Optical receiver having a low capacitance integrated photodetector
US5189296A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 3, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/107
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to an interconnected array of photodetector cells in which each cell of the photodetector array contains a photodetector for detecting light pulses and a photodetector for switching on the photodetector cell. Each cell has a first and second busbar between which the photodetectors pass current in response to light impinging on the cell. The cells of the array are connected in parallel by the first and second busbars. The photodetectors are formed by depositing electrodes connected to the first and second busbars onto GaAs. The photodetector for detecting light pulses has a significantly faster response to impinging light than the photodetector for switching on the photodetector cell. The faster response of one photodetector with respect to another photodetector can be accomplished by reducing the spacing on GaAs between electrodes forming the faster photodetector, or by adding an integrating capacitor to one photodetector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.