Highly integrated VCSEL-based 10Gb/s miniature optical sub-assembly

In order to fit with the present and future needs of the Datacom transceiver market, newly designed high rate transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs) have to be compact, low cost and compatible with mass production. We propose here an innovative design strategy that reaches all these targets by integrating a 10Gbps 850nm VCSEL laser diode and its laser driver with other functionalities (e.g. power monitoring and thermal monitoring) in a small form factor package. Taking advantages of the optical properties of the VCSEL and using flip-chip techniques, the transmitter exhibits excellent hyperfrequency performances and compatibility with mass production due to the use of collective manufacturing technologies and passive optical alignment. This versatile approach is also applicable to high rate receivers, parallel optics emitters, and singlemode low cost transmitter integrating long wavelength VCSELs.