Patent ID: 6845198
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A silicon-based electro-optic device comprising: a relatively thin silicon body region doped to exhibit a first conductivity type; a relatively thin silicon gate region doped to exhibit a second conductivity type, the silicon gate region disposed at least in part over the silicon body region to define a contiguous area between said silicon body and gate regions; a relatively thin dielectric layer disposed in the contiguous area between said silicon body and gate regions, the combination of said silicon body and gate regions with the interposed relatively thin dielectric layer defining the active region of the electro-optic device; a first electrical contact coupled to said silicon gate region; and a second electrical contact coupled to said silicon body region, wherein upon application of an electrical signal to the first and second electrical contacts, free carriers accumulate, deplete or invert within the silicon body and gate regions on both sides of the relatively thin dielectric layer at the same time, such that the optical electric field of said optical signal substantially overlaps with the free carrier concentration modulation area in the active region of said electro-optic device.