US5012486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vertical cavity semiconductor laser with lattice-mismatched mirror stack
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1990-04-06
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Granted: 1991-04-30
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Expires: 2010-04-06
Abstract
Abstract In a vertical semiconductor laser, the top mirror is composed of alternating layers of lattice-mismatched semiconductors. Quantum reflections and other charge transport barriers for majority carriers at the interface, and hence electrical resistance and power dissipation, are reduced by choosing the lattice-mismatched semiconductor materials in such a manner as to align their band edges for majority carriers. On the other hand, the semiconductor materials are selected to supply relatively large refractive index differences, and hence relatively large optical reflections, at their interfaces. The lattice-mismatching may also produce vertical thread dislocations through the stack, which increase the electrical conductivity.
Inventors
- 👤 Sergey Luryi
- 👤 Ya-Hong Xie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/18; H01S5/183; H01S5/18386; H01S5/18394; H01S5/18305; H01S5/30; H01S5/32; H01S5/3201; H01S5/323; H01S5/3235; H01S5/32391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor laser structure comprising an active semiconductor layer upon which a cladding layer and a mirror stack have been grown, the mirror stack comprising a plurality of semiconductor layers at least one of which is lattice-mismatched with respect to another contiguous thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor laser structure comprising an active semiconductor layer upon which a cladding layer and a mirror stack have been grown, the mirror stack comprising a plurality of semiconductor layers at least one of which is lattice-mismatched with respect to another contiguous thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser structure in accordance with claim 1 in which every other layer in the mirror stack has a same first lattice constant and all the remaining layers in the stack have a same second lattice constant different from the first.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser structure of claim 2 in which the difference between the first and second lattice constants amounts to at least 0.30 percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser structure of claim 2 in which the difference between the first and second lattice constants amounts to at least about 0.20 percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser structure of claim 1 in which the lattice mismatch amounts to at least 0.30 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser structure of claim 1 in which the lattice mismatch amounts to at least 0.20 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The laser structure of claim 1 in which the active layer is essentially GaAs and in which the mirror-stack comprises a plurality of alternating layers of essentially AlAs and In z Ga 1-z P, where z is approximately equal to 0.55.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The laser structure of claim 1 further including an electrode attached to the mirror stack, and in which the active layer is essentially InGaAs which generates light having a vacuum wavelength of about 1.55 μm in response to electrical current supplied to the electrode, and in which the mirror-stack comprises a plurality of alternating layers of essentially InP and Al y In 1-y As, where y is approximately equal to 0.82.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 8 in which y is approximately equal to 0.8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 1 and means for utilizing optical radiation which can be emitted by the structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 2 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 3 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 4 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 5 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 6 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 7 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 8 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system including the structure of claim 9 and means for utilizing optical radiation emitted by the structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-29 | 1994-10-29 | 1995-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-29 | 1998-10-29 | 1999-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-29 | 2002-10-29 | 2003-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |