Abstract

The division between optical processing and electronic processing with optical interconnections can be a fuzzy one at best. Because of the limited functionality acheivable in "all-optical" logic gates, a growing interest is seen in "optical" processing elements made using optoelectronic devices with greater functionality [1]. Large scale integrated optoelectronic chips of quantum well self electro-optic effect devices (SEEDs) have been made [2,3] with fast switching times and low operating voltages and energies. The processing elements in these chips, the symmetric SEEDs (S-SEEDs) [4], have limited processing capabilities, in that they are set-reset latches and can be made to perform logic functions by pre-setting the device to a given state. We can, in theory, achieve arbitrary logical functionality by using a separate group of quantum well detectors configured similar to the field effect transistors in CMOS and NMOS circuits to drive a S-SEED configured as an output modulator [5]. These devices have many desirable qualities including, time sequential gain, effective input-output isolation, signal level and timing regeneration, wavefront quality restoration, and operation over decades in power levels due to the differential nature of the devices. In this paper, we describe the first integrated arrays of these devices, with each device or processing element having the functionality required to implement photonic switching nodes. Since these arrays were made using the same batch fabrication procedures that have yielded the large S-SEED arrays [6], we feel that the capability now exists to make large scale optoelectronic circuits of arbitrary functionality.

© 1991 Optical Society of America