US5438210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical isolation connections using integrated circuit techniques
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-10-22
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2013-10-22
Abstract
Abstract Isolation circuits for optically passing signals between a plurality of electrical circuits without any electrically conductive path therebetween. The circuits utilize monolithic, silicon-on-insulator and integrated circuit techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene R. Worley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:52
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F55/00; H10F55/20; H10F55/25; H10F55/255; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; H04B10/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A monolithic SOI optical coupler comprising, a silicon LED comprising a first region which is relatively heavily doped P+, a second region which is relatively heavily doped N+ and a third region of relatively lightly doped either N- or P- intermediate said first and second regions, and light detector means comprising a first region doped N+, a second region doped P+ and a third region doped N+P+ intermediate said first and second regions, a common support means, said light detector means constructed adjacent to said LED on the same surface of said common support means, said common support means includes an insulator layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A monolithic SOI optical coupler comprising, a silicon LED comprising a first region which is relatively heavily doped P+, a second region which is relatively heavily doped N+ and a third region of relatively lightly doped either N- or P- intermediate said first and second regions, and light detector means comprising a first region doped N+, a second region doped P+ and a third region doped N+P+ intermediate said first and second regions, a common support means, said light detector means constructed adjacent to said LED on the same surface of said common support means, said common support means includes an insulator layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said common support means includes an intrinsic silicon substrate on which said insulator layer of SiO 2 is deposited in order to augment isolation between said LED and said light detector means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said light detector means comprises at least one of the group including a Schottky barrier diode, a standard PN diode, an avalanche diode and a floating base bipolar transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 including, a light containment envelope comprised of a light reflective material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The coupler recited in claim 4 wherein, said reflective material is metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said light detector means substantially surrounds said LED.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said LED is constructed by a process which included implanting impurities into the silicon component to provide enhanced optical techniques.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 including, operational amplifier means connected to said detector means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coupler recited in claim 8 including, control circuit means arranged to selectively interconnect said operational amplifier means with telephone signal circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coupler recited in claim 9 wherein, said control circuit means includes, bridge rectifier means connected to receive telephone signals and an output signal from said operational amplifier means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coupler recited in claim 10 wherein, said telephone signals are the conventional "tip" and "ring" signals provided by conventional telephone systems.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupler recited in claim 10 wherein, said control circuit means includes digital-to-analog converter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said LED and said light detector means are mounted on the same surface of said common support means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 including, a first set of interconnects contacting said first and second regions of said LED, and a second set of interconnects contacting said light detector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said light detector means is separated from said LED by a distance which is determined by the isolation voltage desired by said coupler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said light detector means comprises a narrow bandgap silicon detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said light detector means includes a pair of substantially identical detector diodes spaced apart from said silicon LED.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said common support means includes a layer of SiO 2 on which said light detector means and said silicon LED are disposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said first and second regions are doped sufficiently heavily to minimize parasitic resistance therein without causing light absorption at photon energy of 1.1 eV.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The coupler recited in claim 14 wherein, said interconnects are all formed of metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coupler recited in claim 14 wherein, one interconnect of said second set of interconnects is connected to said first region of said light detector means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupler recited in claim 21 wherein, said first region of said light detector means is disposed adjacent to said LED.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coupler recited in claim 1 wherein, said third region of said light detector means is doped P N in equal dosages.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The coupler recited in claim 4 including, a layer of SiO 2 disposed over said silicon LED and said light detector means, and under said light containment envelope.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The coupler recited in claim 2 wherein, the interface between said layer of SiO 2 and said intrinsic silicon substrate forms a light reflective surface to enhance the operation of said coupler.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupler recited in claim 8 including, reference means for supplying a reference signal level connected to said operational amplifier means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
The coupler recited in claim 8 including, digital signal input means connected to said silicon LED, digit-to-analog converter means connected to the output of said operational amplifier means, bridge rectifier means connected to the output of said digital-to-analog converter means, analog-to-digital converter means connected to receive signals from said bridge rectifier means, the output of said analog-to-digital converter means connected to said silicon LED of said coupler, and output means connected to receive output signals from said light detection means of said coupler.
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