Optical photodiode switch array with zener diode
AssigneeUniversity of Colorado Foundation, Inc.
InventorJacques I. Pankove
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Abstract
An optical switching array includes a body of a semiconductor material having opposed surfaces. A plurality of spaced bodies of a semiconductor material are on one of the surfaces of the substrate. Each body includes four superimposed regions extending thereacross with the regions being of alternating opposite conductivity type to form PN junctions between adjacent regions. The bodies are capable of emitting light in response to an optical input when an electrical bias is applied thereacross. A fifth region extends across each body and forms a Zener diode with one of the outer region of the body. The Zener diode is adapted to limit the voltage drop across the bodies when one of the bodies is biased to emit light so as to permit more than one body to be turned to its light emitting condition at any one time.
Claims18
An optical switching device comprising:
- a body of a semiconductor material having four regions extending thereacross forming two outer regions and two inner regions with adjacent regions being in contact with each other, said regions being of alternating opposite conductivity type so that adjacent regions form PN junctions therebetween, said regions being capable of emitting light in response to an optical input when an electrical bias is applied across the regions;
- and
- a fifth region extending across and contiguous with one of the outer regions, said fifth region being of a conductivity type opposite that of the one outer region and forming a Zener diode therewith for limiting the voltage drop across the regions when the switching device is biased to its light emitting condition.
An optical switching array comprising:
- a substrate having a pair of opposed surfaces;
- a plurality of spaced bodies on one of said substrate surfaces, each of said bodies having four regions extending thereacross forming two outer regions and two inner regions with adjacent regions being in contact with each other, said regions being of alternating opposite conductivity type so that adjacent regions form PN junctions therebetween, said regions being capable of emitting light in response to an optical input when an electrical bias is applied across the regions;
- and
- a separate fifth region extending across one of the outer regions of each of the bodies, said fifth region being of a conductivity type opposite to that of the one outer region and forming a Zener diode therewith for limiting the voltage drop across the bodies when one of the bodies is biased to a light-emitting condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.