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US 4,202,000 AGranted
Diode capable of alternately functioning as an emitter and detector of light of the same wavelength
AssigneeThomson-CSF
InventorJean-Claude Carballes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a diode capable of alternately operating as a detector and emitter of light in the same frequency band. This diode comprises an active zone disposed between two localizing zones and respectively forming two hetero-junctions with these zones. The reverse biassing voltage is such that the active zone is the seat of the avalanche phenomenon.
Claims6
A diode capable of functioning alternately as an emitter and detector of light for a predetermined wavelength, comprising:
- an active semiconductor material layer capable of absorbing or generating photons of said predetermined wavelength, depending upon the direction in which it is biassed, first and second localizing semiconductor material layers having opposite conductivity types and respectively forming two hetero-junctions with said active semiconductor material layer, said two localizing layers:
- electrical contact means for establishing electrical connection to each of said localizing layers so that said diode can be biassed in either the forward or reverse direction and;
- wherein said active layer having a thickness and a doping such that it is the site of an avalanche phenomenon when said diode is biassed in the reverse direction, for a predetermined voltage having a magnitude less than 30 volts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.