Semiconductor Patents (Class 372/43.01)
  • Patent number: 8891570
    Abstract: In a BH laser which uses InGaAlAs-MQW in an active layer, Al-based semiconductor multi-layer films including an InP buffer layer and an InGaAlAs-MQW layer, and an InGaAsP etching stop layer are formed in a mesa shape, and a p type InP burial layer is buried in side walls of the mesa shape. An air ridge mesa-stripe of a lateral center that is substantially the same as that of the mesa shape is formed on the mesa shape. According to the present structure, a leakage current can be considerably reduced, the light confinement coefficient can be made to be larger than in a BH laser in the related art, and thereby it is possible to implement a semiconductor laser with a low leakage current and a high relaxation oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Nakahara, Yuki Wakayama, Takeshi Kitatani, Kazunori Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8891569
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a VCSEL array comprising several VCSELs arranged side by side on a common substrate (1). Each VCSEL is formed of at least a top mirror (5, 14), an active region (4), a current injection layer (3) and an undoped bottom semiconductor mirror (2). The current injection layer (3) is arranged between the active region (4) and the bottom semiconductor mirror (2). At least an upper layer of the substrate (1) is electrically conducting. Trenches (8) and/or holes are formed between the bottom semiconductor mirrors (2) of said VCSELs to said upper layer of said substrate (1). A metallization (9) electrically connects the upper layer of the substrate (1) with the current injection layer (3) through said trenches (8) and/or holes. The proposed VCSEL array allows a homogeneous current injection an has a high efficiency and power density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Philipp Henning Gerlach
  • Patent number: 8891575
    Abstract: An optical resonator can include an optical feedback structure disposed on a substrate, and a composite including a matrix including a chromophore. The composite disposed on the substrate and in optical communication with the optical feedback structure. The chromophore can be a semiconductor nanocrystal. The resonator can provide laser emission when excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Preston T. Snee, Yin Thai Chan, Daniel G. Nocera, Moungi G. Bawendi
  • Patent number: 8885683
    Abstract: A process for forming a microstructure of a nitride semiconductor including (1) preparing a semiconductor structure which has a second semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor containing at least Al formed on a principal plane of a first semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor containing no Al, and which has a hole that penetrates through the second semiconductor layer and is formed in the first semiconductor layer; (2) subjecting the semiconductor structure to heat treatment under a gas atmosphere including a nitrogen element after step (1) to form a crystal plane of the group III nitride semiconductor containing no Al, on at least a part of a side wall of the hole; and (3) forming a third semiconductor layer formed of a group III nitride semiconductor on the second semiconductor layer after step (2) to cover the upper part of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hoshino, Yasuhiro Nagatomo, Shoichi Kawashima, Takeshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8879595
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures, quantum cascade structures and lasers including the structures are provided. The semiconductor structures include a substrate, a metamorphic buffer layer structure over the substrate, and a quantum cascade structure including a superlattice of quantum wells and barriers over the metamorphic buffer layer structure. The substrate may be GaAs and the quantum cascade structure may be an InGaAs/InAlAs superlattice, including one or more barriers of AlAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Luke J. Mawst, Jeremy D. Kirch, Thomas F. Kuech
  • Publication number: 20140314113
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser outputs a laser light from an output facet of a waveguide having an index waveguide structure, via a lens system. The waveguide includes, in order from a rear facet opposite to the output facet, a first narrow portion, a wide portion that is wider than the first narrow portion, a second narrow portion narrower than the wide portion, a first tapered portion formed between the first narrow portion and the wide portion, which expands toward the wide portion, and a second tapered portion formed between the wide portion and the second narrow portion, which narrows toward the second narrow portion. Each of the first narrow portion, the wide portion, and the second narrow portion has a uniform width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Yutaka OHKI, Satoshi ARAKAWA, Shunsuke OKUYAMA, Masaki FUNABASHI, Junji YOSHIDA, Hidehiro TANIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8867582
    Abstract: A laser diode assembly includes a housing having a housing part and a mounting part that is connected to the housing part and that extends away from the housing part along an extension direction. A laser diode chip is disposed on the mounting part. The laser diode chip has, on a substrate, semiconductor layers with an active layer for emitting light. The housing part and the mounting part have a main body composed of copper and at least the housing part is steel-sheathed. A first solder layer having a thickness of greater than or equal to 3 ?m is arranged between the laser diode chip and the mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Strauss, Soenke Tautz, Alfred Lell, Karsten Auen, Clemens Vierheilig
  • Patent number: 8867581
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes: a semiconductor layer including an active layer and a ridge portion, the ridge portion facing a current injection region of the active layer; and an embedded film covering a side surface of the ridge portion and a top surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein the embedded film includes a first layer configured of a silicon oxide film, a second layer made of a silicon compound having a refractive index lower than that of the active layer and having a silicon content higher than a stoichiometric ratio, and a third layer made of an inorganic insulating material in this order of closeness to the ridge portion and the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Matsugai, Kei Satou
  • Patent number: 8866041
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of laser diode unit of the present invention includes steps: placing a laser diode on top of a solder member formed on a mounting surface of a submount, applying a pressing load to the laser diode and pressing the laser diode against the solder member, next, melting the solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature higher than a melting point of the solder member while the pressing load is being applied, and thereafter, bonding the laser diode to the submount by cooling and solidifying the solder member, thereafter, removing the pressing load, and softening the solidified solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder member after the pressing load has been removed, and thereafter cooling and re-solidifying the solder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Rohm Co., Ltd, SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Shimazawa, Osamu Shindo, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Yasuhiro Ito, Kenji Sakai
  • Patent number: 8861561
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor laser chip improved more in heat dissipation performance. This semiconductor laser chip includes a substrate, which has a front surface and a rear surface, nitride semiconductor layers, which are formed on the front surface of the substrate, an optical waveguide (ridge portion), which is formed in the nitride semiconductor layers, an n-side electrode, which is formed on the rear surface of the substrate, and notched portions, which are formed in regions that include the substrate to run along the optical waveguide (ridge portion). The notched portions have notched surfaces on which a metal layer connected to the n-side electrode is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kawakami, Akira Ariyoshi
  • Publication number: 20140301418
    Abstract: Photonic crystal cavities and related devices and methods are described. The described cavities can be used as lasers, photovoltaic sources, and single photon sources. The cavities can be both optically and electrically pumped. A fabrication process of the cavities is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seheon KIM, Axel SCHERER
  • Patent number: 8855162
    Abstract: A disclosed surface emitting laser device includes a light emitting section having a mesa structure where a lower reflection mirror, an oscillation structure, and an upper reflection mirror are laminated on a substrate, the oscillation structure including an active layer, the upper reflection mirror including a current confined structure where an oxide surrounds a current passage region, a first dielectric film that coats the entire surface of an emitting region of the light emitting section, the transparent dielectric including a part where the refractive index is relatively high and a part where the refractive index is relatively low, and a second dielectric film that coats a peripheral part on the upper surface of the mesa structure. Further, the dielectric film includes a lower dielectric film and an upper dielectric film, and the lower dielectric film is coated with the upper dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Shouji, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8855155
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the semiconductor laser light source, the latter includes a carrier and at least two semiconductor lasers. The semiconductor lasers are mounted on a carrier top. The semiconductor laser light source furthermore includes at least one optical component, which is arranged downstream of at least one of the semiconductor lasers in a direction of emission. The semiconductor lasers and the optical component are housed tightly in a common enclosure by way of a cover. The dimensions of the enclosure, viewed in three orthogonal spatial directions, amount in each case to at most 8 mm×8 mm×7 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Lutgen, Stefan Groetsch
  • Publication number: 20140291494
    Abstract: An optical communication module has a conversion element, a bendable conductive plate, a first resin cast body, a second resin cast body, and a lens part. The conversion element converts an optical signal to an electrical signal or an electrical signal to an optical signal. The conductive plate has the conversion element mounted thereto. The first resin cast body is cast with a first portion of the conductive plate embedded therein. The second resin cast body is cast with a second portion of the conductive plate embedded therein. The lens part is provided on the second resin cast body. The conversion element is mounted to the first portion of the conductive plate. The first resin cast body and the second resin cast body are fixed with the conductive plate bent such that the conversion element faces the lens part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Shigeo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8848754
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures for laser devices are provided. The semiconductor structures have a quantum cascade laser structure comprising an electron injector, an active region, and an electron extractor. The active region comprises an injection barrier, a multiquantum well structure, and an exit barrier. The multiquantum well structure can comprise a first barrier, a first quantum well, a second barrier, a second quantum well, and a third barrier. The energies of the first and second barrier are less than the energy of the third barrier. The energy difference between the energy of the second barrier and the energy of the third barrier can be greater than 150 meV and the ratio of the energy of the third barrier to the energy of the second barrier can be greater than 1.26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dan Botez, Jae Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 8848755
    Abstract: A system and method for providing laser diodes with broad spectrum is described. GaN-based laser diodes with broad or multi-peaked spectral output operating are obtained in various configurations by having a single laser diode device generating multiple-peak spectral outputs, operate in superluminescene mode, or by use of an RF source and/or a feedback signal. In some other embodiments, multi-peak outputs are achieved by having multiple laser devices output different lasers at different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Mathew C. Schmidt, Yu-Chia Chang
  • Publication number: 20140286367
    Abstract: A nanopillar photonic crystal laser includes a plurality of nanopillars and a support structure in contact with at least a portion of each of the nanopillars. Each nanopillar has an axial dimension and two mutually orthogonal cross dimensions. The axial dimension of each of the nanopillars is greater than the two mutually orthogonal cross dimensions, where there mutually orthogonal cross dimensions are less than about 1 ?m and greater than about 1 nm. The support structure holds the plurality of nanopillars in preselected relative orientations and displacements relative to each other to form an array pattern that confines light of a preselected wavelength to a resonance region that intercepts at least one nanopillar of the plurality of nanopillars. The at least one nanopillar includes a lasing material to provide an output laser beam of light at the preselected wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Adam C. Scofield, Diana Huffaker
  • Patent number: 8842709
    Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes a first semiconductor multilayer reflector of a first conductivity type, an active area, a second semiconductor multilayer reflector of a second conductivity type, a current confinement layer having a conductive area and a surrounding high-resistance area, each provided on a substrate, and a higher-order transverse mode suppressing layer formed on an emission surface from which laser light is emitted and in an area in which higher-order transverse mode is induced. The higher-order transverse mode suppressing layer includes first to third insulation films having first to third refractive indices, respectively, formed on each other, and capable of transmitting an oscillation wavelength. The second refractive index is lower than the first refractive index. The third refractive index is higher than the second refractive index. The optical film thickness of the first to third insulation films is an odd number times one-fourth of the oscillation wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takeda, Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8837547
    Abstract: A method for preparing a VCSEL can use MBE for: growing a first conduction region over a first mirror region; growing an active region over the first conduction region opposite of the first mirror region, including: (a) growing a quantum well barrier having In1-xGaxP(As); (b) growing an transitional layer having one or more of GaP, GaAsP, or GaAs; (c) growing a quantum well layer having In1-zGazAsyP1-y; (d) growing another transitional layer have one or more of GaP, GaAsP, or GaAs; (e) repeating processes (a) through (d) over a plurality of cycles; and (f) growing a quantum well barrier having In1-xGaxP(As); growing a second conduction region over the active region opposite of the first conduction region, wherein: x ranges from 0.77 to 0.50; y ranges from 0.7 to 1; and z ranges from 0.7 to 0.99.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph H. Johnson, Jerome K. Wade
  • Patent number: 8837545
    Abstract: Optical devices having a structured active region configured for selected wavelengths of light emissions are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Raring
  • Patent number: 8837546
    Abstract: A laser dazzler device and method. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide laser dazzling devices power by one or more green laser diodes characterized by a wavelength of about 500 nm to 540 nm. In various embodiments, laser dazzling devices according to the present invention include non-polar and/or semi-polar green laser diodes. In a specific embodiment, a single laser dazzling device includes a plurality of green laser diodes. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • Patent number: 8831058
    Abstract: Implementing a layered hyperbolic metamaterial in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to improve thermal conductivity and thermal dissipation thereby stabilizing optical performance. Improvement in the thermal management and power is expected by replacing the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors in the VCSEL. The layered metamaterial structure performs the dual function of the DBR and the heat spreader at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Yannick C. Morel, Igor I. Smolyaninov
  • Patent number: 8831062
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser diode comprises a semiconductor body having an n-region and a p-region laterally spaced apart within the semiconductor body. The laser diode is provided with an active region between the n-region and the p-region having a front end and a back end section, an n-metallization layer located adjacent the n-region and having a first injector for injecting current into the active region, and a p-metallization layer opposite to the n-metallization layer and adjacent the p-region and having a second injector for injecting current into the active region. The thickness and/or width of at least one metallization layer is chosen so as to control the current injection in a part of the active region near at least one end of the active region compared to the current injection in another part of the active region. The width of the at least one metallization layer is larger than a width of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: II-VI Laser Enterprise GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Pfeiffer, Andrew Cannon Carter, Jörg Troger, Norbert Lichtenstein, Michael Schwarz, Abram Jakubowicz, Boris Sverdlov
  • Patent number: 8822975
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser having an end face window structure, by growing over a substrate a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including an active layer including a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor containing at least In and Ga, the method includes the steps of: forming a mask including an insulating film over the substrate, at least in the vicinity of the position of forming the end face window structure; and growing the nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including the active layer over a part, not covered with the mask, of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kuramoto, Eiji Nakayama, Yoshitsugu Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8824516
    Abstract: In a GaN-based laser device having a GaN-based semiconductor stacked-layered structure including a light emitting layer, the semiconductor stacked-layered structure includes a ridge stripe structure causing a stripe-shaped waveguide, and has side surfaces opposite to each other to sandwich the stripe-shaped waveguide in its width direction therebetween. At least part of at least one of the side surfaces is processed to prevent the stripe-shaped waveguide from functioning as a Fabry-Perot resonator in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kawakami, Tomoki Ono, Shigetoshi Ito, Susumu Omi
  • Publication number: 20140241388
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting system includes a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, a base mount holding the nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, having an opening, and containing first metal as a main component, a cap adhered to the base mount, and a lead pin penetrating the opening. The lead pin is fixed to an inner wall of the opening with an insulating member and a buffer member interposed therebetween, the buffer member and the insulating member being stacked on the inner wall in this order. The insulating member contains silicon oxide as a component. The buffer member is made of second metal having a smaller standard oxidation-reduction potential than the first metal, or an alloy containing the second metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko YAMANAKA, Shinji YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 8817835
    Abstract: A quantum cascade laser includes a plurality of active layers, each of active layers including a first barrier layer, a first quantum well layer, a second barrier layer, a second quantum well layer, a third barrier layer, a third quantum well layer, and a fourth bather layer provided in this order along a predetermined direction; a plurality of injection layers; and a core layer having the active layers and the injection layers, the active layers and the injection layers being alternately provided along the predetermined direction to form a cascade structure. The first quantum well layer has a film thickness larger than a film thickness of the second quantum well layer. The second quantum well layer has the film thickness larger than a film thickness of the third quantum well layer. In addition, the second barrier layer has a film thickness smaller than a film thickness of the third bather layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 8816249
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating patterns using a laser diode is presented. The apparatus includes at least one laser diode, at least one lens and a mask having at least one pin hole, wherein light emitted from the laser diode is emitted through the lens and the pin hole to be focused on a first material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ying-Chi Chen, Rung-Ywan Tsai, Golden Tiao
  • Patent number: 8811442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser having at least one quantum film in which electron hole pairs can be recombined, having at least two barrier layers between which respectively one of the at least one quantum films is disposed adjacently to these, directly in a planar manner or via respectively one intermediate film, and also having a pump device, the barrier layers having or consisting of AlzGa1-zAsySb1-y, with y greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to one and z less than or equal to one and greater than 0.4, and/or having or consisting of AlzGauInvAsySb1-y, with z+u+v=1 and z greater than 0.25, the electron hole pairs being able to be produced directly in the quantum film with the pump device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Nicola Schulz, Marcel Rattunde, Joachim Wagner, Benno Rösener
  • Publication number: 20140226689
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes first and second electrodes, a semiconductor laser element, a bonding wire, a transparent frame section, and a lid section. The first electrode includes a convex section, a bottom surface surrounding the convex section, and a first surface. The second electrode includes a first surface opposed to the bottom surface of the first electrode and a second surface. The second electrode includes an opening section and a step section receding toward the first surface from the second surface. The semiconductor laser element is provided on the convex section and includes a light-emitting layer. The bonding wire is capable of electrically connecting the semiconductor laser element and the step section. The transparent frame section surrounds the convex section and is bonded to the bottom surface and the first surface of the second electrode. The lid section is bonded to the second surface of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Takeda, Junichi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8798109
    Abstract: A laser diode has a first n-conducting cladding layer, a first n-conducting waveguide layer arranged therein, an active layer is suitable for generating radiation arranged on the first waveguide layer, a second p-conducting waveguide layer, arranged on the active layer, and a second p-conducting cladding layer, arranged on the second waveguide layer the sum of the layer thickness of the first waveguide layer, the layer thickness of the active layer and the layer thickness of the second waveguide layer is greater than 1 ?m and the layer thickness of the second waveguide layer is less than 150 nm. The maximum mode intensity of the fundamental mode is in a region outside the active layer, and the difference between the refractive index of the first waveguide layer and the refractive index of the first cladding layer is between 0.04 and 0.01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Forschungsverbund Berlin E.V.
    Inventors: Erbert Götz, Hans Wenzel, Paul Crump
  • Patent number: 8798111
    Abstract: Methods for improving the performance of type-II and type-I ICLs, particularly in the mid-IR wavelength range, are provided. The electron injector of a type-II or a type-I ICL can be heavily n-doped to increase the ratio of electrons to holes in the active quantum wells, thereby increasing the probability of radiative recombination in the active quantum wells and reducing the threshold current density Jth needed to achieve lasing. For both type-II and type-I ICLs, the doping should have a sheet density in the low-1012 range. In either the type-II or the type-I case, in some embodiments, heavy doping can be concentrated in the middle quantum wells of the electron injector, while in other embodiments, doping with silicon can be shifted towards the active quantum wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Igor Vurgaftman, Jerry R. Meyer, Chadwick Lawrence Canedy, William W. Bewley, ChulSoo Kim, Mijin Kim, Charles D. Merritt
  • Patent number: 8787412
    Abstract: Method for calibrating and tuning a part wise monotonically, continuously tunable semiconductor laser having a phase section and a first Bragg reflector section, through which sections a phase current and a first reflector current, respectively, are applied, which laser is not actively cooled, includes a) a calibration step, including obtaining at least two tuning lines along which tuning lines all combinations of phase and Bragg currents are stable operating points, identifying at least one reference stable operating point along a first one of the identified tuning lines at which operating point the laser emits light at a certain reference frequency, and storing at least one reference stable operating point; and b) a subsequent tuning step, during which the output frequency of the laser in relation to the reference frequency is controlled to a desired output frequency by translating the operating point of the laser along the first tuning line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Syntune AB
    Inventors: Urban Eriksson, Robert Lewén, Jan-Olof Wesström, Filip Öhman
  • Patent number: 8774243
    Abstract: Provided are a dual mode semiconductor laser and a terahertz wave apparatus using the same. The dual mode semiconductor laser includes a distributed feedback laser structure section including a first diffraction grating on a substrate and a distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section including a second diffraction grating on the substrate. A first wavelength oscillated by the distributed feedback laser structure section and a second wavelength oscillated by the distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section are different from each other, and the distributed feedback laser structure section and the distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section share the same gain medium with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Namje Kim, Kyung Hyun Park, Young Ahn Leem, Chul-Wook Lee, Sang-Pil Han, Dong-Hun Lee, Min Yong Jeon
  • Patent number: 8767786
    Abstract: To provide a conveying unit that holds a workpiece and conveys the workpiece at a constant rate in one direction, a laser oscillator that emits a pulsed laser beam, a splitter that splits a pulsed laser beam into a pattern having a predetermined geometric pitch, a first deflector that scans the split pulsed laser beam in the other direction substantially orthogonal to the one direction, a second deflector that adjusts and deflects the split pulsed laser beam deflected by the first deflector on the surface to be processed in the one direction so as to scan the resultant pulsed laser beam onto the surface to be processed at a constant rate equal to a rate at which the workpiece is conveyed, and a condenser that condenses the split pulsed laser beam deflected by the second deflector onto the surface to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotaka Katsura, Tatsuki Okamoto, Kunihiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8767789
    Abstract: A method of fabrication of laser gain material and utilization of such media includes the steps of introducing a transitional metal, preferably Cr2+ thin film of controllable thickness on the ZnS crystal facets after crystal growth by means of pulse laser deposition or plasma sputtering, thermal annealing of the crystals for effective thermal diffusion of the dopant into the crystal volume with a temperature and exposition time providing the highest concentration of the dopant in the volume without degrading laser performance due to scattering and concentration quenching, and formation of a microchip laser either by means of direct deposition of mirrors on flat and parallel polished facets of a thin Cr:ZnS wafer or by relying on the internal reflectance of such facets. Multiple applications of the laser material are contemplated in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Sergey B. Mirov, Vladimir V. Fedorov
  • Patent number: 8767787
    Abstract: A laser diode device operable at a one or more wavelength ranges. The device has a first waveguide provided on a non-polar or semipolar crystal plane of gallium containing material. In a specific embodiment, the first waveguide has a first gain characteristic and a first direction. In a specific embodiment, the first waveguide has a first end and a second end and a first length defined between the first end and the second end. The device has a second waveguide provided on a non-polar or semipolar crystal plane of gallium containing material. In a specific embodiment, the second waveguide has a second gain characteristic and a second direction. In a specific embodiment, the second waveguide has a first end, a second end, and a second length defined between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Daniel F. Feezell
  • Patent number: 8767792
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method comprising guiding an optical mode with an optical waveguide disposed in silicon, overlapping both the optical waveguide and an active semiconductor material evanescently coupled to the optical waveguide with the optical mode guided through the optical waveguide, electrically pumping the active semiconductor material to inject current directed through the active semiconductor material and through the optical mode, and generating light in the active semiconductor material in response to the injected current. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bowers, Oded Cohen, Alexander W. Fang, Richard Jones, Mario J. Paniccia, Hyundai Park
  • Patent number: 8761218
    Abstract: A semipolar plane III-nitride semiconductor-based laser diode or light emitting diode, comprising a semipolar Indium containing multiple quantum wells for emitting light, having Aluminum containing quantum well barriers, wherein the Indium containing multiple quantum well and Aluminum containing barriers are grown in a semipolar orientation on a semipolar plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: You-Da Lin, Hiroaki Ohta, Shuji Nakamura, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck
  • Patent number: 8761212
    Abstract: A method for operating a laser device, which has a laser-active solid-state body including a preferably passive Q switch, in which pumped light is applied to the laser device in order to generate a laser pulse. The laser device and/or an optical link between the laser device and a pumped light source supplying the pumped light is at least partially acted upon by an optical test pulse in order to check the integrity of a/the optical link between the laser device and a pumped light source supplying the pumped light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Weinrotter, Pascal Woerner, Manfred Vogel, Juergen Raimann, Bernd Schmidtke, Heiko Ridderbusch
  • Patent number: 8761221
    Abstract: A light-emitting element includes a mesa structure in which a first compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type are disposed in that order, wherein at least one of the first compound semiconductor layer and the second compound semiconductor layer has a current constriction region surrounded by an insulation region extending inward from a sidewall portion of the mesa structure; a wall structure disposed so as to surround the mesa structure; at least one bridge structure connecting the mesa structure and the wall structure, the wall structure and the bridge structure each having the same layer structure as the portion of the mesa structure in which the insulation region is provided; a first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on a top face of the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Oki, Yuji Masui, Yoshinori Yamauchi, Rintaro Koda, Takahiro Arakida
  • Patent number: 8750343
    Abstract: A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device capable of suppressing complication of a manufacturing process and reduction of luminous efficiency is obtained. This nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device (50) includes a nitride-based semiconductor device layer (23) formed on a main surface of a (1-100) plane of a substrate (21), having a light-emitting layer (26) having a main surface of a (1-100) plane, a facet (50a) formed on an end of a region including the light-emitting layer (26) of the nitride-based semiconductor device layer (23), formed by a (000-1) plane extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main surface ((1-100) plane) of the light-emitting layer (26), and a reflection surface (50c) formed on a region opposed to the facet (50a) of the (000-1) plane, formed by a growth surface of the nitride-based semiconductor device layer (23), extending in a direction inclined at an angle ?1 (about) 62° with respect to the facet (50a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Future Light, LLC
    Inventors: Ryoji Hiroyama, Yasuto Miyake, Yasumitsu Kuno, Yasuyuki Bessho, Masayuki Hata
  • Patent number: 8743922
    Abstract: A laser device is disclosed that provides at least an ultraviolet laser beam and preferably both an ultraviolet laser beam and a visible laser beam. The laser device includes a semiconductor laser device (e.g. a laser diode) to generate visible laser light which is coupled into a frequency doubling crystal taking the form of a single crystal thin film frequency-doubling waveguide structure. The single crystal thin film frequency-doubling waveguide converts a portion of the visible light emitted by the laser diode into ultraviolet light. Both visible and ultraviolet laser light is emitted from the waveguide. As an example, the single crystal thin film frequency-doubling frequency doubling waveguide includes a frequency doubling crystal region composed of ?-BaB2O4 (?-BBO), a cladding region composed of materials that are transparent or nearly transparent at the wavelength of the ultraviolet laser light beam and a supporting substrate composed of any material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tim Smeeton, Stewart Hooper, Edward Andrew Boardman, Robin Mark Cole
  • Patent number: 8743455
    Abstract: It is disclosed a method for driving a laser diode such as to enable mitigation or elimination of so called spiking effects related to the number of injected carriers in the laser overshooting the equilibrium value at the beginning of the lasing process. In this manner, among other things, the efficiency of a master oscillator power amplifier that may be utilized in range finding applications will be improved. It is further disclosed an optical pulse transmitter comprising such a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Yuri Gusev, Mikael Hertzman, Evgeny Vanin, Christian Grässer
  • Patent number: 8737444
    Abstract: An edge emitting semiconductor laser comprising an active, radiation-generating zone (1), and an common waveguide (8), which is suitable for guiding the radiation generated in the active zone (1) within the semiconductor laser. The common waveguide (8) comprises a first n-doped layer (4) and a second n-doped layer (5), which is arranged between the first n-doped layer (4) and the active zone (1), wherein the refractive index n2 of the second n-doped layer (5) is greater than the refractive index n1 of the first n-doped layer (4) by a value dn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Alvaro Gomez-Iglesias, Guenther Groenninger, Christian Lauer, Harald Koenig
  • Patent number: 8737446
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a gain region; a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) region including a diffraction grating; an end facet facing the DBR region with the gain region arranged therebetween; a first ring resonator including a first ring-like waveguide and a first optical coupler; a second ring resonator including a second ring-like waveguide and a second optical coupler; and an optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the end facet and extending in a predetermined optical-axis direction. The first and second ring resonators are optically coupled to the optical waveguide through the first and second optical couplers, respectively. Also, the DBR region, the gain region, and the end facet constitute a laser cavity. Further, the first ring resonator has a free spectral range different from a free spectral range of the second ring resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chie Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8737443
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor laser device is provided herein that is reduced in capacitance to have a better response. The nitride semiconductor laser device includes: an active layer; an upper cladding layer which is stacked above the active layer; a low dielectric constant insulating film which is stacked above the upper cladding layer; and a pad electrode which is stacked above the low dielectric constant insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Tani, Yoshihiko Tani, Toshiyuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8731017
    Abstract: Tensile strained germanium is provided that can be sufficiently strained to provide a nearly direct band gap material or a direct band gap material. Compressively stressed or tensile stressed stressor materials in contact with germanium regions induce uniaxial or biaxial tensile strain in the germanium regions. Stressor materials may include silicon nitride or silicon germanium. The resulting strained germanium structure can be used to emit or detect photons including, for example, generating photons within a resonant cavity to provide a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Acorn Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Clifton, Andreas Goebel, R. Stockton Gaines
  • Patent number: 8731346
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide optical connection techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate, a laser device formed on the substrate, the laser device including an active layer configured to emit light, and a mode-expander waveguide disposed on the substrate and butt-coupled with the active layer to receive and route the light to a waveguide formed on another substrate. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jia-Hung Tseng, Peter L. Chang, Miriam R. Reshotko, Ibrahim Ban, Mauro J. Kobrinsky, Brian Corbett, Roberto Pagano
  • Patent number: RE45071
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor laser diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor laser diode includes a lower cladding layer disposed on a substrate; a ridge including an optical waveguide layer, an active layer, an upper cladding layer, and an ohmic contact layer, which are sequentially stacked on the lower cladding layer, and having a predetermined width, which is obtained by performing a channel etching process on both sides of the ridge; an oxide layer disposed on surfaces of the upper and lower cladding layer to control the width of the ridge; a dielectric layer disposed on left and right channels of the ridge; an upper electrode layer disposed on the entire surface of the resultant structure to enclose the ridge and the dielectric layer; and a lower electrode layer disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate. The method is simpler than a conventional process of manufacturing a semiconductor laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung Ui Hong, Jin Hong Lee, Jin Soo Kim, Ho Sang Kwack, Dae Kon Oh