Thyristor-based optical flip-flop

An optical flip-flop circuit comprising:

• an optical thyristor configured to receive a digital optical signal input and produce a digital signal output based on the digital optical signal input, wherein the optical thyristor is defined by an epitaxial layer structure that includes a bottom n-type cathode region, an intermediate p-type region formed above the bottom n-type cathode region, an intermediate n-type region formed above the intermediate p-type region, and a top p-type anode region formed above the intermediate n-type region, and wherein the optical thyristor includes an anode terminal electrically coupled to the top p-type anode region, an n-type injector terminal electrically coupled to the intermediate n-type region, a p-type injector terminal electrically coupled to the intermediate p-type region, and a cathode terminal electrically coupled to the bottom n-type cathode region;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the optical thyristor, the control circuit comprising:
• a first field-effect transistor having a source terminal connected to a positive voltage supply, a gate terminal for receiving an inverted version of a digital electrical signal input, and a drain terminal connected to the n-type injector terminal;
• and
• a second field-effect transistor having a drain terminal connected to the p-type injector terminal, a gate terminal that receives the digital electrical signal input, and a source terminal connected to ground, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a switching operation of the optical thyristor in response to a level of the digital electrical signal input.