Integrated circuits with single-functional-unit level integration of electronic and photonic elements

A memory device comprising:

• an array of bitcells, wherein each bitcell of the array of bitcells is configured to store a respective bit value using storage circuitry comprising at least one transistor, and wherein each bitcell of the array of bitcells comprises a pair of light-effect transistor access devices arranged for connecting the bitcell to a pair of corresponding electrical bitlines;
• and
• an optical waveguide wordline arranged for routing an optical signal to a pair of light-effect transistor access devices of a bitcell of the array of bitcells.

A method of accessing a bitcell of a memory device, wherein the bitcell comprises storage circuitry comprising at least one transistor, the method comprising:

• illuminating a pair of light-effect transistor access devices of the bitcell using an optical waveguide wordline, wherein illuminating the pair of light-effect transistor access devices connects a first electrical bitline to the storage circuitry by way of a first light-effect transistor access device of the pair of light-effect transistor access devices and connects a second electrical bitline to the storage circuitry by way of a second light-effect transistor access device of the pair of light-effect transistor access devices;
• and
• writing a bit value to the bitcell using the first electrical bitline and the second electrical bitline.