Patent ID: 7354840

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a silicon-on-insulator substrate comprising a buried oxide layer having a first thickness situated over a bulk silicon substrate and a silicon layer having a second thickness situated directly on said buried oxide layer; forming a trench in said silicon layer and said buried oxide layer, said trench exposing a portion of said bulk silicon substrate, said trench being situated adjacent to an optical region of said silicon-on-insulator substrate, wherein said optical region comprises at least one optical component; forming an epitaxial layer on said exposed portion of said bulk silicon substrate in said trench; wherein said epitaxial layer and said bulk silicon substrate form a bulk silicon electronic region of said silicon-on-insulator substrate; wherein said optical region of said silicon-on-insulator substrate is optimized for said at least one optical component by controlling said first thickness of said buried oxide layer and said second thickness of said silicon layer.