Patent ID: 7358109

Claim:
A packaging method, comprising: electrically connecting a plurality of devices respectively to a plurality of sub-mount areas of a first wafer, wherein each device emits an optical signal from a top surface of the device; fabricating a plurality of caps, each cap including a spacer having a hole therethrough, a plate that is transparent to the optical signals, and an optical element, wherein fabricating the plurality of caps comprises: forming an etch stop layer top surface on a substrate; forming a plurality of optical elements overlying the etch stop layer; and forming holes through the substrate respectively beneath the optical elements; bonding the caps to the first wafer, wherein the devices are enclosed in respective cavities between the first wafer and the respective caps, and for each of the devices, the optical element in the corresponding cap is positioned to receive the optical signal from the device; and dividing the first wafer to separate a plurality of packages containing the devices.