Patent · US Expired

Monlithically coupled waveguide and phototransistor

US7471855B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 2005
Grant dateDec 30, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/30
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical integrated circuit comprises a semiconductor body, a semiconductor optical waveguide located on the body, and a bipolar phototransistor located on and optically coupled to the waveguide. In a preferred embodiment, the base region of the transistor is configured to absorb radiation propagating in the waveguide, but the emitter and collector regions are both configured not to absorb the propagating radiation. In a further preferred embodiment, the waveguide is configured to guide the radiation along a propagation axis therein, and the transistor makes an elongated footprint along the waveguide, the footprint being elongated along the direction of the propagation axis. In another preferred embodiment, the footprint is at least three times longer along the propagation axis than along a direction perpendicular thereto.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.