Patents by Inventor Shunichi Sato

Shunichi Sato has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8803936
    Abstract: An optical device includes a surface-emitting laser array having a plurality of light-emitting portions; a package member on which the surface-emitting laser array is disposed; and a transparent member retained on the package member and disposed on an optical path of a light beam emitted by the surface-emitting laser array. The transparent member includes an incident plane on which the light beam emitted by the surface-emitting laser array is incident. The incident plane is inclined with respect to an emitting surface of the surface-emitting laser array at a first inclination angle which is smaller than a second inclination angle at which the light emitted by one of the light-emitting portions is incident on another, most-distant one, of the light-emitting portions via reflection by the transparent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Adachi, Shunichi Sato, Satoru Sugawara, Toshihiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20140219683
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device includes a transparent dielectric layer provided in an emitting region and configured to cause a reflectance at a peripheral part to be different from a reflectance at a central part in the emitting region. In the surface-emitting laser device, the thickness of a contact layer is different between a region having a relatively high reflectance and a region having a relatively low reflectance in the emitting region. The contact layer is provided on the high refractive index layer of an upper multilayer film reflecting mirror, and the total optical thickness of the high refractive index layer and the contact layer in the region having the relatively low reflectance is deviated from an odd number multiple of a one quarter oscillation wavelength of laser light emitted from the emitting region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Masahiro Hayashi, Akihiro Itoh, Katsunari Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 8774242
    Abstract: A surface emitting laser diode comprises a substrate, a lower reflector formed over the substrate, an active layer formed over the lower reflector, an upper reflector formed over the active layer, a current restrict structure including a current confinement region surrounded by insulation region. The current restrict structure is disposed in an upper reflector or between an active layer and the upper reflector, and an upper electrode formed over the upper reflector includes an aperture which corresponds to an emission region from which light is emitted in a first direction perpendicular to a surface of a substrate. The emission region and the current restrict structure including the current confinement region are selectively configured to obtain high single transverse mode, stabilized polarization direction, isotropic beam cross section and small divergence angle, while allowing the device to be manufactured with high yield rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Itoh, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Naoto Jikutani
  • Publication number: 20140152393
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surface emitting laser device, including a substrate; a lower reflecting mirror provided on the substrate; an active layer provided on the lower reflecting mirror; an upper reflecting mirror provided on the active layer, including an emitting region, laser light being emitted from the emitting region, the upper reflecting mirror being formed by alternately laminating dielectrics, refracting indices of the dielectrics being different from each other; and an adjusting layer formed of semiconductor, provided in the emitting region between the active layer and the upper reflecting mirror, a shape of the adjusting layer in a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate including shape anisotropy in two mutually perpendicular directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Motomura, Shunichi SATO
  • Patent number: 8743924
    Abstract: In a surface-emission laser diode, there is provided, between an active layer and a semiconductor layer that contains Al, Ga and As as major components, a semiconductor layer containing Al, In and P as major components such that the semiconductor layer containing Al, In and P as major components is provided adjacent to the semiconductor layer that contains Al, Ga and As as major components. Further, an interface between the semiconductor layer containing Al, Ga and As as major components and the semiconductor layer containing Al, In and P as major components is coincident to a location of a node of electric field strength distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sato, Akihiro Itoh, Naoto Jikutani
  • Patent number: 8736652
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device includes a transparent dielectric layer provided in an emitting region and configured to cause a reflectance at a peripheral part to be different from a reflectance at a central part in the emitting region. In the surface-emitting laser device, the thickness of a contact layer is different between a region having a relatively high reflectance and a region having a relatively low reflectance in the emitting region. The contact layer is provided on the high refractive index layer of an upper multilayer film reflecting mirror, and the total optical thickness of the high refractive index layer and the contact layer in the region having the relatively low reflectance is deviated from an odd number multiple of a one quarter oscillation wavelength of laser light emitted from the emitting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Masahiro Hayashi, Akihiro Itoh, Katsunari Hanaoka
  • Publication number: 20140139294
    Abstract: An alkali metal cell is disclosed, including a substrate in which is formed an opening which penetrates from one face to the other face thereof; a first transparent substrate bonded to the other face of the substrate; and a second transparent substrate bonded to the one face of the substrate, wherein an alkali metal is sealed into a space surrounded by the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate in the opening of the substrate, wherein, in the substrate and the second transparent substrate, the space is enclosed by a bonding between a first bonding metal layer formed by a first bonding metal and a second bonding metal layer formed by a second bonding metal, and wherein the second bonding metal layer has a bonding temperature higher than that of the first bonding metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Kazuhiko Adachi, Hiroyoshi Shouji, Akihiro Itoh, Shunichi Sato, Shinji Satoh
  • Publication number: 20140133510
    Abstract: A surface emitting laser element includes a lower DBR formed on a substrate; an active layer formed above the lower DBR; an upper DBR formed on the active layer. The upper DBR includes a dielectric multilayer that is formed as a result of dielectrics having different refractive indexes being alternately laminated and formed, a light shielding part is formed above the upper DBR, and the light shielding part has an opening at a central area for emitting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shunichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20140130975
    Abstract: A disclosed method of manufacturing a surface emitting laser includes laminating a transparent dielectric layer on an upper surface of a laminated body; forming a first resist pattern on an upper surface of the dielectric layer, the first resist pattern including a pattern defining an outer perimeter of a mesa structure and a pattern protecting a region corresponding to one of the relatively high reflection rate part and the relatively low reflection rate part included in an emitting region; etching the dielectric layer by using the first resist pattern as an etching mask; and forming a second resist pattern protecting a region corresponding to an entire emitting region. These steps are performed before the mesa structure is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Shouji, Shunichi Sato, Akihiro Itoh, Kazuhiro Harasaka
  • Patent number: 8711891
    Abstract: A disclosed surface emitting laser device includes an oscillator structure including an active layer, semiconductor multilayer reflection mirrors sandwiching the oscillator structure, an electrode provided on an emitting surface where light is emitted in a manner such that the electrode surrounds an emitting region, and a dielectric film formed in at least one region outside a center part of the emitting region so that a refractive index of the region outside the center part of the emitting region is less than the refractive index of the center part of the emitting region. When viewed from an emitting direction of the light, a part of the electrode overlaps a part of the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Motomura, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8705585
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser array includes a plurality of surface-emitting laser elements. Each surface-emitting laser element includes a first reflection layer formed on a substrate, a resonator formed in contact with the first reflection layer and containing an active layer, and a second reflection layer formed over the first reflection layer and in contact with the resonator. The second reflection layer contains a selective oxidation layer. The first reflection layer contains on the active layer side at least a low refractive index layer having an oxidation rate equivalent to or larger than an oxidation rate of a selective oxidation layer contained in the second reflection layer. The resonator is made of an AlGaInPAs base material containing at least In. A bottom of a mesa structure is located under the selective oxidation layer and over the first reflection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sato, Akihiro Itoh, Satoru Sugawara, Hiroyoshi Shouji
  • Publication number: 20140105647
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device configured to emit laser light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate includes a p-side electrode surrounding an emitting area on an emitting surface to emit the laser light; and a transparent dielectric film formed on an outside area outside a center part of the emitting area and within the emitting area to lower a reflectance to be less than that of the center part. The outside area within the emitting area has shape anisotropy in two mutually perpendicular directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Naoto Jikutani
  • Patent number: 8699540
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device is disclosed that includes a substrate connected to a heat sink; a first reflective layer formed of a semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector on the substrate; a first cavity spacer layer formed in contact with the first reflective layer; an active layer formed in contact with the first cavity spacer layer; a second cavity spacer layer formed in contact with the active layer; and a second reflective layer formed of a semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector in contact with the second cavity spacer layer. The first cavity spacer layer includes a semiconductor material having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of a semiconductor material forming the second cavity spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8675271
    Abstract: A disclosed surface-emitting laser element includes an emission region configured to emit a laser beam and a high reflectance region including a first dielectric film having a first refractive index and a second dielectric film having a second refractive index differing from the first refractive index where the first dielectric film and the second dielectric film are stacked within the emission region to provide high reflectance. In the surface-emitting laser element, the high reflectance region is formed in a region including a central portion of the emission region and is configured to include shape anisotropy in two orthogonal directions in a plane in parallel with the emission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Jikutani, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Satoru Sugawara, Shunichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20140064313
    Abstract: In a surface-emission laser diode, there is provided, between an active layer and a semiconductor layer that contains AI, Ga and As as major components, a semiconductor layer containing AI, In and P as major components such that the semiconductor layer containing AI, In and P as major components is provided adjacent to the semiconductor layer that contains AI, Ga and As as major components. Further, an interface between the semiconductor layer containing AI, Ga and As as major components and the semiconductor layer containing AI, In and P as major components is coincident to a location of a node of electric field strength distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sato, Akihiro Itoh, Naoto Jikutani
  • Patent number: 8649407
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device configured to emit laser light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate includes a p-side electrode surrounding an emitting area on an emitting surface to emit the laser light; and a transparent dielectric film formed on an outside area outside a center part of the emitting area and within the emitting area to lower a reflectance to be less than that of the center part. The outside area within the emitting area has shape anisotropy in two mutually perpendicular directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Naoto Jikutani
  • Publication number: 20140023104
    Abstract: A surface emitting laser device includes a substrate, a lower reflector, an active layer, an upper reflector, and surface emitting lasers configured to emit light. A second phase adjustment layer, a contact layer, a first phase adjustment layer, and a wavelength adjustment layer are successively layered from the active layer side. The total optical thickness from the active layer side of the second phase adjustment layer to the midsection of the wavelength adjustment layer is approximately (2N+1)×?/4, where ? represents a wavelength of light, and N represents a positive integer. The optical thickness from the active layer side of the second phase adjustment layer to the midsection of the contact layer is approximately N?/2. At least two of the surface emitting lasers have the wavelength adjustment layer arranged at different thicknesses and are configured to emit light with different wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Ryoichiro SUZUKI, Shunichi SATO
  • Patent number: 8630325
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for manufacturing a surface-emitting laser device includes the steps of forming a laminated body in which a lower reflecting mirror, a resonator structure including an active layer, and an upper reflecting layer having a selective oxidized layer are laminated on a substrate; etching the laminated body to form a mesa structure having the selective oxidized layer exposed at side surfaces thereof; selectively oxidizing the selective oxidized layer from the side surfaces of the mesa structure to form a constriction structure in which a current passing region is surrounded by an oxide; forming a separating groove at a position away from the mesa structure; passivating an outermost front surface of at least a part of the laminated body exposed when the separating groove is formed; and coating a passivated part with a dielectric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Shouji, Shunichi Sato, Toshihiro Ishii, Kengo Makita, Masahiro Hayashi, Toshihide Sasaki, Akihiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8624950
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser includes a substrate; a lower semiconductor multilayer film reflector disposed on the substrate; a resonator structure including an active layer and disposed on the lower semiconductor multilayer film reflector; and an upper semiconductor multilayer film reflector disposed on the resonator structure. The second semiconductor multilayer film reflector includes a confinement structure in which a current passage region is surrounded by an oxidized portion of a selectively oxidized layer containing aluminum. An emission region includes a central portion and a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion being covered with a transparent dielectric film whose reflectivity is lower than a reflectivity of the central portion. The selectively oxidized layer has a thickness in a range from 30 nm to 40 nm. The temperature at which an oscillation threshold current is minimized is 60° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Jikutani, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Satoru Sugawara, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8619183
    Abstract: In order to perform adjustment of relative positions between an optical system and imaging devices, a plurality of the imaging devices, a plurality of solid lenses that form images of the imaging devices, and a plurality of optical-axis control units that control the direction of optical axes of light incident to the imaging devices are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Makoto Kitagawa, Tomoya Shimura, Shinichi Arita, Satoru Inoue, Hirokazu Katakame, Sakae Saito, Shunichi Sato