EP0517440A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article or system comprising a Si-based optical device
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-05-29
Abstract
Abstract It has been discovered that co-doping of Er-doped Si with a light element such as C, N or F can result in substantially increased Er luminescence. A further increase in luminescence can result if, in addition, oxygen is present in the Si. Apparatus or systems according to the invention comprise a device (e.g., laser, optical amplifier, LED) that comprises a planar waveguide whose core region contains, in addition to at least 90 atomic % Si or SiGe alloy, Er, Pr and/or Nd, and further contains C, N and/or F, and preferably also contains oxygen. Currently preferred apparatus or systems according to the invention comprise means for electrically pumping the waveguide means.
Inventors
- 👤 Janet Lee Benton
- 👤 Dale Conrad Jacobson
- 👤 Lionel Cooper Kimerling
- 👤 Jurgen Michel
- 👤 John Milo Poate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10H; H10H20/00; H10H20/80; H10H20/81; H10H20/822; H10H20/826; H10H20/8262; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/50; H01S3/00; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1608; H01S3/1628; H01S5/30; H01S5/305; H01S5/3068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An article or system comprising a device (30) that comprises optical waveguide means (32, 33, 34) adapted for guiding signal radiation of wavelength λ s , said waveguide means comprising material that contains a rare earth (RE) element selected from the group consisting of erbium (Er), praseodymium (Pr) and neodymium (Nd), the device further comprising means (35, 36, 37) for causing at least some of the RE in the waveguide means to undergo an electronic transition to an excited electronic state that is associated with luminescence; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT a) the waveguide means are planar waveguide means comprising a core region (33) comprising semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of Si and SiGe alloy; and b) the core region further comprises at least one member of the group of elements consisting of C, N, and F, said member to be referred-to as a the "co-dopant", such that the luminescence associated with the waveguide means is substantially higher than the luminescence associated with otherwise identical comparison waveguide means that do not contain the co-dopant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The article or system of claim 1, wherein the core region further comprises oxygen in an amount effective to result in increased luminescence, as compared to otherwise identical comparison waveguide means that substantially do not contain oxygen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The article or system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the co-dopants is present in an amount sufficient to result in luminescence intensity that is at least double the luminescence intensity associated with said comparison waveguide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article or system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide means are an integral part of a body that comprises single crystal Si.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article or system of claim 4, wherein said means for causing the RE to undergo the transition comprise means for coupling into the core region electromagnetic radiation of wavelength λ p < λ s .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The article or system of claim 4, wherein said means for causing the RE to undergo the transition comprise a n-doped and a p-doped portion of the waveguide means, arranged such as to form a p-n junction, and further comprises means for electrically contacting said n-doped portion and said p-doped portion, such that an electrical current can be caused to flow across the p-n junction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article or system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises reflective means adapted for forming an optical cavity for the signal radiation, the device being a laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The article or system of claim 1, further comprising means for coupling the signal radiation into the core region of the waveguide means, and means for providing signal radiation from the waveguide means to radiation utilization means, wherein the device is an optical amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article or system of claim 2, wherein RE is Er, and wherein λ s is approximately equal to 1.55 µm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article or system of claim 6, wherein the article comprises a p-n homojunction structure in a light emitting diode configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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