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US 8,013,359 B2Granted
Optically controlled electrical switching device based on wide bandgap semiconductors
AssigneeJohn W. Pettit
InventorJohn W. Pettit
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Abstract
A power switching device includes an optically controlled component using a semiconducting carbon nanotube. An optical signal transmitted over an optical fiber controls the conductivity of the nanotube. The nanotube transmits a signal controlled by the optical signal to a wide-bandgap semiconductor power switch, which switches the power.
Claims13
An optically controlled power switching device for controllably switching power, the optically controlled power switching device comprising:
- a pair of terminals for the power to be switched;
- an optically controlled component for transmitting a control signal, the optically controlled component comprising a semiconducting carbon nanotube through which the control signal passes, the carbon nanotube responding to an optically generated charge near a wall of the nanotube to change its conductivity to control the control signal, wherein the optically controlled component further comprises a photosensitive element which responds to the optical signal by emitting electrons, the photosensitive element comprising a compound semiconductor that absorbs light and creates an electron-hole pair and being located such that the carbon nanotube is exposed to the electrons;
- and
- a power-switching component comprising either a conventional semiconductor or a wide-bandgap semiconductor element connected between the pair of terminals, the power-switching component being connected to receive the control signal from the optically controlled component to control a conductivity of the wide-bandgap semiconductor element to the power in accordance with the control signal received from the optically controlled component.
1 more element
A switching system comprising:
- (a) an optically controlled power switching device for controllably switching power, the optically controlled power switching device comprising:
- a pair of terminals for the power to be switched;
- an optically controlled component for transmitting a control signal, the optically controlled component comprising a semiconducting carbon nanotube through which the control signal passes, the carbon nanotube responding to an optically generated charge near a wall of the nanotube to change its conductivity to control the control signal, wherein the optically controlled component further comprises a photosensitive element which responds to the optical signal by emitting electrons, the photosensitive element comprising a compound semiconductor that absorbs light and creates an electron-hole pair and being located such that the carbon nanotube is exposed to the electrons;
- and
- a power-switching component comprising a conventional semiconductor or a wide-bandgap semiconductor element connected between the pair of terminals, the power-switching component being connected to receive the control signal from the optically controlled component to control a conductivity of the conventional semiconductor or wide-bandgap semiconductor element to the power in accordance with the control signal received from the optically controlled component;
- (b) a source of the optical signal, the source of the optical signal being in optical communication with the optically controlled component;
- (c) a power source;
- and
- (d) a power load connected to the power source through the terminals.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.