Optical subassembly for use in fiber optic data transmission and reception

An optical subassembly for transmission or reception of light signals comprising:

• an optoelectronic device in optical communication with an optical line, said optoelectronic device being one of a light source or a detector;
• a substrate having opposed first and second sides, having a plurality of conductive traces electrically attached to said optoelectronic device;
• and
• a structural frame encasing said optoelectronic device, said structural frame having an opening for enabling propagation of said light beam between said optical line and said optoelectronic device, said structural frame being molded and integrally formed onto said first side of said substrate, said substrate including openings through which said structural frame extends to said second side of said substrate.

A method of assembling an optical subassembly comprising steps of:

• providing a substrate having conductive traces and openings that extend through said substrate;
• using molding techniques to flow molding material directly onto said substrate and through said openings and to form said molding material into a preselected shape, thereby fabricating a subassembly body onto said substrate such that said subassembly body extends onto opposite sides of said substrate, including forming said subassembly body to include alignment features for precisely seating optical elements relative to said substrate and said subassembly body;
• and
• connecting a light transmitter and a light receiver in fixed positions relative to said substrate, including utilizing said alignment features of said subassembly body to precisely position at least one of said light transmitter and said light receiver.