Patent ID: 7251407
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: H01L,H01S

Abstract:
1. An active photonic device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate; an optically active region formed on the semiconductor substrate, the optically active region comprising a first electrical contact for initiating emission of photons and/or modulation of photons within the optically active region; an optical confinement structure defining a principal optical path through the active photonic device and through the optically active region; a photodetector formed on the semiconductor substrate, the photodetector comprising a second electrical contact that is separated laterally from the optical confinement structure, the second contact being displaced from, and substantially electrically insulated from, the first electrical contact and overlying at least part of the principal optical path, the photodetector for receiving carriers generated by emitted photons; and at least one bandgap shifted region in the principal optical path, the at least one bandgap shifted region having a larger bandgap than the optically active region, wherein the second electrical contact is positioned at least partly over the bandgap shifted region.