Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor lasers

US6556610B1 · kind B1 · utility

38Cited by
47References
100Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2001
Grant dateApr 29, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/423
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Semiconductor lasers are formed by integrating an electrically pumped semiconductor laser, a beam steering element and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) together. The electrically pumped semiconductor laser is modulated to modulate a pump beam of photons at a first wavelength. The beam steering element directs the pump beam to the VCSEL to provide optical pumping. The VCSEL receives the pump beam of photons at the first wavelength and is stimulated to emit photons of a laser beam at a second wavelength longer than the first. In embodiments, index guiding is provided in the VCSEL to improve the optical pumping and emission efficiencies when the pump beam is modulated at high frequencies. Embodiments of the beam steering element include a silicon bench, a polymer element, and a facet included in the edge emitting laser and an external mirror. Embodiments of index guiding include an air gap to form a mesa and an oxide confinement ring shaped layer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.