Patent ID: 8154127

Claim:
An optical device, comprising: a first electrode of a first conductivity type; a second electrode of a second conductivity type; a nanowire positioned laterally between the first and second electrodes, the nanowire having at least two segments and a junction region formed between the at least two segments, one of the at least two segments being one of grown from or attached to the first electrode and being of the first conductivity type, an other of the at least two segments being one of grown from or attached to the second electrode and being of the second conductivity type, and at least one of the at least two segments having a predetermined characteristic that affects optical behavior of the junction region; a substrate upon which the first and second electrodes are established or from which the first and second electrodes are formed, the substrate having a surface that is substantially parallel to the nanowire and is positioned a spaced distance from the nanowire; and a non-linear optical material covering the nanowire at least on the junction region.