CATV PIN PHOTODIODE

摘要

A PIN detector for use in the communications industry having increased linearity and increased maximum optical power detection levels without distortion is disclosed herein. To this end, a PIN structure having a high carrier mobility quaternary material cap layer and a ternary photosensitive layer is disclosed that overcomes the limitations of low mobility devices as described above. The quaternary materials have much greater carrier mobility than InP material and thereby a much shorter carrier transit time across these layers. This reduced carrier transit time effect results in a much more linear response and accordingly greatly reduced intermodulation distortion.