Hermetic electrical ports in liquid crystal polymer packages

A packaging system for hermetically sealing optoelectronic components;

• said packaging system comprising:
• a housing for providing a hermetically sealed interior space for receiving and supporting optoelectronic components, said housing having at least one section of wall having at least one layer comprising a liquid crystal polymer (LCP);
• and
• at least one hermetically sealed electrical port formed in said at least one section of wall over a predetermined area thereof, said hermetically sealed electrical port comprising a layer of metal adhered to said LCP layer and overlying said predetermined area on said at least one section of wall, an electrode passing through said metal from the exterior of said system to said interior space to provide an electrical communication path between the optoelectronic components and the exterior of said packaging system;
• and a solder joint formed between said electrode and said layer of metal to provide a hermetic connection between said layer of metal and said electrode to assure that said packaging system remains hermetically sealed with said port present.