Microwatt-power InGaAs photogenerator for lightwave networks

A 3×3 array of series-connected InGaAs photodetectors was used as a photogenerator to optically power a remotely-located microwatt-power optical shutter intended for use in a lightwave network. The conversion efficiency of the photogenerator was 7×10/sup -3/ A/W when the device was illuminated at 1550 nm from the output of a single-mode fiber; the open-circuit voltage was 2 V with 300 μW of incident power.