US5103455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Monolithically integrated semiconductor optical preamplifier
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1990-05-09
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2010-05-09
Abstract
Abstract An optical preamplifier includes a semiconductor optical amplifier monolithically integrated with an optical detector and electrically isolated from the detector by an isolation region. The isolation region consists of a low-loss, preferably transparent, insulating material whose index of refraction is matched to at least the refractive index of the amplifier, leading to reduced facet reflectivity at the amplifier output facet. Alternative device structures may include a waveguiding layer in the isolation region, a grating integrated with or following the optical amplifier, and a tuning region positioned between the amplifier and isolation region for filtering spontaneous emission.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliot Eichen
- 👤 Roger P. Holmstrom
- 👤 Joanne LaCourse
- 👤 Robert B. Lauer
- 👤 William Powazinik
- 👤 William C. Rideout
- 👤 John Schlafer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/02; H01S5/026; H01S5/0262; H01S5/0264; H01S5/50; H01S5/5045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: at least one amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; at least one optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; at least one electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: at least one amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; at least one optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; at least one electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 1 wherein: at least one amplifying region is contiguous with an isolation region, and wherein the insulating material of said isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of said one amplifying region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 1 wherein: said isolation region is transparent to said amplified light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 4 wherein said amplifying region further including: a waveguide angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said amplifying region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 1 wherein said amplifying region further including: a waveguide angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said amplifying region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 4 wherein said amplifying region further including: a heterostructure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 4 wherein said optical detection region further including: a heterostructure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 7 wherein said heterostructure includes: a quantum well region
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 8 wherein said heterostructure includes: a quantum well region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 4 wherein: said amplifying region is contiguous with said isolation region and wherein the insulating material of said isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of at least said amplifying region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 4 wherein: said isolation region is transparent to said amplified light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region positioned between said amplifying and optical detection region, and including a waveguiding region comprised of a low-lose insulating material for guiding said amplified light to said detection layer; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region positioned between said amplifying and optical detection region, and including a waveguiding region comprised of a low-lose insulating material for guiding said amplified light to said detection layer; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 13 wherein said isolation region further including: a cladding region disposed on said waveguiding region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 13 wherein: the active layer of said amplifying region is contiguous with said waveguiding region, and wherein the insulating material of said waveguiding region is index-matched to a material constituency of at least the active layer of said amplifying region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 13 wherein: said waveguiding region is transparent to said amplified light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 13 wherein said amplifying region further including: a waveguide angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said amplifying region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a grating integrated with said amplifying region; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provides to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a grating integrated with said amplifying region; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said amplified light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said amplifying and optical detection regions; and electrodes provides to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 18 wherein: said isolation region is contiguous with said amplifying region, and wherein the insulating material of said isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of at least said amplifying region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 18 wherein: said isolation region is transparent to said amplified light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 18 wherein said amplifying region further including: a waveguide angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said amplifying region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a filter region adjacent to said amplifying region and including a grating for filtering said amplified light; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said filtered light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said filter and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions; wherein said preamplifier operates below a threshold condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a filter region adjacent to said amplifying region and including a grating for filtering said amplified light; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said filtered light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said filter and optical detection regions; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying and optical detection regions; wherein said preamplifier operates below a threshold condition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 22 wherein: said isolation region is contiguous with said filter region, and wherein the insulating material of said isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of at least said filter region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 22 wherein: said isolation region is transparent to said filtered light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a tuning region for selectively filtering said amplified light; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said filtered light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said tuning region and said optical detection region; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying region, said optical detection region, and said tuning region.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
89 words
A wide-bandwidth monolithically integrated optical preamplifier, comprising: an amplifying region including a traveling wave amplifier having an active layer for amplifying a light signal applied to said active layer; a tuning region for selectively filtering said amplified light; an optical detection region including a detection layer for detecting said filtered light; an electrical isolation region comprised of a low-loss insulating material and positioned between said tuning region and said optical detection region; and electrodes provided to each of said amplifying region, said optical detection region, and said tuning region.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 25 wherein: said isolation region is contiguous with said tuning region, and wherein the insulating material of said isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of at least said tuning region.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 25 further including: a grating integrated with said tuning region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 25 further including: an amplifier electrical isolation region comprised of an insulating material and positioned between said amplifying region and said tuning region, said amplifier isolation region being transparent to said amplified light.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 28 wherein: said amplifier isolation region is contiguous with said amplifying region, and wherein the insulating material of said amplifier isolation region is refractively index-matched to a material of at least said amplifying region.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The preamplifier as recited in claim 25 wherein: said isolation region is transparent to said filtered light.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |