Excitonic Signal Processing in Coupled Quantum Well Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optoelectronic devices rely on electrical signals and require interconnects between electronic circuits and optical transceivers, limiting direct processing and control of optical signals, and do not efficiently utilize excitons for signal processing.
Innovation Solution
The development of optoelectronic devices with coupled or wide quantum well structures and localized gate electrodes that control exciton flow and recombination, enabling direct processing and transport of excitons with optical inputs and outputs, and allowing for separate processing of electrons and holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional optoelectronic devices use electrical charge for signal processing, then electronic signal processing can be achieved, but the speed of optical signal communication cannot be utilized and interconnects between electronic circuits and optical transceivers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges optical and electronic functions into a single excitonic device structure. The coupled quantum well structure allows simultaneous optical input/output and electronic control without separate interconnects, combining the advantages of both optical speed and electronic controllability in one integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces excitons as an intermediary between optical and electronic domains. Excitons serve as the mediating entity that converts optical signals into controllable electronic states and back, enabling direct optical signal processing without conventional electrical interconnects
2Ease of operation
If conventional optoelectronic devices use photocurrent or electric field for signal processing, then electrical signal processing can be achieved, but direct processing of optical signals is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses excitons as an intermediary that allows direct optical signal processing. Instead of converting optical signals to electrical signals for processing, the excitonic system processes optical signals directly through exciton generation, transport, and recombination, reducing conversion losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical signal processing system with an optical excitonic system. The coupled quantum well structure enables direct optical control of exciton states, substituting electrical field control with optical field control for more efficient optical signal processing
3Productivity
If localized gate electrodes are used to control exciton flow, then localized control and processing of excitons can be achieved, but device structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gate control into localized electrodes positioned over specific regions of the coupled quantum well structure. This segmentation allows independent control of exciton flow in different device regions, enabling localized exciton processing while maintaining overall system integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different gate voltages to control exciton behavior in specific areas. The localized gate electrodes create spatially varying electric fields that control exciton generation, transport, and recombination in different device regions with different properties
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables localized control and processing of excitons, facilitating efficient optical signal processing and recombination, reducing the need for interconnects and enhancing the integration of optoelectronic circuits with scalable, parallel processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
An exciton can be formed in a semiconductor when a photon is absorbed
Implementation Method 2
change of the absorption and emission rate
Implementation Method 3
The electric field in the z direction has been controlled by an external gate voltage Vg
Implementation Method 4
An exciton is a bound state of an electron and a hole, it is, a Coulomb correlated electron-hole pair
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention presents devices and methods for localized control and transport of excitons as well as separate processing of holes and electrons in a device with an optical input and an optical output. An example optoelectronic device includes a coupled or wide quantum well structure. Optical input and optical output electrodes are arranged over regions that are separated by a gate electrode region. The coupled or wide quantum well structure is dimensioned and formed from materials that create a nonzero distance d between the separated electron and hole of an excitors formed in response to the input. The flow of excitons (separated electrons and holes) between the optical input and optical output can be controlled by a voltage potentials applied to the localized gate electrode, optical input, and output electrodes.