US5353295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Semiconductor laser device with coupled cavities
Assignee: University of Illinois System
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Filing: 1992-08-10
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Granted: 1994-10-04
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Expires: 2012-08-10
Abstract
Abstract In a form of the disclosure an array of coupled cavities (called minicavities) of a QWH semiconductor laser are defined by a native oxide of an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material and are arranged serially end-to-end along the longitudinal direction. The native oxide confines the injected carriers and optical field within the cavities, resulting in reflection and optical feedback distributed periodically along the laser stripe. Single-longitudinal-mode operation is exhibited over an extended range. In a further form of the disclosure, two linear arrays of end-coupled minicavities are arranged side by side to obtain a two dimensional array, with resultant lateral coupling between the linear arrays. The two dimensional array exhibits mode switching and multiple switching in the light power (L) versus current (I) characteristic (L-I) with increasing current. In another form of the disclosure, a stripe laser is transversely coupled (or side-coupled) with a linear array of end-coupled minicavities. Bistability and switching are demonstrated in the light versus current (L-I) characteristic of a native-oxide-defined structure of this type. The device, with internally coupled elements and the current partitioned among the elements, exhibits a large hysteresis in the L-I curve, with switching from the stimulated to the spontaneous regime occurring over substantial power (light) and current ranges.
Inventors
- 👤 Nick Holonyak, Jr.
- 👤 Nada El-Zein
- 👤 Fred A. Kish
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:48
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; H10P14/69; H10P14/692; H10P14/6938; H10P14/6939; H10P14/69391; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/1021; H10P14/63; H10P14/6302; H10P14/6304; H10P14/6306; H10P14/6312; H10P14/6322; H01S5/02; H01S5/026; H01S5/1028; H01S5/1071; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4031; H01S5/4056; H01S5/4068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A semiconductor laser device, comprising: a semiconductor active region disposed between first and second semiconductor confining layers; an electrode array having electrode elements coupled with said first confining layer; at least one opposing electrode coupled with said second confining layer; the electrode elements of said array being spaced apart and forming a two-dimensional array that includes a plurality of electrode elements along a line and at least one further electrode element laterally spaced from the electrode elements of said line; and means for applying electrical signals between said electrode elements and said opposing electrode to effect light emission in active regions defined under said plurality of electrode elements and in at least one active region defined under said at least one further electrode element, and to effect lateral coupling of said emissions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A semiconductor laser device, comprising: a semiconductor active region disposed between first and second semiconductor confining layers; an electrode array having electrode elements coupled with said first confining layer; at least one opposing electrode coupled with said second confining layer; the electrode elements of said array being spaced apart and forming a two-dimensional array that includes a plurality of electrode elements along a line and at least one further electrode element laterally spaced from the electrode elements of said line; and means for applying electrical signals between said electrode elements and said opposing electrode to effect light emission in active regions defined under said plurality of electrode elements and in at least one active region defined under said at least one further electrode element, and to effect lateral coupling of said emissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein said at least one further electrode element comprises a single stripe which extends at least the length of said plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one further electrode element comprises a further plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device as defined by claim 2, wherein said stripe is parallel to said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as defined by claim 3, wherein said further plurality of electrode elements are along a further line parallel to said first mentioned line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrode elements comprises several electrode elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as defined by claim 2, wherein said plurality of electrode elements comprises several electrode elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device as defined by claim 3, wherein said plurality of electrode elements comprises several electrode elements, and said at least one further electrode element comprises several further electrode elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein said electrode elements along said line define laser mini-cavities that are end-coupled with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device as defined by claim 6, wherein said electrode elements along said line define laser mini-cavities that are end-coupled with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as defined by claim 5, wherein said electrode elements along said line define laser mini-cavities that are end-coupled with each other, and said further electrode elements along said further line define laser mini-cavities that are end-coupled with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as defined by claim 6, wherein said array includes at least one additional electrode element laterally spaced from the electrode elements of said line and said at least one further electrode element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional array comprises several rows and several columns of electrode elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device as defined by claim 13, wherein the electrode elements of at least a plurality of said columns define laser mini-cavities that are end-coupled with each other, and wherein at least a plurality of adjacent pairs of laser minicavities are laterally coupled with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device as defined by claim 1, wherein said first confining layer is an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material, and wherein at least one lateral confining region of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material is disposed in said confining layer between said plurality of electrode elements and said at least one further electrode element, and wherein end confining regions of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material are disposed between said plurality of electrode elements along said line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device as defined by claim 2, wherein said first confining layer is an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material, and wherein at least one lateral confining region of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material is disposed in said confining layer between said plurality of electrode elements and said at least one further electrode element, and wherein end confining regions of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material are disposed between said plurality of electrode elements along said line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device as defined by claim 3, wherein said first confining layer is an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material, and wherein at least one lateral confining region of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material is disposed in said confining layer between said plurality of electrode elements and said at least one further electrode element, and wherein end confining regions of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material are disposed between said plurality of electrode elements along said line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as defined by claim 17, wherein end confining regions of a native oxide of said aluminum-bearing material are disposed between said further plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A semiconductor laser device, comprising: a semiconductor active region disposed between first and second semiconductor confining layers, said first and second semiconductor confining layers being of opposite conductivity type, and said first semiconductor confining layer being an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material; an oxide of said aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material formed in at least a portion of said first confining layer, said oxide substantially surrounding a plurality of regions of said aluminum-bearing semiconductor material of said first confining layer, said surrounded regions being arranged in serial sequence along a line; a plurality of electrode elements coupled with respective surrounded regions of said first confining layer; and at least one opposing electrode element coupled with said second confining layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
A semiconductor laser device, comprising: a semiconductor active region disposed between first and second semiconductor confining layers, said first and second semiconductor confining layers being of opposite conductivity type, and said first semiconductor confining layer being an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material; an oxide of said aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material formed in at least a portion of said first confining layer, said oxide substantially surrounding a plurality of regions of said aluminum-bearing semiconductor material of said first confining layer, said surrounded regions being arranged in serial sequence along a line; a plurality of electrode elements coupled with respective surrounded regions of said first confining layer; and at least one opposing electrode element coupled with said second confining layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device as defined by claim 19, wherein said oxide substantially surrounds at least one further region of said aluminum-bearing semiconductor material of said first confining layer, said at least one further region being laterally spaced from and adjacent to the line of said plurality of regions, and at least one further electrode element coupled with the at least one further surrounded region of said first confining layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said at least one further region comprises a single elongated region adjacent to the line of said plurality of regions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said at least one further region comprises a plurality of further regions arranged in serial sequence and adjacent to the line of said plurality of regions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device as defined by claim 19, wherein said plurality of regions comprises several regions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said plurality of regions comprises several regions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined by claim 19, wherein said electrode elements include semiconductor contacts coupled to said surrounded regions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said electrode elements include semiconductor contacts coupled to said surrounded regions, and said at least one further surrounded region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as defined by claim 25, further comprising means for applying electrical signals between said opposing electrode and said plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device as defined by claim 26, further comprising means for applying electrical signals between said opposing electrode and said plurality of electrode elements and said at least one further electrode element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as defined by claim 27, wherein said means for applying electrical signals includes independent terminal connections to at least some of said plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as defined by claim 28, wherein said means for applying electrical signals includes independent terminal connections to at least some of said plurality of electrode elements and further plurality of electrode elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as defined by claim 19, wherein said line is a straight line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said line is a straight line.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as defined by claim 19, wherein said line is a curved line.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as defined by claim 20, wherein said line is a curved line.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-03 | 1998-04-04 | 1998-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-03 | 2002-04-04 | 2002-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-03 | 2006-04-04 | 2006-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |