Current-controlled polarization switching vertical cavity surface emitting laser
US7016381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/18369
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fast current-controlled polarization switching VCSEL with two independent intra-cavity p-contact electrodes and two independent intra-cavity n-contact electrodes positioned along the four sides of the symmetric aperture such that there are two independent p- and n-contact pairs placed on opposite sides of the aperture in a non-overlapping configuration. The anisotropy resulting from the unidirectional current flow causes the light output to be polarized perpendicular to the direction of current flow. A VCSEL driver circuit switches the polarization state of the output light by using the two orthogonal pairs of non-overlapping intra-cavity contacted electrodes to change the direction of current flow into the VCSEL aperture by 90 degrees.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.