Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are fabricated in CMOS semiconductor fabrication facilities, which allows manufacturers to take advantage of the large installed base of tools and processes. However, traditional electronic packaging is not equipped to handle the inherent challenges associated with packaging advanced photonic devices into functional products. In this presentation we explore some of these challenges, such as sub-micron alignment tolerances, sensitivity to temperature variations, optical losses, and a lack of established standards, especially as they relate to the design and manufacture of optical coupling structures. At AIM Photonics, we have learned that the best results are obtained when the PIC manufacturing and packaging processes are co-designed to better achieve low-loss coupling, particularly between photonic integrated circuits and other elements in the system. This often requires structural and process changes in the bae PIC processes to achieve the best results. Our “end-to-end” approach to developing an integrated photonics manufacturing ecosystem—including electronic photonic design automation (EPDA), wafer manufacturing (including interposers and heterogeneous integration), and electronic-photonic test, assembly and packaging capabilities—enables us to develop reliable, accessible and affordable solutions that will ensure the manufacturing-readiness of this critical technology for decades to come.
Dr. David Harame is the Chief Operating Officer for AIM Photonics and the Associate Vice President for EPDA, Test & Packaging, and Process Development for NY CREATES. David is responsible for the organization’s Photonic technologies, Heterogeneous Integration, Electronic Photonic Design Automation process design kits, and Test, Assembly, and Packaging (TAP) operations in Albany and Rochester, NY. David Harame is an IEEE Fellow and has held numerous other industry leadership roles throughout his career.