Optic-coupled integrated circuits
US4695120A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1985 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S136/291
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Signal/data enters the IC in optic form via an optically-efficient method om either fiber optic or circuit-trace optic waveguides. The optic signal/data is transformed to electrical signal/data via the photo-sensing cells that are illuminated by each channel's photon beam. This electrical signal then is transmitted via a connection to an IC chip which performs the required processing. This IC chip is supplied with electric power by means of a photo-voltaic cell array mounted internal to the IC package. The illumination source of the photo-voltaic array is provided by an optic waveguide that transmits a high intensity photon beam of proper wavelength to yield efficient photon-to-electric current conversion. A portion of this high intensity photon beam is captured by an optic waveguide mounted internal to the IC This optic waveguide conducts the photons to a region where photo-intensity modular cells are located. Each of these modulator cells is connected electrically to the output terminals of the IC and seerves to convert the electrical signal/data to an equivalent optic form by means of modulating a portion of the supplied photons and directing the modulated beam toward the output…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.