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US5546489A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical link apparatus

Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-08-28
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Granted: 1996-08-13
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Expires: 2015-08-28
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Abstract

Abstract In an optical link apparatus of the present invention, a hybrid IC which is a main amplifier of a receiver circuit, and a hybrid IC which is a transmitter circuit are mounted on an island of a lead frame. An OEIC in which electronic devices and a light receiving device which constitute a preamplifier of the receiver circuit are integrated is housed in a light receiving device unit. A light emitting device is housed in a light emitting device unit. Sleeves which are optical link components are installed at the light receiving device unit and the light emitting device unit, and one ends of the sleeves are protruded from a plastic molding to the outside. As wires are connected to lead pins, the hybrid ICs are electrically connected with the light receiving device unit and the light emitting device unit. The lead pins, the hybrid ICs, the light receiving device unit, the light emitting device unit, and the sleeves are integrally sealed by a plastic molding which is superior in productivity and processability. Therefore, the optical link apparatus which is small and superior in productivity can be achieved.

Inventors

  • 👤 Goro Sasaki
  • 👤 Hiroshi Yano
  • 👤 Sosaku Sawada
  • 👤 Kentaro Doguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 04:02
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F55/00; H10F55/20; H10F55/25; H10F55/255; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4246; H10F77/00; H10F77/50; H10W; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/756

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
An optical link apparatus comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber Cable, a light receiving device for converting an optical Signal entered from said optical fiber into an electrical signal, and a receiver circuit for processing the electrical signal from said light receiving device, said optical link apparatus being integrally molded with a plastic so that one end of said link unit is exposed to the outside; wherein said light receiving device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said receiver circuit are monolithically integrated on a semiconductor substrate and installed at one end of said optical link unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 106 words
An optical link apparatus comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber Cable, a light receiving device for converting an optical Signal entered from said optical fiber into an electrical signal, and a receiver circuit for processing the electrical signal from said light receiving device, said optical link apparatus being integrally molded with a plastic so that one end of said link unit is exposed to the outside; wherein said light receiving device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said receiver circuit are monolithically integrated on a semiconductor substrate and installed at one end of said optical link unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor substrate is made of InP.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bipolar transistor is a heterojunction bipolar transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 172 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heterojunction bipolar transistor comprises a collector portion comprising a first semiconductor layer formed on said substrate and having a first conduction type, and a first electrode formed on a surface of said first semiconductor layer, a base portion comprising a second semiconductor layer formed on said collector portion and having a second conduction type, and a second electrode formed on a surface of said second semiconductor layer, and an emitter portion comprising a third semiconductor layer formed on a surface of said base portion opposing to a junction between said base portion and said collector portion and having the first conduction type; a part of said third semiconductor layer on a first region of a surface of said base portion has a first thickness; and said third semiconductor layer on a second region of the surface region of said base portion, except said first region and the second electrode formed region, has a thickness so as to be depleted under normal operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light receiving device is a pin photodiode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pin photodiode comprises semiconductor layers deposited on said substrate into a mesa shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 5, wherein pn junction of said pin photodiode is homojunction; and heterojunction is not presented in the vicinity of the pn junction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 72 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a transmitter comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber cable, a light emitting device for emitting an optical signal to said fiber cable, and a transmitter circuit for driving said light emitting device; wherein said light emitting device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said transmitter circuit are monolithically integrated with a semiconductor substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 98 words
An optical link apparatus comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber cable, a light emitting device for emitting an optical signal to said optical fiber cable, and a transmitter circuit for driving said light emitting device, said optical link apparatus being integrally molded with a plastic so that one end of said link unit is exposed to the outside; wherein said light emitting device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said transmitter circuit are monolithically integrated on a semiconductor substrate and installed at one end of said optical link unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 98 words
An optical link apparatus comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber cable, a light emitting device for emitting an optical signal to said optical fiber cable, and a transmitter circuit for driving said light emitting device, said optical link apparatus being integrally molded with a plastic so that one end of said link unit is exposed to the outside; wherein said light emitting device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said transmitter circuit are monolithically integrated on a semiconductor substrate and installed at one end of said optical link unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said semiconductor substrate is made of InP.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bipolar transistor is a heterojunction bipolar transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 173 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said heterojunction bipolar transistor comprises a collector portion comprising a first semiconductor layer formed on said substrate and having a first conduction type, and a first electrode formed on a surface of said first semiconductor layer, a base portion comprising a second semiconductor layer formed on said collector portion and having a second conduction type, and a second electrode formed on a surface of said second semiconductor layer, and an emitter portion comprising a third semiconductor layer formed on a surface of said base portion opposing to a junction surface between said base portion and said collector portion and having the first conduction type; a part of said third semiconductor layer on a first region of a surface of said base portion has a first thickness; and said third semiconductor layer on a second region of the surface region of said base portion, except said first region and the second electrode formed region, has a thickness so as to be depleted under normal operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 81 words
An optical link apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a receiver comprising a link unit to be coupled to an optical fiber cable, a light receiving device for converting an optical signal entered from said optical fiber into an electrical signal, and a receiver circuit for processing the electrical signal from said light receiving device; wherein said light receiving device, and a bipolar transistor constituting at least a part of said receiver circuit are monolithically integrated with a semiconductor substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1999-08-13 2000-02-12 2000-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-08-13 2004-02-12 2004-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-08-13 2008-02-12 2008-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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