Optical circuit device and method
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorEzekiel Kruglick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are generally disclosed for optical devices that may be used to implement a variety of logic devices or other circuits by optical means. Example optical devices use a photodiode to alter the charge carrier concentration in a waveguide, thereby altering the index of refraction of the waveguide. The photodiode may be driven by an optical signal, which may be coupled to the photodiode through an optical waveguide. The optical signal may be configured to control the phase of coherent light coupled through the waveguide. A variety of logic devices and other circuits may be implemented by allowing the light coupled through the waveguide to constructively or destructively interfere with other coherent light.
Claims20
An optical circuit device, comprising:
- a first optical waveguide including first and second waveguide branches;
- a second optical waveguide separated from the first optical waveguide by a gap;
- and
- a semiconductor material extending between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, the semiconductor material forming a photodiode junction structured to alter the refractive index of at least one of the first or second waveguide branches in response to light coupled to the semiconductor material through the second optical waveguide.
An optical circuit adapted for operation with light from a light source and in response to an optical signal, the optical circuit comprising:
- a first optical waveguide having a light supply port and an output port, the first optical waveguide separating into first and second waveguide branches between the light supply port and the output port, wherein the light supply port is adapted to receive light from the light source;
- a second optical waveguide having an input port and an output port, the output port of the second optical waveguide being separated from the first waveguide branch by a gap;
- and
- a semiconductor material extending between the output port of the second optical waveguide and the first waveguide branch of the first optical waveguide, the semiconductor material forming a photodiode junction structured to alter the refractive index of the first waveguide branch of the first optical waveguide responsive to the optical signal received by the input port of the second optical waveguide and coupled through the second optical waveguide to the semiconductor material.
A method of optically performing a function, comprising:
- coupling light through a first optical waveguide from an input port to an output port, the optical waveguide separating into first and second waveguide branches between the input port and the output port;
- coupling light through a second optical waveguide separated from the first waveguide branch by a gap;
- and
- optically altering the refractive index of the first waveguide branch of the first optical waveguide using a photodiode junction formed in the gap.
A method of fabricating an optical circuit device, comprising:
- placing silicon on a substrate;
- etching the silicon to form a first optical waveguide on the substrate, wherein the etching forms a first optical waveguide that is separated into first and second waveguide branches between an input port and an output port, the etching further forming a second optical waveguide having an input port and an output port separated from the first waveguide branch by a gap;
- placing a first layer of semiconductor material on the first and second waveguides between the output port of the second optical waveguide and the first waveguide branch of the first optical waveguide, the first layer of semiconductor material being doped to form one of P-doped semiconductor material or N-doped semiconductor material;
- and
- placing a second layer of semiconductor material on first layer of semiconductor material, the second layer of semiconductor material being doped to form the other of P-doped semiconductor material or N-doped semiconductor material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.