Patent ID: 8315285

Claim:
A temperature-controlled header assembly for high speed data communication, comprising: a hermetic enclosure; a header base having an interior surface positioned within the hermetic enclosure; a plurality of conductive leads having top portions that penetrate into the hermetic enclosure from an outer portion of the header assembly to the interior surface; a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) positioned on the interior surface, the TEC having a substantially planar configuration and having a thickness not exceeding 500 microns, the TEC including a heat spreader, wherein the TEC is in thermal communication with the header base and a mounting surface of the TEC; and a submount on which a laser diode is positioned, the submount being in thermal communication with the mounting surface of the TEC such that the TEC is configured to affect selective transfer of heat to the laser diode and transfer of heat away from the laser diode, wherein none of the top portions of the conductive leads that penetrate into the hermetic enclosure extend past the TEC.