Cell for optical-to-electrical signal conversion and amplification, and operation method thereof
US5798520A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C11/42
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optoelectronic cell structure includes a plurality of pnpn-devices and circuitry for driving these pnpn-devices. The anodes or the cathodes of said pnpn-devices tied together form a competition node allowing differential charge amplification to take place. The unconnected electrode of each of the pnpn-devices is driven by a pair of complementary transistors. Light input on the pnpn-devices is converted into charge carriers. A forward bias amplifies the difference in charge content in the pnpn-devices by differential competition. A reverse bias turns off each pnpn-device at its own pace, the turn-off times rendering an estimate of the charge content in each pnpn-device present before turn-off. The total system forms a sensitive optical receiver for use in optical interconnects between two or more locations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.