Patent ID: 6198853
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A semiconductor optical functional element comprising:a first semiconductor layer structure in which a common cladding layer, an optical waveguide layer, and a first separate cladding layer are stacked in that order in a first direction, said optical waveguide layer extending in second and third directions normal to the first direction and to each other;a second semiconductor layer structure in which said common cladding layer and a second separate cladding layer are stacked in that order in the first direction;a resistive layer separating at least said first separate cladding layer and said second separate cladding layer in the second direction;a first voltage applying means electrically coupled to said first separate cladding layer; anda second voltage applying means electrically coupled to said second separate cladding layer;wherein said common cladding layer is of a conductivity type different than both that of said first separate cladding layer and that of said second separate cladding layer; and wherein said optical waveguide laver is optically conductive in the third direction when voltages respectively applied by said first and second voltage applying means differ by more than a threshold, and is optically nonconductive in the third direction when the applied voltages differ by less than the threshold.