US5052008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current injection laser
Assignee: Telstra Corp Ltd
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Filing: 1989-09-06
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Granted: 1991-09-24
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Expires: 2009-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A current injection laser including a single crystal substrate of a given refractive index upon which is positioned successively, an inner reflection formed by a first set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer and an outside reflector layer formed by a second set of epitaxial single crystal layers. At least one of the inner reflector, resonator and outer reflector being of p-type or n-type conductivity and at least one of the inner reflector, resonator and outer reflector being of opposite type conductivity.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter C. Kemeny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/18; H01S5/183; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/07; H01S5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
A current injection laser comprising structure defining a single crystal substrate, having a refractive index, and, positioned on said substrate, in succession, an inner reflector formed by a first set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer, and an outside reflector formed by a second set of epitaxial single crystal layers, at least a first set of elements of at least one of said inner reflector, said substrate and said resonator layer being electrically conductive, and at least a second set of elements of at least one of said outside reflector and said resonator layer being electrically conductive, one said set of elements being of p-type conductivity and the other said set of elements being of n-type conductivity, said structure further including first and second electrically conductive means making ohmic contact respectively to said first set of elements and said second set of elements whereby to enable, by application of electrical potential to said electrically conductive means, an electrical current to flow through said structure to cause it to generate coherent light by laser action, said layers comprising the reflectors being such that a compositional periodicity having optical thickness of λ/2 ) or an odd multiple thereof is achieved, where λ is the wavelength of light so generated, the thickness of the resonator layer being defined by the following relationships: ##EQU5## where λ m is a possible operating wavelength, N r (I t ) is the refractive index of the resonator layer at current I t , being the current through the laser at the threshold of lasing, and φ 1 and φ 2 are defined by the following relationships: r.sub.i =r.sub.1 exp (jφ.sub.1) where r 1 is the magnitude of reflectance of layers comprised in the inner reflector, and φ 1 is the phase shift on such reflectance, r.sub.0 =r.sub.2 exp (φ.sub.2) where r 2 is the magnitude of reflectance of layers in the outer reflector, and φ 2 is the phase shift on such reflectance, the laser being characterized in that m has a value in the range 0 to 10.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
A current injection laser comprising structure defining a single crystal substrate, having a refractive index, and, positioned on said substrate, in succession, an inner reflector formed by a first set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer, and an outside reflector formed by a second set of epitaxial single crystal layers, at least a first set of elements of at least one of said inner reflector, said substrate and said resonator layer being electrically conductive, and at least a second set of elements of at least one of said outside reflector and said resonator layer being electrically conductive, one said set of elements being of p-type conductivity and the other said set of elements being of n-type conductivity, said structure further including first and second electrically conductive means making ohmic contact respectively to said first set of elements and said second set of elements whereby to enable, by application of electrical potential to said electrically conductive means, an electrical current to flow through said structure to cause it to generate coherent light by laser action, said layers comprising the reflectors being such that a compositional periodicity having optical thickness of λ/2 ) or an odd multiple thereof is achieved, where λ is the wavelength of light so generated, the thickness of the resonator layer being defined by the following relationships: ##EQU5## where λ m is a possible operating wavelength, N r (I t ) is the refractive index of the resonator layer at current I t , being the current through the laser at the threshold of lasing, and φ 1 and φ 2 are defined by the following relationships: r.sub.i =r.sub.1 exp (jφ.sub.1) where r 1 is the magnitude of reflectance of layers comprised in the inner reflector, and φ 1 is the phase shift on such reflectance, r.sub.0 =r.sub.2 exp (φ.sub.2) where r 2 is the magnitude of reflectance of layers in the outer reflector, and φ 2 is the phase shift on such reflectance, the laser being characterized in that m has a value in the range 0 to 10.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A current injection laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compositional periodicity is achieved by the selection of the layers in the reflector as having a determined thickness, substantially 1/4λ, and as having alternating high and low refractive indices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A current injection laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein to achieve said compositional periodicity, the composition, and thus refractive index of the reflector is varied in a continuous or piece-wise manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A current injection laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the refractive index N b of the layer of the inside reflector adjacent to the resonator layer, and N a , the refractive index of the layer of the outside reflector immediately adjacent the resonator layer are related to N r (I t ), the refractive index of the resonator layer at the current through the laser occuring at the threshold of lasing, by: N.sub.b <N.sub.r (I.sub.t) if N.sub.a <N.sub.r (I.sub.t).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A current injection laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the refractive index N b of the layer of the inside reflector adjacent to the resonator layer, and N a , the refractive index of the layer of the outside reflector immediately adjacent the resonator layer are related to N r (I t ), the refractive index of the resonator layer at the current through the laser occuring at the threshold of lasing, by: N.sub.b >N.sub.r (I.sub.t) if N.sub.a >N.sub.r (I.sub.t).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A current injection laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition and hence the refractive index of the reflector is varied in a continuous or piece-wise manner such that a compositional periodicity having optical thickness of λ/2 or some odd multiple thereof is achieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A current injectin laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium and Arsenic combined in particular proportins in particular layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and Phosphorous combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminium, Arsenic, and Antimony combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Lead, Sulphur Tellurium and Selenium combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λg, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium and Arsenic combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and Phosphorous combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminium, Arsenic, and Antimony combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Lead, Sulphur, Tellurium and Selenium combined in particular proportions in particular layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium, and Arsenic combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and phosphorous combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminium, Arsenic, and Antimony combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Lead, Sulphur, Tellurium and Selenium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of the claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium and Arsenic combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and phosphorous combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structured.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminum, Arsenic and Antimony combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Lead, Sulphur, Tellurium and Selenium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium and Arsenic combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and phosphorous combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminium, Arsenic and Antimony combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous grated in composition.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous grated in composition.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Lead, Suphur, Tellurium and Selenium conbined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
55 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
55 words
A current injection laser is claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers aer continuous graded in composition.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
50 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Aluminium and Arsenic combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of materials selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Arsenic and Phosphorous combined in particular proportion in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of material selected from the group comprising Gallium, Indium, Aluminium, Arsenic and Antimony combined in particular proportion in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of material selected from the group comprising Mercury, Cadmium, Manganese and Tellurium combined in particular proportions in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
51 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said substrate and subsequent material layers are single crystals of material selected from the group comprising Lead, Sulphur, Tellurium and Selenium combined in particular proportion in particular layers, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
62 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
62 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, where said layers are in turn composed of finer layers being superlattice or multi-quantum-well structures.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
55 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
55 words
A current injection laser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the wavelength of operation of the laser, λg, is near the value of λp, being a wavelength where occurs the peak in luminescent intensity for the resonator layer material, below the threshold, wherein said layers are continuous graded in composition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4309670A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |