US Patent 7720326 - Nanowire array photodetector

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7720326.html

Researchers from HP have found that arrays of nanowires can be used to convert optical signals into photocurrent. This patent teaches a way to apply this finding in developing photonic integrated circuits. Claim 1 reads:

1. A photodetector comprising:

a waveguide configured to transmit one or more channels of electromagnetic radiation;

a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide; and

a number of nanowires, each nanowire interconnects the first terminal to the second terminal and a portion of each nanowire is embedded in the waveguide.