High power capacity optical receiver apparatus and method employing distributed photodetectors
US5404006A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/107
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical receiver with an enhanced power capability and wide bandwidth is implemented by distributing a number of photodetectors along an optical transmission channel to convert respective portions of an optical signal into electrical signals. An electrical transmission line receives and accumulates signal inputs from the photodetectors. A velocity matching is established between the optical and electrical signals, allowing the photodetector outputs to accumulate coherently along the electrical transmission line, by loading the transmission line with distributed capacitance elements. The loading capacitances are preferably inherent in the photodetectors, which are designed and spaced apart from each other to yield the desired velocity matching. Possible photodetectors include p-i-n photodiodes with associated depletion layer capacitances, and metal-semiconductor-metal devices in which the capacitance is provided by interdigitated fingers that extend over an active optically absorbing layer on the waveguide from electrodes on either side.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.