Superluminescent LED with efficient coupling to optical waveguide
US4376946A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 1980 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10H20/042
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Optical power is coupled into an optical waveguide system such as an optical fiber with maximum efficiency by a superluminescent light-emitting diode having lateral confinement of the light in the junction plane. The waveguide developed in the light-emitting diode is constructed to have an effective numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the optical waveguide, and the refractive index n, the length L and width D of the waveguide in the diode is constructed such that the parameter nD/2L is much less than the numerical aperture. As a result, the inverted population of electrons within the active region are utilized with maximum efficiency to develop rays that are coupled into, and can be guided by, the optical waveguide system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.