Patent ID: 6107643
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A photoconductive switch comprising a first layer of a first material and two contact electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said first layer and connectable to different potentials for applying a voltage through the first layer therebetween, said first layer being adapted for conducting upon applying a voltage across said contact electrodes when a first side thereof is exposed to illumination through an illumination source of an energy high enough for creating free charge carriers in said first layer, said first layer having at least a part thereof doped with dopants providing substantially no free charge carriers for charge transport between the electrodes at the normal operational temperature of the switch, wherein characteristics of said doping of said first layer vary from said first side to an opposite, second side of said first layer for co-operating with n intensity distribution of the light emitted by said illumination source versus energy so as to obtain a substantially even creation of free charge carriers throughout a depth of the first layer from said first to said second side when illuminated by said illumination source.