Patent ID: 6760141
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: B82Y,G02F

Abstract:
A semiconductor electroabsorption optical modulator for modulating an incident light beam by changing absorption coefficient in response to application of an external voltage, comprising:an incident facet for receiving an incident light beam, having a first wavelength, to be modulated; an output facet for outputting a modulated light beam; a light absorption layer, on a semiconductor substrate, for absorbing the incident light beam and, in response, generating charge carriers; a carrier accumulation portion for accumulating the charge carrier generated; and a carrier release portion including a well layer in the light absorption layer and having a bandgap energy, for guiding and releasing the charge carriers accumulated, wherein the carrier release portion releases the charge carriers accumulated in the well layer upon receipt of an incident excitation light beam having a second wavelength, corresponding to the bandgap energy of the well layer.