US5768022A — Laser diode having in-situ fabricated lens element

Claim 1

Independent Claim 170 words

A laser, comprising: an enclosure; a lasing device within said enclosure, said lasing device for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a lens integrally formed upon a surface of said window by selectively melting a portion of said window using a focussed beam of light; wherein said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material having a first index of refraction at the predetermined wavelengths, wherein a region of said surface of said window extends away from said window and forms said lens, said lens also being comprised of said material that comprises said window, wherein said material that comprises said lens has a second index of refraction that is less than said first index of refraction such that light having said predetermined wavelengths experiences a phase change when passing through said lens that differs from a phase change experienced when passing through said material that comprises said window.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 170 words

A laser, comprising: an enclosure; a lasing device within said enclosure, said lasing device for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a lens integrally formed upon a surface of said window by selectively melting a portion of said window using a focussed beam of light; wherein said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material having a first index of refraction at the predetermined wavelengths, wherein a region of said surface of said window extends away from said window and forms said lens, said lens also being comprised of said material that comprises said window, wherein said material that comprises said lens has a second index of refraction that is less than said first index of refraction such that light having said predetermined wavelengths experiences a phase change when passing through said lens that differs from a phase change experienced when passing through said material that comprises said window.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A laser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lasing device is comprised of a laser diode, and wherein said lens has an elongated shape and a length and width in the range of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 161 words

A laser, comprising: an enclosure; a lasing device within said enclosure, said lasing device for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a lens integrally formed upon a surface of said window; wherein said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material having a first index of refraction at the predetermined wavelengths, wherein a region of said surface extends away from said window forms said lens, said lens also being comprised of said material, wherein said material that comprises said lens has a second index of refraction that is less than said first index of refraction such that light having said predetermined wavelengths experiences a phase change when passing through said lens that differs from a phase change experienced when passing through said material that comprises said window, wherein said material is comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 161 words

A laser, comprising: an enclosure; a lasing device within said enclosure, said lasing device for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a lens integrally formed upon a surface of said window; wherein said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material having a first index of refraction at the predetermined wavelengths, wherein a region of said surface extends away from said window forms said lens, said lens also being comprised of said material, wherein said material that comprises said lens has a second index of refraction that is less than said first index of refraction such that light having said predetermined wavelengths experiences a phase change when passing through said lens that differs from a phase change experienced when passing through said material that comprises said window, wherein said material is comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

A laser as set forth in claim 3, wherein said predetermined wavelengths are longer than a bandgap wavelength of said semiconductor particles.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 140 words

A laser diode assembly, comprising: an enclosure; a laser diode within said enclosure, said laser diode for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a microlens integrally formed upon a surface of said window; wherein at least a portion of said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material being comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within; wherein said microlens extends away from said surface of said window, said microlens having an elongated shape and also being comprised of said material, wherein said semiconductor particles have a first concentration within said material that comprises said window and a second concentration within said material that comprises said microlens, and wherein said second concentration is less than said first concentration.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 140 words

A laser diode assembly, comprising: an enclosure; a laser diode within said enclosure, said laser diode for generating an output beam having predetermined wavelengths; a window through which said output beam is emitted from said enclosure; and a microlens integrally formed upon a surface of said window; wherein at least a portion of said window is comprised of a material that is transparent at the predetermined wavelengths, said material being comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within; wherein said microlens extends away from said surface of said window, said microlens having an elongated shape and also being comprised of said material, wherein said semiconductor particles have a first concentration within said material that comprises said window and a second concentration within said material that comprises said microlens, and wherein said second concentration is less than said first concentration.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

A laser diode assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said wavelengths of interest are longer than a bandgap wavelength of said semiconductor particles.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

A laser diode assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said microlens has a length and a width in the range of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for fabricating a microlens within a window of a laser diode assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a laser diode assembly that includes a window that is transparent at wavelengths emitted by a laser diode within said assembly, the window comprising a wavelength-selective absorber of electromagnetic radiation; and irradiating a portion of a surface of the window with electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths within a range of wavelengths that are absorbed by the wavelength selective absorber such that a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed for heating and melting the material adjacent to the surface region, whereby the melted material rises up above the surface to form, when re-solidified, the microlens.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for fabricating a microlens within a window of a laser diode assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a laser diode assembly that includes a window that is transparent at wavelengths emitted by a laser diode within said assembly, the window comprising a wavelength-selective absorber of electromagnetic radiation; and irradiating a portion of a surface of the window with electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths within a range of wavelengths that are absorbed by the wavelength selective absorber such that a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed for heating and melting the material adjacent to the surface region, whereby the melted material rises up above the surface to form, when re-solidified, the microlens.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of irradiating includes a step of focussing the electromagnetic radiation to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the microlens.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of irradiating comprises a step of translating the window with respect to the electromagnetic radiation so as to form an elongated microlens.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the microlens has a length and width in the range of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

An optical component having a window comprised of a material that passes wavelengths at which said optical component operates, said window comprising a diffractive optical element that is written onto a surface of said window with a laser by selectively melting a portion of said window using a focussed beam of laser light.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

An optical component having a window comprised of a material that passes wavelengths at which said optical component operates, said window comprising a diffractive optical element that is written onto a surface of said window with a laser by selectively melting a portion of said window using a focussed beam of laser light.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

An optical component as set forth in claim 12, wherein said diffractive optical element is comprised of a phase plate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

An optical component as set forth in claim 12, wherein said diffractive optical element is comprised of a phase mask.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

An optical component as set forth in claim 12, wherein said diffractive optical element is comprised of an anamorphic optical element.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

An optical component having a window comprised of a material that passes wavelengths at which said optical component operates, said window comprising a diffractive optical element that is written onto a surface of said window with a laser, wherein said material is comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

An optical component having a window comprised of a material that passes wavelengths at which said optical component operates, said window comprising a diffractive optical element that is written onto a surface of said window with a laser, wherein said material is comprised of a glass having semiconductor particles embedded within.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

An optical element as set forth in claim 16, wherein said wavelengths are longer than a bandgap wavelength of said semiconductor particles.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

An optical device comprising at least one optical emitter and a window comprised of a semiconductor doped glass material that passes wavelengths emitted by said optical emitter, said window comprising an integral optical element that is formed on a surface of said window using focussed electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 47 words

An optical device comprising at least one optical emitter and a window comprised of a semiconductor doped glass material that passes wavelengths emitted by said optical emitter, said window comprising an integral optical element that is formed on a surface of said window using focussed electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a phase plate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a phase mask.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of an anamorphic optical element.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a diffractive optical element.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a refractive optical element.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a lens.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element is comprised of a cylindrical lens.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

An optical device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said optical element has a shape selected for collimating an emission from said optical emitter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-15	2001-12-15	2002-06-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-15	2005-12-15	2006-06-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-15	2009-12-15	2010-06-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Laser diode having in-situ fabricated lens element

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag