AvicenaTech Corp.

A microLED may be used to generate light for intra-chip or inter-chip communications. The microLED, or an active layer of the microLED, may be embedded in a waveguide. The waveguide may include a lens.

MicroLEDs may be used in providing intra-chip optical communications and/or inter-chip optical communications, for example within a multi-chip module or semiconductor package containing multiple integrated circuit semiconductor chips. In some embodiments the integrated circuit semiconductor chips may be distributed across different shelves in a rack. The optical interconnections may make use of optical couplings, for example in the form of lens(es) and/or mirrors. In some embodiments arrays of microLEDs and arrays of photodetectors are used in providing parallel links, which in some embodiments are duplex links.

An LED array on a sapphire substrate may be mounted on a silicon interconnect chip, with LEDs of the array inserted into holes of waveguides on the silicon interconnect chip. The sapphire substrate and the silicon interconnect chip may both have microbumps for carrying electrical signals to or from the LEDs, and the sapphire substrate and silicon interconnect chip may be bonded together using the microbumps. The LEDs may be configured to preferentially emit light in a lateral direction, for increased coupling of light into the waveguides.

A microLED may be used to generate light for intra-chip or inter-chip communications. The microLED, or an active layer of the microLED, may be embedded in a waveguide. The waveguide may include a lens.

In package intra-chip and/or inter-chip optical communications are provided using microLEDs and photodetectors mounted to integrated circuit (IC) chips and/or to transceiver dies associated with the IC chips. Light from the LEDs may pass through waveguides on or in a substrate to which the IC chips are mounted or which couple the IC chips.

An LED array on a sapphire substrate may be mounted on a silicon interconnect chip, with LEDs of the array inserted into holes of waveguides on the silicon interconnect chip. The sapphire substrate and the silicon interconnect chip may both have microbumps for carrying electrical signals to or from the LEDs, and the sapphire substrate and silicon interconnect chip may be bonded together using the microbumps. The LEDs may be configured to preferentially emit light in a lateral direction, for increased coupling of light into the waveguides.

An LED may include a third contact, for example to increase speed of operation of the LED. The LED with the third contact may be used in an optical communication system, for example a chip-to-chip optical interconnect.