Patent ID: 7315679

Claim:
A waveguide structure for supporting an optical mode having a wavelength, λ, comprising: an elongate waveguide portion comprising doped semiconductor; a plurality of segments extending laterally from said elongate waveguide portion, wherein the plurality of segments comprises conductive material and has a width that is at least twice a width of the elongate waveguide portion; at least one electrical contact formed on a top surface section of the plurality of segments to provide electrical contact to the elongate waveguide portion through the top surface section of the plurality of segments, wherein the electrical contact is laterally disposed with respect to the elongate waveguide portion and is configured to be substantially removed from the elongate waveguide portion and the supported optical mode propagating in the elongate waveguide portion; and cladding disposed about said elongate waveguide portion, wherein said plurality of segments has a periodicity on the order of said wavelength, λ.