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US4426704A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor laser with two active layers

Assignee: NTT Inc
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Filing: 1981-11-02
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Granted: 1984-01-17
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Expires: 2001-11-02
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Abstract

Abstract In a semiconductor laser, a laminated multi-layer body is on a prescribed region of the surface of a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type, and a burying laminated layer body surrounds the laminated layer body in contact with the lateral wall thereof. The laminated layer body includes a first cladding layer having the first conductivity type, a first active layer, a second cladding layer having the opposite conductivity type (second conductivity type) to that of the semiconductor substrate, a second active layer and a third cladding layer of the first conductivity type. The burying laminated layer body includes a semiconductor electrode layer of the second conductivity type and low specific resistivity which substantially contacts the second cladding layer, and two groups of burying layers respectively provided on the prescribed regions of the top and bottom surface of said semiconductor electrode layer. When a prescribed amount of direct current is supplied to a first electrode mounted on the upper side of the laminated layer body, a second electrode deposited on the bottom side of said laminated layer body and a third electrode set on the semiconductor electrode layer included in the burying layer body, then the first and second active layers arranged very close to each other simultaneously oscillate two independent laser beams admitting of modulation with a low threshold current value.

Inventors

  • 👤 Haruo Nagai
  • 👤 Yoshio Noguchi
  • 👤 Kenichiro Takahei

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4031; H01S5/4043; H10; H10H; H10H29/00; H10H29/10; H01S5/04; H01S5/042; H01S5/0421; H01S5/0422; H01S5/06; H01S5/062; H01S5/06203; H01S5/06206; H01S5/20; H01S5/22; H01S5/227; H01S5/2275

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 251 words
A semiconductor laser which comprises: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a laminated layer body comprising a first cladding layer of the first conductivity type, a first active layer, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type opposite to said first conductivity type, a second active layer and a third cladding layer of the first conductivity type all laminated in the order mentioned on a prescribed region of the surface of said semiconductor substrate as counted from said surface, both of the end surfaces of said laminated layer body comprising mirrors to form a resonant cavity; a burying laminated layer body which is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround and contact with said laminated layer body, said burying laminated layer body comprising a first burying layer, a semiconductor electrode layer of the second conductivity type and a second burying layer all laminated in the order mentioned as counted from said semiconductor substrate; said semiconductor electrode layer substantially contacting said second cladding layer to provide a current path for a current flowing from a third electrode to said second cladding layer, and said semiconductor electrode layer having a low specific resistivity; a first electrode coupled to said third cladding layer; a second electrode coupled to said semiconductor substrate; said third electrode being coupled to said semiconductor electrode layer; and power supply means including a first power source coupled between said first and third electrodes, and a second power source coupled between said second and third electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 251 words
A semiconductor laser which comprises: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a laminated layer body comprising a first cladding layer of the first conductivity type, a first active layer, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type opposite to said first conductivity type, a second active layer and a third cladding layer of the first conductivity type all laminated in the order mentioned on a prescribed region of the surface of said semiconductor substrate as counted from said surface, both of the end surfaces of said laminated layer body comprising mirrors to form a resonant cavity; a burying laminated layer body which is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround and contact with said laminated layer body, said burying laminated layer body comprising a first burying layer, a semiconductor electrode layer of the second conductivity type and a second burying layer all laminated in the order mentioned as counted from said semiconductor substrate; said semiconductor electrode layer substantially contacting said second cladding layer to provide a current path for a current flowing from a third electrode to said second cladding layer, and said semiconductor electrode layer having a low specific resistivity; a first electrode coupled to said third cladding layer; a second electrode coupled to said semiconductor substrate; said third electrode being coupled to said semiconductor electrode layer; and power supply means including a first power source coupled between said first and third electrodes, and a second power source coupled between said second and third electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 272 words
A semiconductor laser which comprises: a laminated layer body which is mounted on a prescribed region of the surface of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, said laminated layer body comprising a first cladding layer of the first conducitivity type, a first active layer, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, a second active layer and a third cladding layer of the first conductivity type all laminated in the order mentioned as counted from said surface of said semiconductor substrate, both of the end surfaces of said laminated layer body comprising mirrors to form a resonant cavity; a burying laminated layer body which surrounds and contacts with said laminated body, said burying laminated layer body comprising a first burying layer, a semiconductor electrode layer of a second conductivity type and a second burying layer all laminated on said surface of said semiconductor substrate in the order mentioned as counted from said surface; said semiconductor electrode layer contacting said second cladding layer to provide a current path for a current flowing from a third electrode to said second cladding layer; said first burying layer contacting said first cladding layer and said first active layer; said second burying layer contacting said second active layer and said third cladding layer; a first electrode coupled to said third cladding layer; a second electrode coupled to said semiconductor substrate; said third electrode being coupled to said semiconductor electrode layer; and power supply means including a first power source coupled between said first and third electrodes, and a second power source coupled between said second and third electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 272 words
A semiconductor laser which comprises: a laminated layer body which is mounted on a prescribed region of the surface of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, said laminated layer body comprising a first cladding layer of the first conducitivity type, a first active layer, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, a second active layer and a third cladding layer of the first conductivity type all laminated in the order mentioned as counted from said surface of said semiconductor substrate, both of the end surfaces of said laminated layer body comprising mirrors to form a resonant cavity; a burying laminated layer body which surrounds and contacts with said laminated body, said burying laminated layer body comprising a first burying layer, a semiconductor electrode layer of a second conductivity type and a second burying layer all laminated on said surface of said semiconductor substrate in the order mentioned as counted from said surface; said semiconductor electrode layer contacting said second cladding layer to provide a current path for a current flowing from a third electrode to said second cladding layer; said first burying layer contacting said first cladding layer and said first active layer; said second burying layer contacting said second active layer and said third cladding layer; a first electrode coupled to said third cladding layer; a second electrode coupled to said semiconductor substrate; said third electrode being coupled to said semiconductor electrode layer; and power supply means including a first power source coupled between said first and third electrodes, and a second power source coupled between said second and third electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said semiconductor electrode layer has a smaller refractive index than said first and second active layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 3, wherein said semiconductor electrode layer has a wider forbidden band gap than said first and second active layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 60 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second active layers have a narrower forbidden band gap than said first to third cladding layers and first and second burying layers; and said first and second active layers have a larger refractive index than said first to third cladding layers and first and second burying layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 107 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first burying layer comprises a first semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type laminated on each other in the order mentioned as counted from said surface of said semiconductor substrate to jointly constitute a first PN junction; and said second burying layer comprises a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and a fourth semiconductory layer of the second conductivity type laminated on each other in the order mentioned as counted from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to jointly constitute a second PN junction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second burying layers each comprise at least one semiconductor layer of high resistivity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second active layers have different chemical compositions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second active layers have the same chemical composition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said semiconductor substrate is a semiconductor containing any of the compounds belonging to Groups III and V of the periodic Table.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 10, wherein said semiconductor is InP.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 12 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 10, wherein said semiconductor is GaAs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 10, wherein said first to third cladding layers and said first and second burying layers are InP; and said first and second active layer are GaInAsP.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 13, wherein said semiconductor electrode layer is GaInAsP.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 13, wherein said semiconductor electrode is InP.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 11, wherein said first to third cladding layers and said first and second burying layers are GaAlAs; and said first and second active layers are GaAs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 14 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 16, wherein said semiconductor electrode layer is GaAs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 16, wherein said semiconductor electrode layer is GaAlAs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The semiconductor laser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first electrode is mounted on said third cladding layer with a cap layer interposed therebetween.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4318059A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-01-16 1987-07-18 1988-01-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-01-16 1991-07-18 1992-01-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-01-16 1995-07-18 1996-01-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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