Patent ID: 7573928

Claim:
A semiconductor based optoelectronic device, comprising: a semiconductor laser section and a semiconductor attenuator section integrated on the same chip; the semiconductor laser section comprised of active material having a predefined bandgap; the semiconductor attenuator section positioned to receive light generated by the laser section and comprised of active material having nominally the same predefined bandgap as the active material of the semiconductor laser section; circuitry coupled to the semiconductor attenuator section, the circuitry configured to collect photocurrent generated in the semiconductor attenuator section and thereby attenuate light by the semiconductor attenuator section; wherein the laser section and attenuator section each comprise: a waveguide; and a grating layer; and wherein the grating layer of the laser section includes a grating and the grating layer of the attenuator section does not include a grating: wherein the laser section and the attenuator section each have a length, and the length of the laser section is much greater than the length of the attenuator section; and wherein the length of the laser section is approximately 15 times greater than the length of the attenuator section.