Patent · US Expired

Moisture passivated planar index-guided VCSEL

US6819697B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 2003
Grant dateNov 16, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S2301/176
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Systems and methods of passivating planar index-guided oxide vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELS) are described. These systems and methods address the unique susceptibility of these devices to damage that otherwise might be caused by moisture intrusion into the etch holes that are used to form the index-guiding confinement regions. In one aspect, the invention features a VCSEL that includes a vertical stack structure having a substantially planar top surface. The vertical stack structure includes a top mirror, a bottom mirror, and a cavity region that is disposed between the top mirror and the bottom mirror and includes an active light generation region. At least one of the top mirror and the bottom mirror has a layer with a peripheral region that is oxidized into an electrical insulator. The vertical stack structure defines an etched hole that extends from the substantially planar top surface to the oxidized peripheral region. The etched hole contains a polymer layer and is moisture passivated by an overlying moisture penetration barrier.

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