NUM>, <NUM>) each are provided with a ring pad (<NUM>, <NUM>), each ring pad (<NUM>, <NUM>) is disposed around the optical component (<NUM>), and the sealant (<NUM>) is a solder and is connected to the two ring pads (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein at least one packaging substrate is provided with a power supply circuit, a power output end (<NUM>) of the power supply circuit is located in the packaging cavity (<NUM>) and is connected to the optical component (<NUM>), and a power input end (<NUM>) of the power supply circuit is located outside the packaging cavity (<NUM>);
wherein the power supply circuit is disposed between the packaging substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>) on which the power supply circuit is located and the ring pad (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein the packaging cavity (<NUM>) comprises a first groove (<NUM>) disposed on the surface (<NUM>) of the first packaging substrate (<NUM>) and a second groove (<NUM>) disposed on the surface (<NUM>) of the second packaging substrate (<NUM>), said first groove (<NUM>) and said second groove (<NUM>) being configured to accommodate the optical component (<NUM>).