Semiconductor structure and method for transmitting optical signals using externally supplied light beam
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorKen A. Nishimura
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Abstract
A semiconductor structure and method for transmitting optical signals modulates an optical property of the semiconductor structure to selectively transmit portions of an externally supplied light beam as optical signals. The use of the externally supplied light beam eliminates the need to fabricate a light emitting device onto the semiconductor structure. Thus, the semiconductor structure can be based on an indirect bandgap material such as silicon. Consequently, the semiconductor structure can be readily integrated into a conventional silicon-based integrated circuit using conventional semiconductor manufacturing processes.
Claims29
A semiconductor structure for transmitting optical signals comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
- a port positioned over said semiconductor substrate to receive an externally supplied light beam;
- and
- an optically active region positioned between said port and said semiconductor substrate, said optically active region having a controllable optical property to manipulate said externally supplied light beam such that portions of said externally supplied light beam can be selectively transmitted through said port as said optical signals.
A method of transmitting optical signals comprising:
- receiving an externally supplied light beam at a port of a semiconductor structure;
- and
- modulating an optical property of said semiconductor structure to manipulate said externally supplied light beam so that portions of said externally supplied light beam are selectively transmitted through said port as said optical signals.
A semiconductor structure for transmitting optical signals comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
- an opaque layer positioned above said semiconductor substrate, said opaque layer having an input aperture to receive an externally supplied light beam;
- a reflective element positioned below said opaque layer to reflect said externally supplied light beam;
- and
- a controllable layer positioned between said opaque layer and said reflective element, said controllable layer having a variable optical property to selectively retard polarization components of said externally supplied light beam such that portions of said externally supplied light beam can be selectively transmitted through said opaque layer as said optical signals by changing said variable optical property of said controllable layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.