Patent ID: 7599594

Claim:
A method for creating an optical semiconductor device comprising the steps of: a) selecting a base structure; b) depositing a first cladding layer on the base structure; c) depositing a core layer on the first cladding layer; d) depositing a second cladding layer on the core layer; e) depositing a cap layer on the second cladding layer; f) depositing an upper contact on the cap layer; g) forming a trench in through a user-definable portion of the upper contact, cap layer, second cladding layer, the core layer, the first cladding layer, to at least a user-definable depth in the first cladding layer, wherein the trench is of a user-definable width, and where the trench has two walls and a floor; h) depositing a sacrificial spacer layer on the two walls and floor of the trench; i) fabricating a waveguide on the sacrificial spacer layer; and j) removing a user-definable portion of the sacrificial spacer layer, where a user-definable portion of the sacrificial spacer layer remains on the floor of the trench to anchor the waveguide.