Method and apparatus for optical reception
AssigneeNew Focus, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Nesnidal, Robert A. Marsland, Robert S. Williamson, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical receiver may include a photodector defined on a multilayer semiconductor structure. A first electrode may be formed by at least two substantially concentric conductive rings electrically coupled to one another and to a portion of a first layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure. A second electrode may be coupled to a second layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure and configured to transfer current generated by the photodetector in response to optical emissions. A method of fabricating such an optical receiver is also disclosed.
Claims20
An optical receiver, comprising:
- a photo detector defined on a multilayer semiconductor structure, and the photodetector including:
- a) a first electrode formed by at least two substantially concentric conductive rings electrically coupled to one another and to a portion of a first layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure;
- and
- b) a second electrode coupled to a second layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure, for the transfer of a current generated by the photo detector responsive to optical emissions.
A method for fabricating an optical receiver, and the method for fabricating comprises the acts of:
- providing a multilayer semiconductor structure;
- forming a first electrode on a first layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure;
- and
- masking a second layer of the multilayer semiconductor semiconductor structure to define within a mask at least two substantially concentric rings with a gap in a circumference of each of the at least two substantially concentric rings;
- forming an electrically conductive lift off layer on the mask;
- and
- removing the lift off layer as a single sheet to form a second electrode including at least two substantially concentric conductive rings electrically coupled to one another and to a portion of the second layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure.
An optical receiver comprising:
- conversion means for converting optical emissions into electricity, the conversion means including:
- first substantially circular means for providing electrical contact with a first layer of a semiconductor substrate;
- second substantially circular means coupled to the first substantially circular means and for reducing a resistance between the first layer of the semiconductor substrate and the first and second substantially circular means;
- and
- current receiving means coupled to a second layer of the semiconductor substrate and for receiving a current generated in response to the optical emissions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.