Dual-Sided Co-Packaged Optics for Higher Bandwidth Density

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current high bandwidth density optics packaging in data centers is limited by the area constraints around integrated circuits (ICs), leading to increased distance between ICs and photonic engines, resulting in power penalties due to interconnect losses when additional photonic engines are added on the system board.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves packaging photonic engines on both the top and bottom surfaces of an interposer, utilizing sockets with increased stand-off heights to stack photonic engines and minimize interconnect distance, thereby reducing power consumption and enhancing bandwidth density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If photonic engines are packaged on the same surface of the interposer as the IC, then the area around the perimeter of the IC is utilized, but future scaling by adding additional photonic engines is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of photonic enginesVSAvoidperimeter area around IC
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from packaging photonic engines on a single two-dimensional surface to utilizing both surfaces of the interposer. This dimensional change allows photonic engines to be distributed across the top and bottom surfaces, effectively doubling the available packaging area and enabling future scaling without being constrained by the perimeter area around the IC on a single surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If additional photonic engines are placed on the system board, then bandwidth is increased, but the distance between the IC and the photonic engine is increased causing power penalties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth densityVSAvoidpower loss due to interconnect losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By packaging photonic engines on both surfaces of the interposer in close proximity to the IC, the patent minimizes interconnect distances while still achieving increased bandwidth density. This eliminates the need to place photonic engines far away on the system board, thereby avoiding power penalties from long interconnects while still achieving the goal of increased bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the IC and photonic engines into a tightly integrated co-packaged optics architecture on the same interposer. This integration minimizes the distance between components, reducing interconnect losses and power consumption while achieving high bandwidth density through the coordinated operation of multiple photonic engines in close proximity to the IC.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If photonic engines are placed on both surfaces of the interposer, then bandwidth density is doubled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth densityVSAvoidpackaging complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension (both surfaces of the interposer) to package photonic engines, effectively doubling bandwidth density. While this increases device complexity, the systematic approach of distributing engines across both surfaces with minimized interconnect distances creates a scalable architecture that manages complexity through spatial organization rather than complex interconnection schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3876009B1Dual-sided co-packaged optics for high bandwidth networking applications
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 INTEL CORP
  • EP3876009B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3876009B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3876009B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Embodiments disclosed herein include electronic packages for optical to electrical switching. In an embodiment, an electronic package comprises a first package substrate (105) and a second package substrate (106) attached to the first package substrate (105). In an embodiment, a die (110) is attached to the second package substrate (106). In an embodiment, a plurality of photonics engines (120) are attached to a first surface (101) and a second surface (102) of the first package substrate (105). In an embodiment, the plurality of photonics engines (120) are communicatively coupled to the die (110) through the first package substrate (105) and the second package substrate (106).