Patent ID: 7358585

Claim:
A monolithic arrangement comprising a Schottky barrier, silicon-based infrared photodetector integrated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform with an optical waveguide, the monolithic arrangement including an SOI structure with a planar SOI surface layer, the planar SOI surface layer being less than one micron in thickness and forming at least a portion of the optical waveguide for supporting transmission of an optical signal; a metallic strip disposed over a portion of the planar SOI surface layer along the direction of propagation within the optical waveguide, the metallic strip forming a Schottky barrier with the optical waveguide; a first ohmic contact disposed on the planar SOI surface layer at a first contact area; and a second ohmic contact disposed on the metallic strip at a second contact area, wherein the application of a bias voltage between the first and second ohmic contacts generates a photocurrent output from the metallic strip as a function of the portion of the optical signal that impinges the metallic strip as said optical signal propagates along said optical waveguide, the first and second ohmic contacts disposed to minimize the absorption of said optical signal in the first and second contact areas.