Patent ID: 6359293
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An integrated optoelectronic circuit for optical data communication systems, comprising:a silicon substrate having a top surface; an MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) formed on a portion of said silicon substrate; an avalanche photodetector operatively responsive to an incident optical signal and formed on another portion of said silicon substrate, comprising: a light absorbing region extending from the top surface of said silicon substrate to a predetermined depth h and doped to a first conductivity type, so as to be operatively capable of ionization from the incident optical signal to form freed charge carriers in said light absorbing region; a light responsive region formed in said light absorbing region and extending from the top surface of said silicon substrate to a predetermined depth of less than h, said light responsive region being doped to a second conductivity type of opposite polarity to said first conductivity type, said light absorbing region and said light responsive region forming a P-N junction at an interface defined between said light absorbing region and said light responsive region such that the freed charge carriers in said light absorbing region undergo avalanche multiplication when said light absorbing region and said light responsive region are sufficiently reverse biased.