Bypass wavguide configured to facilitate inter-level optical coupling in optical module

A semiconductor device, comprising:

• a first optical interconnect in a first dielectric layer and elongated in a first direction, wherein the first optical interconnect comprises a first body segment and a first coupler segment;
• a second optical interconnect in the first dielectric layer and elongated in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction;
• a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer;
• a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer;
• and
• a third optical interconnect in the third dielectric layer and elongated in the first direction, wherein the third optical interconnect comprises a second body segment overlying the second optical interconnect and a second coupler segment overlying the first coupler segment, wherein the second coupler segment is vertically offset from the first coupler segment by a vertical distance that is greater than a height of the first body segment.

A semiconductor device, comprising:

• a first optical interconnect comprising a first body segment and a first outer segment, wherein a width of the first outer segment is less than a width of the first body segment;
• a dielectric layer over the first optical interconnect;
• and
• a second optical interconnect over the dielectric layer, wherein the second optical interconnect comprises a second body segment and a second outer segment, wherein the second outer segment overhangs the first outer segment along a first lateral distance, wherein the second outer segment is laterally offset from the second body segment by a second lateral distance less than the first lateral distance.