Semiconductor optoelectronic device with electrically adjustable transfer function

The invention concerns an optoelectronic device comprising at alteration of at least three semiconductor layers with selected shape, and two air layers. The semiconductor layers having N-type or P-type doping which may differ or not from one layer to the next layer, are separated by spacers whereof the doping is non-intentional (I-type) or intentional (N-type or P-type) to define a PINIP or NIPIN structure with air cavities, and are adapted to be set at selected respective electric potentials. The respective thicknesses and compositions of the layers and the spacers are selected so that the structure has at least an optical transfer function adapted to light to be treated and adjustable in accordance with the selected potentials applied to the semiconductor layers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to semiconductor optoelectronic devices with electrically adjustable spectral transfer functions, and especially micro-opto-electro-mechanical (MOEM) devices.

MOEM devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,629,951 and 5,771,253 (Chang-Hasnain et al.). To be more precise, they comprise a lower Bragg mirror and an upper Bragg mirror constituted of alternating semiconductor materials with different refractive indices. The two Bragg mirrors are spaced from each other by semiconductor spacers, to define a vertical Fabry-Pérot cavity filled with air. One of the mirrors can be deformed by electrostatic means to vary the thickness of the air cavity and thereby to vary the spectral response of the Fabry-Pérot cavity. The structure can therefore operate as a tunable wavelength filter, a photodetector, or a wavelength tunable laser.

The above devices necessitate conjoint displacement of all the layers of one of the Bragg mirrors, and consequently relatively high electric fields, given the mechanical stiffness of the suspended structure. Moreover, they can provide only one optical signal processing function (tunable filtering), which limits their use in highly integrated optoelectronic components.

An object of the invention is to remedy some or all of the drawbacks previously cited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end the invention proposes a semiconductor device comprising an alternation (or stack) of at least three semiconductor layers of chosen shape and two layers of air, and wherein said semiconductor layers have N-type and P-type doping different to or the same as the adjacent layer, being separated by I-type (not intentionally doped) semiconductor spacers to define a PINIP or NIPIN structure with cavities including at least two PIN substructures and adapted to have respective chosen electrical potentials applied to them.

Furthermore, in the above device, the respective thickness, composition and doping of the layers and spacers are chosen so that the structure has at least one optical transfer function adapted to light to be processed and adapted to be modulated as a function of the chosen potentials of the semiconductor layers.

In the case of an NIPIN or PINIP structure, each semiconductor layer which contributes simultaneously to a PIN substructure (or junction) and to an NIP substructure (or junction) can be displaced in one direction or in two opposite directions to vary either the transfer function of the substructure or the transfer functions of the structure. To this end it is sufficient, on the one hand, for the layer to be displaced to be at the interface between two substructures of different types (NIP and PIN) and, on the other hand, for the respective bias voltages of the substructures to be chosen appropriately. Any addition of a PIN or NIP substructure to the structure then increases the number of layers that can be displaced and consequently the number of spectral transfer functions that can be modulated.

Accordingly, by choosing the respective composition and thickness of the semiconductor layers and the spacers, the structure can provide one or more transfer functions adapted to be modulated and adapted to functions chosen from a group comprising at least wavelength filtering, switching and tunability (or other functions), as a function of the chosen succession of alternations.

In the case of an NIPIN, respectively PINIP structure, the two N-type, respectively P-type, outer layers on either side of the P-type, respectively N-type, central layer are advantageously at different electrical potentials so that the structure forms two PIN and NIP substructures disposed in series and respectively reverse-biased and forward-biased. In this case, the transfer function is modulated by the (electromechanical) displacement of the N-type, respectively P-type, central layer “upward or downward” relative to the two P-type, respectively N-type, outer layers, by varying the respective bias voltage applied to the PIN and NIP substructures.

Different and/or more complex embodiments can be envisioned. The device can in particular comprise one or more supplementary or additional N-type, respectively P-type, intentionally doped semiconductor layers placed on the upstream or downstream side of one of the N-type, respectively P-type, layers of the PINIP or NIPIN structure, and spaced therefrom by spacers that are either not intentionally doped (I-type) or intentionally doped (N-type or P-type) to form a new NIPINIP or PINIPIN, or NIPPPIN or PPPINIP or PINNNIP, or NNNIPPPIN or PPPINNNIP structure, for example.

This forms a multifunction device having a plurality of transfer functions adapted to be modulated and adapted to wavelength filtering, switching, tunability or like functions.

At least one semiconductor layer of the device can be active so that it is suitable for detecting or generating light.

Furthermore, the structure of the device can be formed on a substrate, possibly with interposed spacers having chosen dimensions and doping.

The semiconductor layers and the spacers are preferably made from III-V materials, in particular gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium phosphide (InP) . Moreover, these semiconductor layers and spacers are preferably produced by epitaxial techniques in conjunction with selective chemical etching techniques.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The accompanying drawings are for the most part definitive. Consequently, they can serve not only to complete the invention but can also contribute to defining it, if necessary.

A first embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention for optically processing external light is described first with reference to FIG.1.

In the example shown inFIG. 1, the device comprises three semiconductor layers, of which two outer layers1,2lie on respective opposite sides of a central layer3. These layers preferably have substantially identical shapes. In the example shown, the layers have two ends4,5of substantially rectangular shape, connected to each other by a blade6-i(in this example i=1 to 3) having an enlargement7in a central portion.

The adjacent layers are spaced by separation layers (also known as spacers)8,9. To be more precise, these spacers8,9are formed at the ends4,5of the semiconductor layers1-3so that their blades6-iare suspended and separated from each other by layers of air.

In a manner of speaking, each outer blade6-1,6-2of an outer layer1,2defines with the central blade6-3a vertical cavity10-1,10-2whose height H1, H2is fixed by the thickness of the spacers8,9.

As shown in the figures, the above kind of structure is preferably formed on a semiconductor substrate13, with interposed spacers14, so that the outer blade6-2is also suspended at a chosen distance (equal to the height of the spacers14) above the substrate13. A device of the above kind can be associated with coupling means (for example optical fibers) for introducing the light to be processed and collecting the processed light. According to the invention, the layers1-3and the spacers8,9,14are made from semiconductor materials, preferably III-V semiconductor materials. These materials are, for example, gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium phosphide (InP), or InGaAs/InP or InAlAs/InGaAlAs heterostructures deposited on an InP substrate, or AlAs/GaAs heterostructures deposited on a GaAs substrate, or InGaP/GaAs heterostructures deposited on a GaAs substrate.

The above materials are merely preferred examples, of course.

In the example shown inFIG. 1, the outer semiconductor layers1and2, which lie on respective opposite sides of the central semiconductor layer3, are intentionally doped (N-type or P-type), and the central semiconductor layer3is intentionally doped (P-type or N-type), so that the doping types of two adjacent layers are different. Moreover, the spacers8,9are made from semiconductor materials that are not intentionally doped (type I) so that the device constitutes a PINIP structure if the outer semiconductor layers1and2are P-type layers or an NIPIN structure if the two outer layers are N-type layers. The substrate13and the spacers14are preferably of type I.

The structure formed in this way is constituted of two PIN and NIP substructures which have a common layer, namely the central layer3. In other words, in a PINIP structure, the PIN substructure shares its N-type doped layer with the NIP substructure and in an NIPIN structure the NIP substructure shares its P-type doped layer with the PIN substructure.

It is clear that each PIN or NIP substructure therefore constitutes a PIN junction familiar to the person skilled in the art.

To facilitate an understanding of the text, it is assumed hereinafter that in a PINIP structure the PIN junction is placed above the NIP junction. In other words, the P-type outer blade6-1is the upper blade and the P-type outer blade6-2is the lower blade.

The thickness and the composition of each semiconductor layer and of each spacer1,3,14, and consequently the heights H1and H2of the cavities10-1and10-2, are chosen as a function of the working wavelength of the device and the required transfer function. For example, and as shown inFIG. 2A(which is not to scale), the outer semiconductor layers1and2and the central semiconductor layer3can have an optical thickness substantially equal to kλ/4, where k is an odd integer, and the respective heights H1and H2of the two cavities10-1and10-2are substantially equal to 5λ/4 (FIG. 2A) . The spacers14have a chosen thickness equal to λ/2. Under the above conditions the structure is configured as a Bragg reflector (mirror) at the wavelength λ.

For example, for the device to operate as a switch, it is sufficient to modulate its transfer function so that it changes from the rest state providing a mirror function (FIG. 2A) to d state providing a transmitter function (FIG.2B), and vice versa.

In accordance with the invention, the transfer function is modulated by electromechanically displacing at least one of the blades6-i, preferably the central blade6-3. To give preference to the displacement of this blade, it has a thickness of λ/4, for example, whereas the blades6-1and6-2have a thickness of 3λ/4.

The displacement is obtained by choosing the respective bias voltage of each of the cavities10-1,10-2, or in other words by choosing the respective potential applied to the semiconductor layers of the structure.

As shown inFIG. 2A, in the absence of any bias, the central blade6-3is in a rest (or equilibrium) position. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 2B, when the PIN junction (comprising the upper layer1and the central layer3) is reverse-biased, and at the same time the NIP junction (comprising the central layer3and the lower layer2) is forward-biased, the upper cavity10-1formed by the PIN junction is subjected to the whole of the electric field. The central blade6-2is consequently attracted toward the upper blade6-1over a chosen distance, depending on the potentials applied to the layers and on the characteristics of the cavities. The two PIN and NIP substructures being disposed in series, the biasing conditions described are simply obtained by applying to the blade6-1a negative potential relative to the blade6-3. If this biasing is reversed by applying to the blade6-3a negative potential relative to the blade6-1, the electric field is then applied to the lower cavity10-2and the blade6-2is attracted by the blade6-3.

For example, if the vertical displacement of the central blade6-3is substantially equal to λ/4 (FIG. 2B) and the height H1of the upper cavity10-1is substantially equal to 5λ/4, then the new height of the cavity H′1becomes equal to 5λ/4−λ/4, i.e. λ, for the first biasing situation envisioned. Similarly, the height H2of the lower cavity10-2becomes H′2, equal to 5λ/4+λ/4, i.e. 3λ/2. Under these biasing conditions the structure changes from the mirror state to the transmitter state over a wide range of wavelengths, enabling it to operate as a switch.

The transfer function of the structure in the rest state (FIG. 2A, continuous line) and when biased (FIG. 2B, dashed line) is shown inFIG. 2Cfor a configuration wavelength λ=1.55 μm; the substrate and the suspended blades are made of InP and the spacers are made of In0.53Ga0.47As.

Many other functions can be envisioned for other embodiments of the structure, for example the simultaneous provision in one and the same device of wavelength broadband or narrowband filtering functions combined with switching and wavelength tunability functions.

Tunability and switching are controlled by the bias voltages applied to the semiconductor layers.

The facility to provide a plurality of functions with one and the same structure constitutes an important advantage of the invention. To this end, one or more supplementary (or additional) semiconductor layers can be added to the PINIP structure shown inFIGS. 1 and 2(or to a three-layer structure of some other type, for example the NIPIN type), on the upstream side and/or the downstream side of the outer layers1and2, as shown by way of example inFIGS. 3A-3C,5A and5B.

To be more precise, in the example shown inFIG. 3Athe structure, initially of the PINIP type, includes on the upstream side of (i.e. above) the P-type upper layer1an intentionally doped N-type first semiconductor layer11spaced from the upper layer1by semiconductor spacers12that are not intentionally doped (type I), and then, on top of this first layer11, an intentionally doped N-type second semiconductor layer15spaced from the layer11by intentionally doped N-type semiconductor spacers16. Moreover, the structure includes, on the downstream side of (i.e. below) the P-type lower layer2, an intentionally doped N-type third semiconductor layer17spaced from the lower layer2by semiconductor spacers18that are not intentionally doped (type I). The first semiconductor layer11, the second semiconductor layer15and the third semiconductor layer17have dimensions substantially identical to those of the other layers1-3.

The pairs of layers15and11, on the one hand, and2and17, on the other hand, constitute Bragg mirrors.

The optical thickness of the layers1-3,11,15and17is substantially equal to kλ/4, where k is an odd integer, and the respective thickness H1to H5of the cavities10-1to10-5is substantially equal to 5λ/4, λ/4, λ/2, λ/4 and 5λ/4. As shown by the dashed line transmittance curve inFIG. 4, a structure of the above kind, when it is not biased, is a band-pass filter whose optical transfer function transmits light with a center wavelength of approximately 1 550 nm.

It is possible to displace one or more layers, and consequently to modulate the optical transfer function of the structure, by modifying the potentials applied to the various layers, in other words by biasing certain PIN (or NIP) junctions.

To be more precise, and as shown inFIG. 3B, it is possible to change the nominal wavelength transmitted by the band-pass filter, for example to transmit light with a center wavelength of approximately 1 470 nm (see the left-hand curve in FIG.4), by modulating the thickness of the central air cavity10-3, whose optical thickness is H3=λ/2.

This modulation is obtained by displacing the central portion (blade6-1) of the layer1downward by a distance δ and the central portion (blade6-3) of the layer3upward, also by a distance δ, so that the cavities10-2to10-4have respective heights H2, H3and H4substantially equal to (λ/4)+δ, (λ/2)−2δ and (λ/4)+δ. The structure therefore acts as a tunable filter.

Moreover, as shown inFIG. 3C, by modulating the thickness of The lower air cavity10-5, whose optical thickness is H5=5λ/4, i.e. by degrading the reflectivity of one of the Bragg reflectors, the structure which operated in the rest condition (with no bias) as a filter, whose optical transfer function transmitted light with a center wavelength of approximately 1 550 nm, is converted into a reflector whose transmittance (transfer function) is shown in continuous line in FIG.4.

This modulation is obtained by displacing the central portion (blade6-17) of the lower layer17upward, over a distance λ/4, so that the cavity10-5has a height H5substantially equal to λ (instead of 5λ/4). The structure then operates as a switch.

The structure shown inFIGS. 3Ato3C therefore provides at least the tunable filtering and switching functions over a wide range of wavelengths.

It will be noted here that because a NNNIPINIPIN stack is used, to apply the necessary bias voltage it is possible to apply an electric field to the terminals of any of the four cavities10-2,10-3,10-4and10-5using only three electrical contacts respectively connected to the outer layers15and17and to the intermediate layer3.

More generally, other structures can be envisioned based on a PINIP or NIPIN structure, by replacing at least one of their semiconductor layers (initial type, N-type or P-type) with at least two semiconductor layers with the same type of doping (N-type or P-type) separated by spacers with the same type of doping (N-type or P-type) as the initial layer and having a shape substantially identical to the shape of the layers of the structure. It is therefore possible to form NIPPPIN, PPPINIP, PINNNIP, NNNIPPPIN or PPPINNNIP structures, for example.

As shown more clearly inFIG. 5A, the device can also include one or more active layers for generating or detecting light, combined with one or more passive functions of the kind previously referred to (filtering, tunability, switching, etc.).

In the present example, the upper part of the structure includes a PIN semiconductor substructure constituted of a P-type doped upper layer1spaced from an N-type doped lower layer3by spacers8that are not intentionally doped (I-type). Its lower portion includes (below the layer3) two intentionally doped N-type semiconductor layers19and20spaced from each other and from the layer3by N-type doped semiconductor spacers21and22. The structure further includes, below and against the layer20, active layers forming a vertical cavity surface emitting laser23and, below and in contact with the laser23, alternating semiconductor layers of two types forming a lower Bragg mirror24.

In this example, the alternating air cavities and semiconductor layers disposed on top of the laser23form an upper Bragg mirror. Here the cavities10-1to10-3have respective heights H1, H2and H3substantially equal to 5λ/4, λ/4 and λ/4.

In the rest condition (with no bias) the upper portion of the structure constituted of the layers1,3,19and20acts as a mirror and the light generated by the laser23is constrained to exit from the structure via the lower Bragg mirror24(in the direction of the arrow F1).

On the other hand, if the upper portion of the structure (forming the upper Bragg mirror) is biased appropriately, one or more of the suspended blades can be constrained to move to modify the height H1of the cavity10-1. In the example shown inFIG. 5B, the blade6-1of the layer1is displaced downward, by a distance equal to approximately λ/4, so that the height H1of the cavity10-1changes from 5λ/4 to λ. This modulation of the reflectivity of the upper Bragg mirror modifies its transfer function and confers on it a transmission function. The emission from the laser is then preferentially directed upward, so constraining the emitted light to exit via the top of the structure, in the direction of the arrow F2.

In this embodiment, the structure therefore acts as a light generator and as a switching device.

The devices according to the invention are preferably produced by an epitaxial technique combined with one or more selective chemical etching techniques. Various epitaxial techniques can be envisioned, provided that they enable the thickness of the layers to be controlled on the atomic layer scale. Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is one example, or low-pressure metallo-organic chemical vapor phase deposition (LP-MOCVD), or chemical beam epitaxy (CBE).

These techniques enable control of the thickness on the atomic layer scale and assure excellent crystalline qualities and very sharp interfaces. Moreover, they offer very accurate control of composition and doping. Finally, they provide excellent control of residual mechanical stresses.

There are many chemical etching techniques, including wet etching, for selectively micromachining the suspended portions (blades). Examples of wet etching techniques include the FeCl3:H2O or HF:H2O2:H2O technique for the InGaAs/InP system, the HCI:H2O or HCl:H3PO4technique for the InAlAs/InGaAlAs and GaInP/GaAs systems, and the HF technique for the AlAs/GaAs system.

Of course, these are merely examples of growth and etching techniques, of which there are others.

Moreover, the voltages are applied to the semiconductor layers via ohmic contacts, preferably made from AuGe, Pd—AuGe, or Ti—Pt—Au alloys. These contacts are formed on the two outermost layers of the structure, or on each semiconductor layer of the structure, of course, or on the outer layers and on certain intermediate layers. As previously indicated, it is particularly advantageous to use III-V materials for the semiconductor layers and the spacers. This is because, as previously indicated, III-V material heterostructures have very low and, more importantly, well-controlled residual mechanical stresses, which makes the suspended blades relatively highly flexible, which is indispensable for displacing them electromechanically.

Nevertheless, other materials can be envisioned. Examples are crystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. Crystalline silicon structures can be obtained using SOI technologies that etch silica (SiO2) layers, better known as the “smart cut” technique.

Polycrystalline structures can be envisioned, but the flexibility of the blades is then poor, because of the poor control of mechanical stresses and the possibility of absorption of light, which limit filtering applications.

Moreover, at present silicon cannot be used in devices integrating active layers. Consequently, they can be used only in the form of passive components.

Devices according to the invention offer many advantages, in that they have small dimensions enabling them to be used in highly integrated electronic components. For example, they can be used as tunable lasers on GaAs or InP, as tunable resonant or non-resonant photodetectors, or as modulators, using the switching functions at a given wavelength (the modulation can be of the synchronous detection type so that detection is effected by a modulated payload signal free of modulated spuriae that are experienced when using a chopper).

Many other applications can be envisioned, however, in the field of optical telecommunications, industrial control (for example in the agriculture/foodstuffs industry), microspectrometry, in particular in the field of the environment (detection of transmission or absorption of gas), or in the medical analysis field.

Generally speaking, the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for optical processing of signals.

The invention is not limited to the device embodiments described above by way of example only, and encompasses all variants thereof within the scope of the following claims that will be evident to the skilled person.