Integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver for optical networks and method of controlling transparency of optical signal transmission layer
First Claim
1. An integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver for optical networks and optical interconnection devices intended for receiving, demultiplexing, and converting communication optical signals into electrical communication signals, said integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver comprising:
- a common substrate of a semiconductor material;
three basic components comprising a waveguide grating router which has waveguide portions and receives said communication optical signals, an array of individual photodetectors, and an array of individual heterojunction transistors located on said common substrate, said waveguide grating router, said array of photodetectors and said array of individual heterojunction transisors being arranged sequentially one after another;
each of said waveguide grating router, said array of photodetectors, and said array of heterojunction transistors having identical layer structure that consists of at least a first doped basic layer, a second doped basic layer which has a portion transparent to said communication optical signals only in said waveguide grating router, and a third doped basic layer which is partially etched down to said second doped basic layer;
said first doped basic layer in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping and is located on said common substrate;
said third doped basic layer having in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping, said second doped basic layer being sandwiched between said first doped basic layer and said third doped basic layer.
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Abstract
An integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver (IDP) for optical networks and optical interconnection devices has a common substrate which supports three sequentially arranged basic components: a waveguide grating router, an array of photodetectors, and an array of heterojunction transistors. Basic layers of all three components are grown together in a common epitaxial process, and then each of the components is individually patterned in accordance with its function. Such structure of IDP makes it possible to reduce the cost, simplify the design, improve conditions for optical alignment, and reduce optical losses. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, transparency of the optical signal transmission layer of the WGR is controlled by selectively doping the layers of the multiple-layer waveguide structure, while in another embodiment such control is achieved by changing the width of the energy gap in the optical signal transmission layer of the WGR. Such a change is achieved by utilizing electrical bias and optical pumping from an external light source operating on a predetermined wavelength. The invention also provides a method for controlling transparency of the layer that transmits optical signals through the waveguide units in optoelectronic devices, such as an integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver for optical network, by utilizing optical pumping and electrical bias.
26 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver for optical networks and optical interconnection devices intended for receiving, demultiplexing, and converting communication optical signals into electrical communication signals, said integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver comprising:
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a common substrate of a semiconductor material;
three basic components comprising a waveguide grating router which has waveguide portions and receives said communication optical signals, an array of individual photodetectors, and an array of individual heterojunction transistors located on said common substrate, said waveguide grating router, said array of photodetectors and said array of individual heterojunction transisors being arranged sequentially one after another;
each of said waveguide grating router, said array of photodetectors, and said array of heterojunction transistors having identical layer structure that consists of at least a first doped basic layer, a second doped basic layer which has a portion transparent to said communication optical signals only in said waveguide grating router, and a third doped basic layer which is partially etched down to said second doped basic layer;
said first doped basic layer in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping and is located on said common substrate;
said third doped basic layer having in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping, said second doped basic layer being sandwiched between said first doped basic layer and said third doped basic layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling transparency of an optical signal transmitting layer in an optical network and/or optical interconnection device for transmitting and/or controlling communication optical signals propagating through said optical signal transmitting layer, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an optical network and/or optical interconnection device comprising a multilayer structure, and a pumping light source for generation of a pumping light of a predetermined wavelength, said device comprising at least one optical signal transmission layer, a first cladding layer placed on top of said at least one optical signal transmission layer, and a second cladding layer that supports said at least one optical signal transmission layer, at least one of said first cladding layer and said second cladding layer is transparent to pumping light of a predetermined wavelength, while said optical signal transmission layer is an absorbing layer to said pumping light of a predetermined wavelength, said communication optical signals having a wavelengths longer than said predetermined wavelength;
transmitting said communication optical signals through said optical signal transmission layer; and
controlling transparency of said optical signal transmission layer by illuminating said optical signal transmission layer with said pumping light. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of controlling transparency of an optical signal transmission layer in an integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver for optical networks and optical interconnection devices intended for receiving, demultiplexing, and converting communication optical signals into electrical communication signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an integrated demultiplexer/photoreceiver comprising;
a common substrate of a semiconductor material;
three basic components comprising a waveguide grating router which has waveguide portion and receives said communication optical signals, an array of individual photodetectors, and an array of individual heterojunction transistors located on said common substrate, said waveguide grating router and said array of photodetectors being arranged sequentially one after another;
each of said waveguide grating router, said array of photodetectors, and said array of heterojunction transistors having identical layered structure that consists of at least a first doped basic layer, a second doped basic layer which has a portion transparent to said communication optical signals only in said waveguide grating router, and a third doped basic layer which is partially etched down to said second doped basic layer;
said first doped basic layer in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping and is located on said common substrate;
said third doped basic layer having in all said three basic components having the same chemical composition and the same doping, said second doped basic layer being sandwiched between said first doped basic layer and said third doped basic layer;
said method further comprising the steps of;
transmitting said communication optical signals through said optical signal transmission layer; and
controlling transparency of said optical signal transmission layer by illuminating said optical signal transmitting layer with said pumping light. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification