An optoelectronic circuit employing a heterojunction thyristor device that
is configured as an optically-controlled (or electrically-controlled)
sampling/switching device. First and second channel regions are disposed
between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the device, and an
electrical input terminal and an electrical output terminal are coupled to
opposite ends of the first channel region. At least one control signal is
supplied to the device. When the control signal corresponds to a
predetermined ON condition, sufficient charge is stored in the second
channel region to cause the heterojunction thyristor device to operate in
an ON state whereby current flows between the anode terminal and the
cathode terminal and the electrical input terminal is electrically coupled
to the electrical output terminal. When the control signal corresponds to
a predetermined OFF condition, the heterojunction thyristor device
operates in an OFF state whereby current does not flow between the anode
terminal and the cathode terminal and the electrical input terminal is
electrically isolated from the electrical output terminal. The control
signal can be an optical sampling clock, a digital optical signal encoding
bits of information, the combination of a digital optical signal and an
optical sampling clock (which defines sampling periods that overlap the
bits of information in the digital optical signal), or an electrical
sampling clock.
