Adnah G Kostenbauder

US Patent:

47541300, Jun 28, 1988

Filed:

Oct 31, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/925199

Inventors:

Adnah G. Kostenbauder - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Stanford University - Stanford CA

International Classification:

H01J 4014

US Classification:

250211R

Abstract:

A photodetector for detecting signal pulses transmitted in an optical carrier signal relies on the generation of electron-hole pairs and the diffusion of the generated electrons and holes to the electrodes on the surface of the semiconductor detector body for generating photovoltaic pulses. The detector utilizes the interference of optical waves for generating an electron-hole grating within the semiconductor body, and, by establishing an electron-hole pair maximum at one electrode and a minimum at the other electrode, a detectable voltaic pulse is generated across the electrode.