Patent ID: 7196349
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: B82Y,G02F,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A modulating reflector optical communication device for realizing an optical communication link, comprising: an n-region contact layer epitaxially grown with InAlAs; an i-region configured to absorb light at a target wavelength and having a stack of InGaAs quantum well layer and InAlAs barrier layer cycles epitaxially grown on the n-region contact layer; a p-region contact layer having a structure epitaxially grown on the stack with InAlAs; and a first metal contact associated with the n-region contact layer, and a second metal contact associated with the p-region contact layer that also operates as a reflector; wherein thicknesses of the stack and contact layers provide an overall resonant optical cavity that enhances contrast ratio at the target wavelength, thereby allowing logical on and logical off states of the device to be resolved so as to enable an optical communication link; and wherein the structure of the p-region contact layer includes first and second InAlAs layers, each 3,000 to 4,000 Å thick, with the first InAlAs layer closest to the stack and having a carrier density that is higher than that of the second InAlAs layer.