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Ridge waveguide-type semiconductor laser having a current recombination layer and an optical waveguide layer

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-15
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Granted: 1990-01-23
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Expires: 2008-12-15
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Abstract

Abstract A ridge waveguide-type semiconductor laser comprises a current recombination layer which generates light, and an optical waveguide layer to which the light generated at the recombination layer is coupled. A belt-like projection is formed by etching at least a part of the optical waveguide layer in the direction of its thickness at both opposing side regions up to a central region in the direction of the width of the laser.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshinobu Sekiguchi
  • 👤 Sotomitsu Ikeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 16:27
CPC Classifications
B; B82; B82Y; B82Y20/00; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/30; H01S5/34; H01S5/20; H01S5/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
In a semiconductor laser, an operative structure comprising: a substrate; a current recombination layer formed on said substrate, said recombination layer generating light by recombining injected current; an optical waveguide layer formed on said recombination layer across a width of said recombination layer and having a layer thickness, the light generated at said recombination layer being coupled to said optical waveguide layer, and at least a part of said optical waveguide layer being removed by etching in the direction of the layer thickness, at two opposing side regions up to a central region in the direction of the width of the recombination layer, in order to form a belt-like projection; a separation layer which is provided between said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer, and which has a lower refractive index than refractive indices of said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer; and a pair of electrodes for providing current to said combination layer, said electrodes being mounted to respective surfaces of the laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 166 words
In a semiconductor laser, an operative structure comprising: a substrate; a current recombination layer formed on said substrate, said recombination layer generating light by recombining injected current; an optical waveguide layer formed on said recombination layer across a width of said recombination layer and having a layer thickness, the light generated at said recombination layer being coupled to said optical waveguide layer, and at least a part of said optical waveguide layer being removed by etching in the direction of the layer thickness, at two opposing side regions up to a central region in the direction of the width of the recombination layer, in order to form a belt-like projection; a separation layer which is provided between said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer, and which has a lower refractive index than refractive indices of said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer; and a pair of electrodes for providing current to said combination layer, said electrodes being mounted to respective surfaces of the laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said recombination layer has a refractive index which is substantially equal to that of said optical waveguide layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said recombination layer has a refractive index slightly higher than that of said optical waveguide layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said optical waveguide layer is completley removed at both said opposed side regions in the direction of the layer thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein the width of said belt-like projection is set so that a far field pattern of the light which the laser emits is nearly circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said projection includes an apex region and one of said electrodes electrically contacts only said apex region of said projection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 53 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1 further comprising: a first clad layer provided between said substrate and said recombination layer; and a second clad layer provided on said optical waveguide layer; said first and second clad layers having refractive indices lower than those of said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 7 further comprising: a buffer layer provided between said substrate and and first clad layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 7 further comprising: a cap layer provided on said second clad layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1 further comprising: first and second light-confining layers adjacent to and respectively provided over and under said recombination layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said recombination layer has a multi-quantum-well structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said optical waveguide layer has a multi-quantium-well structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer are formed by GaAs and AlGaAs, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1 further comprising: a power supply connected to said electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 1, wherein said recombination layer has a refractive index which is higher than that of said optical waveguide layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a semiconductor laser, an operative structure comprising: a substrate; a current recombination layer formed on said substrate, said recombination layer generating light by recombining injected current; an optical waveguide layer formed on and in contact with said recombination layer across a width of said recombination layer and a layer thickness, the light generated at said recombination layer being coupled to said optical waveguide layer, and at least a part of said optical waveguide layer being removed by etching in the direction of the layer thickness, at two opposing side regions up to a central region in the direction of the width of the recombination layer, in order to form a belt-like projection; and a pair of electrodes for providing current to said recombination layer, said electrodes being mounted to respective surfaces of the laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a semiconductor laser, an operative structure comprising: a substrate; a current recombination layer formed on said substrate, said recombination layer generating light by recombining injected current; an optical waveguide layer formed on and in contact with said recombination layer across a width of said recombination layer and a layer thickness, the light generated at said recombination layer being coupled to said optical waveguide layer, and at least a part of said optical waveguide layer being removed by etching in the direction of the layer thickness, at two opposing side regions up to a central region in the direction of the width of the recombination layer, in order to form a belt-like projection; and a pair of electrodes for providing current to said recombination layer, said electrodes being mounted to respective surfaces of the laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 32 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 16, wherein the width of said belt-like projection is set so that a far field pattern of the light which the laser emits is nearly circular.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 29 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 16, wherein said belt-like projection includes an apex region, and one of said electrodes electrically contacts only said apex region of said projection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 53 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 16 further comprising: a first clad layer provided between said substrate and said recombination layer; and a second clad layer provided on said optical waveguide layer; said first and second clad layers having refractive indices lower than those of said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 19 first comprising: a cap layer provided on said second clad layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 23 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 16, wherein said recombination layer and said optical waveguide layer are formed of GaAs and AlGaAs, respectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
A semiconductor laser according to claim 16 further comprising: a power supply connected to said electrodes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4142160A Cited
US4084130A Cited
US4694460A Cited
US4794611A Cited
US4829534A Cited
US4796067A Cited
US4799229A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-01-22 1993-07-24 1994-01-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-01-22 1997-07-24 1998-01-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-01-22 2001-07-24 2002-01-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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