Patent ID: 8288747

Claim:
A structure, comprising: a semiconductor layer comprising a semiconductor material; a first dielectric layer on and in direct physical contact with the semiconductor layer; a resistive/reflective region on and in direct physical contact with the first dielectric layer such that the first dielectric layer is disposed between the resistive/reflective region and the semiconductor layer, wherein the resistive/reflective region comprises a material having a characteristic comprising the material's reflectance being changed due to a phase change in the material, and wherein the resistive/reflective region is configured to respond to an electric current through the resistive/reflective region, by the phase change in the material which causes a reflectance change in the resistive/reflective region from a first reflectance value to a second reflectance value different from the first reflectance value; a second dielectric layer on and in direct physical contact with both the first dielectric layer and the resistive/reflective region such that the resistive/reflective region is disposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer; and a light source/light detecting device configured to ascertain the reflectance change in the resistive/reflective region.