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US5337327A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

VCSEL with lateral index guide

Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1993-02-22
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2013-02-22
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Abstract

Abstract A VCSEL including a first mirror stack, an active region and a second mirror stack positioned on a substrate having a surface lying in a first plane and a centrally located offset area of the surface lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane and spaced therefrom. Portions of the active region and the first and second mirror stacks being offset from surrounding portions by the offset area in the surface of the substrate so as to define a lateral waveguide which confines the operating region of the VCSEL.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald E. Ackley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/18; H01S5/183; H01S5/18308; H01S5/18322; H01S5/18327; H01S5/02; H01S5/0206; H01S5/0207; H01S5/18386; H01S5/18391; H01S5/20; H01S5/2054; H01S5/2059; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/095

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 171 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having an operating wavelength at which light emission occurs, the laser comprising: a supporting substrate having a surface lying in a first plane and a substantially centrally located offset area of the surface lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane and spaced therefrom; a first mirror stack positioned on the surface of the substrate so as to overlie the offset area and a portion of the surface surrounding the offset area; an active region including at least a layer positioned parallel and in overlying abutting engagement with the first mirror stack and substantially coextensive therewith; a second mirror stack positioned parallel and in overlying abutting engagement with the active region and substantially coextensive therewith; and first portions of the active region and the first and second mirror stacks being offset from second surrounding portions of the active region and the first and second mirror stacks by the offset area in the surface of the substrate so as to define a lateral waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 171 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser having an operating wavelength at which light emission occurs, the laser comprising: a supporting substrate having a surface lying in a first plane and a substantially centrally located offset area of the surface lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane and spaced therefrom; a first mirror stack positioned on the surface of the substrate so as to overlie the offset area and a portion of the surface surrounding the offset area; an active region including at least a layer positioned parallel and in overlying abutting engagement with the first mirror stack and substantially coextensive therewith; a second mirror stack positioned parallel and in overlying abutting engagement with the active region and substantially coextensive therewith; and first portions of the active region and the first and second mirror stacks being offset from second surrounding portions of the active region and the first and second mirror stacks by the offset area in the surface of the substrate so as to define a lateral waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the active region includes an active layer with overlying cladding layers positioned in abutting engagement on opposite sides thereof, the offset being large enough to position one of the cladding layers in the second surrounding portions in the same plane as the active layer in the first portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the active region, including the active layer with overlying cladding layers, has a thickness of approximately a multiple of a half wavelength at the operating frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the offset is approximately an odd multiple of a quarter of the operating wavelength of the laser in the first and second mirror stacks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the offset is a mesa formed in the surface of the supporting substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the offset is a depression formed in the surface of the supporting substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5206872A Cited
US5256596A Cited
US5245622A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-08-08 1998-02-07 1998-08-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-08-08 2002-02-07 2002-08-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-08-08 2006-02-07 2006-08-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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