High speed, spatially switching light

Abstract

A high speed, compact and reliable semiconductor device for spatially switching light in optical switching networks, optical computers and optical interconnection networks is provided. The semiconductor device for spatially switching light comprises stacked P-anode, inner n-base, inner p-base and cathode layers, with an anode cathode on the P-anode layer defining a ridge. A low reverse bias is provided by a biasing means connected to a gate electrode disposed on a ledge of one base layer. A light emission region on the gate electrode side emits light, and a current flow induces a transversely flowing, narrow, light emitting channel that can be spatially shifted by switching the single gate electrode's bias. A high reverse bias also provides a spatially shifted light emission region in another part of the device's face. A cathode electrode is disposed on a portion of the bottom surface of the N-cathode layer, below the gate electrode and most of the cathode region below the ridge is not covered by the cathode electrode. Other embodiments include related variations, a semiconductor device for spatially switching light in a laser and a semiconductor device for spatially switching light in a selective amplifier for optical switching networks, optical computers, optical interconnection systems and related uses. The location of the cathode electrode is important because it induces the horizontal current flow in the cathode region, that is required for the existence of the transversely flowing, narrow, light emitting channel.