An optical ferrule has a different thermal expansion coefficient than a substrate to which a optical device is mounted, the ferrule optically coupling the device to one or more optical fibers. The optical ferrule includes and/or a cradle in which the ferrule is mounted include lateral and longitudinal engagement feature that ensure alignment with the optical device at an operating temperature, the ferrule expanding relative to the substrate when transitioning to the operating temperature.

Techniques and mechanisms for optically coupling a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip to an optical fiber via a planar optical waveguide structure. In an embodiment, a PIC chip comprises integrated circuitry, photonic waveguides, and integrated edge-oriented couplers (IECs) which are coupled to the integrated circuitry via the photonic waveguides. The PIC chip forms respective divergent lens surfaces of the IECs, which are each at a respective terminus of a corresponding one of the photonic waveguides. A planar optical waveguide structure, which is adjacent to the IECs, comprises a core which is optically coupled between the PIC chip and an array of optical fibers. In another embodiment, an edge of the PIC forms a stepped structure, wherein an upper portion of the stepped structure comprises the plurality of coplanar IECs, and a lower portion of the stepped structure extends past the plurality of coplanar IECs.

An integrated circuit (IC) package comprising an optical die comprising a configurable optical switch. The configurable optical switch comprises an optical switch operably coupled to one or more optical transceivers. An optical connector comprises at least one exo-package optical port. The at least one exo-package optical port is operably coupled to the configurable optical switch. The configurable optical switch is to pass an optical signal on the at least one of the one or more exo-package ports to at least one of the one or more optical transceivers, and an IC die comprising electronic circuitry is operably coupled to the one or more optical transceivers.

A system for passive alignment of fibers to an interface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an input frame, an actuator, and an output frame. The actuator arranged to apply force along a force axis to the input frame. The output frame including a tip for picking up a plate and transferring the force thereto, the output frame being connected to the input frame such that the output frame may tilt relative to the input frame and the output frame is elastically biased relative to the input frame into a position wherein the tip is aligned on the force axis.

Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, and techniques related to a cavity created in a package substrate, where the surface of the substrate at the bottom of the cavity, or alignment features at the surface of the substrate at the bottom of the cavity are used to accurately align a lens of a FAU to a lens of a PIC. In embodiments, the surface of the substrate at the bottom of the cavity has additional standoff pedestal features to aid in height tolerance control of the FAU to properly align the FAU lens when attached. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

An optical assembly includes an optical ferrule configured to receive light from an optical waveguide and including at least four ferrule alignment features; and a cradle securing the optical ferrule therein and configured to align the optical ferrule to an optical component, the cradle including at least four cradle alignment features configured to make contact or near contact with the at least four ferrule alignment features in a one to one correspondence in at least four corresponding contact regions, such that as a temperature of at least one of the cradle and the optical ferrule changes sufficiently, the corresponding alignment features of the optical ferrule and the cradle slide relative to each other causing the corresponding alignment features of the optical ferrule and the cradle to move to define corresponding traversed regions, such that when extended, the traversed regions of the at least four ferrule alignment features and the at least four cradle alignment features pass within 20 microns of a same first point.

An electrical communication system includes a plurality of cable connectors that are configured to mate with the same electrical connector or electrical connectors having substantially identical mating interfaces. The cable connectors can be configured as an electrical cable connector, an optical cable connector, and a hybrid cable connector that includes both optical and electrical communication.

An optical circuit module in which an optical fiber array and an optical circuit substrate are connected, the optical fiber array including a groove substrate in which a groove for optical fiber alignment is formed, a pressing plate stacked on and bonded to the groove substrate, and an optical fiber bonded to and fixed in the groove of the groove substrate, and the optical circuit substrate including an input/output waveguide. In a connection surface of the optical circuit module, an area of a common portion in a cross section of the optical circuit substrate and the pressing plate is larger than an area of a common portion in a cross section of the optical circuit substrate and the groove substrate.

A method of assembling an optical device including: providing a photonic integrated circuit including a plurality of vertical-coupling elements disposed along a main surface of the photonic integrated circuit; attaching an optical subassembly to the photonic integrated circuit; removably connecting a fiber connector to a ferrule frame, in which the fiber connector is attached to an array of optical fibers; aligning the ferrule frame to the optical subassembly using an active alignment process; and securely connecting the ferrule frame to the optical subassembly after the active alignment process.

Disclosed herein are light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems and methods for manufacturing the same. The LIDAR systems may include microelectronics packages that may include a chassis, an insert, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), and a lid. The chassis may define an opening. The insert is sized to be received in the opening. The insert is made of a thermally conductive material. The PIC is attached to the insert. The lid is connected to the chassis and defines a cavity that encases the PIC. Both the insert and the lid form thermally conductive pathways away from the PIC.