Miniaturization and integration of opto-electronic devices: Licenciate thesis

The challenging integration process for multi-technology miniaturized modules is studied in this thesis. The origin of miniaturization concept is shortly introduced. The terms microtechnology and nanotechnology are shortly introduced. Microtechnology is already in use and utilized in the realization of MOEMS. Nanotechnology, in which structures of components are constructed at the atomic and molecule level, is seen as an ultimate miniaturization technology in the future. The integration process model utilized in the realization of miniaturized opto-electronic modules and systems is shown and discussed. The most important parts in the integration process are generation and evaluation of concept ideas and analytic simulation of the components, modules and systems. Monte-Carlo simulations are also extremely important, because they can give valuable information about the tolerances and performance variation of the manufactured systems. In some occasions those simulations can give fundamental information already at the feasibility study phase. Monte-Carlo simulations can also save essentially resources in the development process. The possible realization technologies for miniaturizated opto-electronic components and modules are presented. The developed system integration process model is tested and evaluated by using three various pilot cases: a fiber pigtailed laser transmitter, distance sensor and a miniature IR-spectrometer. Positive utilization of the developed integration process model with different kind of opto-electronic modules in the development process shows that the utilized process model is a useful operations model in diverse miniature module and system integration cases.