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US5315430A
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Strained layer Fabry-Perot device
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1992-04-15
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Granted: 1994-05-24
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Expires: 2012-04-15
Abstract
Abstract An asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflectance modulator (AFPM) consists of an active region between top and bottom mirrors, the bottom mirror being affixed to a substrate by a buffer layer. The active region comprises a strained-layer region having a bandgap and thickness chosen for resonance at the Fabry-Perot frequency. The mirrors are lattice matched to the active region, and the buffer layer is lattice matched to the mirror at the interface. The device operates at wavelengths of commercially available semiconductor lasers.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Brennan
- 👤 Ian J. Fritz
- 👤 Burrell E. Hammons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/21; G02F1/218; G02F1/015; G02F1/017; G02F1/01766
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflectance modulator (AFPM) consisting of an active region in an optical cavity between top and bottom mirrors, said bottom mirror being affixed to a substrate by a buffer layer, said modulator being formed only from layers of ternary materials resulting from the combination of pairs of three binary materials (A, B, C), at least two of said materials, (A, B) having different bandgaps, the third material (C) and at least one of said at least two materials (A and B) having different lattice constants, and the active region comprising a thermodynamically stable combination of quantum well and barrier layers of alternating strain having a free-standing lattice constant a 0 matched to the lattice constant of the mirrors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflectance modulator (AFPM) consisting of an active region in an optical cavity between top and bottom mirrors, said bottom mirror being affixed to a substrate by a buffer layer, said modulator being formed only from layers of ternary materials resulting from the combination of pairs of three binary materials (A, B, C), at least two of said materials, (A, B) having different bandgaps, the third material (C) and at least one of said at least two materials (A and B) having different lattice constants, and the active region comprising a thermodynamically stable combination of quantum well and barrier layers of alternating strain having a free-standing lattice constant a 0 matched to the lattice constant of the mirrors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The AFPM of claim 1 wherein said active region comprises a strained layer superlattice having a free standing lattice constant a 0 between the lattice constant of C and A.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The AFPM of claim 2 wherein said active region consists of alternating layers of alloyed combinations of A and B and alloyed combinations of A and C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The AFPM of claim 2 wherein each mirror is lattice matched to the in-plane lattice constant of the strained layer active region forming said cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The AFPM of claim 4 wherein each mirror consists of a plurality of alternating mirror layers, one layer being an alloyed combination of A and C, the other layer being an alloyed combination of B and C, each of said layers being lattice matched to said cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The AFPM of claim 4 wherein said active region consists of alternating layers of alloyed combinations of A and B and alloyed combinations of A and C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The AFPM of claim 2 wherein said buffer layer comprises means for ensuring complete relaxation at the buffer-mirror interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The AFPM of claim 7 wherein said buffer layer consists of a single ternary alloy grown above a short period strained-layer superlattice, the buffer being lattice matched to a 0 at the interface with the mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The AFPM of claim 1, said modulator operating at a wavelength of 1.06 μm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The AFPM of claim 1 where A is GaAs, B is AlAs, and C is InAs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The AFPM of claim 2 where A is GaAs, B is AlAs, C is InAs, and A 0 ≃5.7 Å.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The AFPM of claim 11 wherein said active region consists of alternating layers of alloyed combinations of A and B and alloyed combinations of A and C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The AFPM of claim 11 wherein each mirror is lattice matched to the in-plane lattice constant of the strained layer active region forming said cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The AFPM of claim 13 wherein each mirror consists of a plurality of alternating mirror layers, one layer being an alloyed combination of A and C, the other layer being an alloyed combination of B and C, each of said layers being lattice matched to said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A communication system comprising the AFPM of claim 9 in combination with a Nd:YAG laser for transmitting information to said AFPM.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2189619A
Cited
WO1988000358A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-23 | 1997-11-22 | 1998-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-23 | 2001-11-22 | 2002-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-23 | 2005-11-22 | 2006-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |