High voltage switch structure with light responsive diode stack
US4899204A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1987 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F77/60
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A light-activated PIN diode switch arrangement is coupled to a source of direct voltage and to a load for control of the flow of load current. The PIN diode switch arrangement is connected so as to be electrically reverse-biased, so that no current flows therethrough. A source of light is coupled to the active portion of the PIN diode switch arrangement for rendering it conductive when flooded with light. High power and low inductance is provided by a configuration in which two PIN diode sets are physically and electrically connected together in a physical and electrical stack by a conductive heat sink. Laser diode arrays above and below the diodes of the stack selectively illuminate the intrinsic region of each diode bath through the adjacent doped region and also directly through the side of the diode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.