With Vertical Output (surface Emission) Patents (Class 372/50.124)
  • Patent number: 8855159
    Abstract: A disclosed surface-emitting laser element includes a resonator structure having an active layer, a first semiconductor multilayer mirror and a second semiconductor multilayer mirror configured to sandwich the resonator structure having the active layer, an electrode provided around an emission region of a light-emitting surface, and a dielectric film provided in a peripheral portion within the emission region and outside a central portion of the emission region to make a reflectance of the peripheral portion lower than a reflectance of the central portion. In the surface-emitting laser element, an outer shape of a portion where the electrode provided around the emission region of the light-emitting surface is in contact with a contact layer includes corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sato, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Naoto Jikutani
  • 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: 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: 8824520
    Abstract: A laser includes: a substrate; a first reflector including pairs of high and low refractive index layers; an active region forming a resonator; a second reflector including an emission surface and pairs of high and low refractive index layers; an extending region thicker than oscillation wavelength, extending the length of the resonator, and including a conductive semiconductor material; a confining layer including a high refractive index region and a surrounding low refractive index region; and an additional film allowing the oscillation wavelength to transmit therethrough. The first and second reflectors, the extending region, and the active region determine a reflection band including resonance wavelengths, in one of which oscillation occurs. The additional film includes central and outer circumferential portions having different thicknesses to suppress resonance in the high refractive index region and the extending region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kondo, Kazutaka Takeda
  • Patent number: 8824517
    Abstract: A surface-emission laser device comprises an active layer, cavity spacer layers provided at both sides of the active layer, reflection layers provided at respective sides of the cavity spacer layers, the reflection layers reflecting an oscillation light oscillated in the active layer and a selective oxidation layer. The selective oxidation layer is provided between a location in the reflection layer corresponding to a fourth period node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillating light and a location in the reflection layer adjacent to the foregoing fourth period node in the direction away from the active layer and corresponding to an anti-node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Jikutani, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8824519
    Abstract: Optical pump modules comprising VCSEL and VCSEL array devices provide high optical power for configuring fiber optic gain systems such as fiber laser and fiber amplifier particularly suited for high power operation. Pump modules may be constructed using two reflector or three reflector VCSEL devices optionally integrated with microlens arrays and other optical components, to couple high power pump beams to a fiber output port. The pump module having a fiber output port is particularly suited to couple light to an inner cladding of a double-clad fiber, often used to configure high power fiber laser and fiber amplifier. The pump modules may be operated in CW, QCW and pulse modes to configure fiber lasers and amplifiers using single end, dual end, and regenerative optical pumping modes. Multiple-pumps may be combined to increase pump power in a modular fashion without significant distortion to signal, particularly for short pulse operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Princeton Optronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Seurin, Qing Wang, Laurence Watkins, Chuni Lal Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8798112
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lasing device for use in an optical module. The lasing device comprises a first reflector and a second reflector; a confinement layer adapted to confine current within a current-confining aperture; and an active layer between the first and second reflectors. The active layer comprises a main active region aligned with the current confining aperture and an auxiliary active region surrounding the main active region. The second reflector includes a first reflector region arranged on the current-confining aperture and a second reflector region surrounding the first reflector region. The second reflector region and the first reflector are configured to induce stimulated recombination in the auxiliary active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Svenska Holdings AB
    Inventor: Nicolae Pantazi Chitica
  • Patent number: 8780950
    Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multi-layer reflector formed on the substrate and including a pair of a high refractive index layer having a relatively high refractive index and a low refractive index layer having a relatively low refractive index which are laminated, a semi-insulating i type AlGaAs layer formed on the first semiconductor multi-layer reflector, an n type semiconductor layer formed on the AlGaAs layer, an active region formed on the semiconductor layer, a p type second semiconductor multi-layer reflector formed on the active region and including a pair of a high refractive index layer having a relatively high refractive index and a low refractive index layer having a relatively low refractive index which are laminated, an n side first electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and a p side second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor multi-layer reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8774246
    Abstract: A semiconductor vertical resonant cavity light source includes an upper mirror and a lower minor that define a vertical resonant cavity. A first active region is within the vertical resonant cavity for light generation between the upper minor and lower mirror. The vertical resonant cavity includes an inner mode confinement region and an outer current blocking region. A depleted heterojunction current blocking region (DHCBR) is within the outer current blocking region of at least one of the upper minor, lower minor, and first active region. A conducting channel within the inner mode confinement region is framed by the DHCBR. The DHCBR forces current flow into the conducting channel during operation of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc., sdPhotonics, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis G. Deppe, Sabine M. Freisem
  • Patent number: 8774245
    Abstract: A laser diode with which high density crystal defect and surface roughness are able to be inhibited from being generated is provided. The laser diode includes a laminated body including an active layer and a current narrowing layer on a substrate. The substrate is an inclined substrate having an off-angle larger than 0 degrees in the direction of [1-100] from (0001) C plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Rintaro Koda, Yusuke Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8773598
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • 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: 8755422
    Abstract: A surface emitting laser includes lower and upper multilayer mirrors, first-conductivity-type and second-conductivity-type contact layers formed between the lower and the upper multilayer mirrors, an active layer formed between the first-conductivity-type and the second-conductivity-type contact layers, a current confinement layer formed between the second-conductivity-type contact layer and the active layer, and first and second composition gradient layers formed facing each other across the current confinement layer. The first composition gradient layer and the second composition gradient layer are formed such that bandgap energy of each of the layers is monotonically decreased from the current confinement layer to an adjacent layer and approach bandgap energy of the adjacent layer in a growth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shimizu, Yasumasa Kawakita
  • 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: 8749719
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • Patent number: 8743923
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe an illuminator having a light source to originate an illumination beam, wherein the light source further comprises a set of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), including a first VCSEL having a first laser emission wavelength, and a second VCSEL having a second laser emission wavelength different than the first laser emission wavelength. Thus, by varying laser emission wavelengths of VCSELs in a VCSEL array, embodiments of the invention produce low-contrast speckle, and do not limit the imaging capabilities of the host illumination system. In some embodiments of the invention, vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) are utilized to produce the above described varying laser emission wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Geske, Chad Wang, Elliot Burke
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8737447
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor surface-emitting laser includes a two-dimensional photonic crystal layer having a resonant mode in an in-plane direction. The surface-emitting laser includes an active layer, the two-dimensional photonic crystal layer, a semiconductor layer, and an electrode in this order. The two-dimensional photonic crystal layer contains p-type conductive InxGa1-xN (0?x?1) as a high-refractive-index medium. The semiconductor layer contains p-type conductive InyGa1-yN (0?y?1). The thickness tPhC of the two-dimensional photonic crystal layer satisfies the relation of tPhC?(?/neff), wherein ? denotes the lasing wavelength, and neff denotes the effective refractive index of the resonant mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Kawashima, Yasuhiro Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 8730410
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • Patent number: 8724670
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor laser device that enables flip-chip assembly by providing an embedding section around a mesa section, and has an improved emission lifetime. There is also provided a photoelectric converter and an optical information processing unit each having the semiconductor laser device. The semiconductor laser device includes: a mesa section including an active layer, and having a first electrode on a top surface; an embedding section covering the mesa section, and having a first connection aperture that reaches the first electrode; and a first wiring provided on the embedding section to be laid across the first connection aperture, the first wiring being electrically connected to the first electrode through the first connection aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiizu Ootorii
  • Patent number: 8717505
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as a light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • Patent number: 8711895
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a surface-emitting laser light source using a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which the efficiency of extracting light in a direction perpendicular to the surface is high. In a laser light source provided with a two-dimensional photonic crystal layer created from a plate-shaped matrix body in which a large number of holes are periodically arranged and an active layer arranged on one side of the two-dimensional photonic crystal layer, the holes are created to be columnar with a predetermined cross-sectional shape such as a circular shape, and the main axis of each of the columnar holes is tilted to a surface of the matrix body. When provided with this two-dimensional photonic crystal layer, the surface-emitting laser source using a two-dimensional photonic crystal has a Q? value (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Kyoto University, Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Noda, Eiji Miyai, Dai Ohnishi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8699539
    Abstract: A photonic crystal surface emitting laser, having an n-type cladding layer formed on a substrate; an active layer formed on the n-type cladding layer; an electron blocking layer formed on the active layer and made of a second p-type semiconductor; and a two-dimensional photonic crystal layer that is formed on the electron blocking layer, includes a plurality of layers that are made of a first p-type semiconductor and have different band gaps, and has a high and a low refractive index portion in an in-plane direction. The band gaps of the plurality of layers are smaller than a band gap of the second p-type semiconductor and decrease stepwise or continuously in a lamination direction of the plurality of layers. A third p-type semiconductor having an acceptor doping concentration smaller than that of the second p-type semiconductor is disposed so as to cover a surface of the electron blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Aihiko Numata
  • 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: 8697459
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surface emitting laser module including a surface emitting laser element formed in a semiconductor substrate and having a surface emitting laser array that emits light in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a package having a region in which the semiconductor substrate is provided; and a metal cap having a cylindrical part formed of metal, the cylindrical part having a transparent substrate on one side thereof and a bottom part on the other side thereof bonded to the package. The transparent substrate is provided in the metal cap in such a manner as to be inclined with respect to the semiconductor substrate, the package has a metal part at a bonding part thereof bonded to the metal cap, and the metal part and the metal cap are bonded together by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Adachi, Takayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8693516
    Abstract: A semiconductor surface light-emitting element of this invention is provided with a photonic crystal layer 6 obtained by periodically forming a plurality of holes H in a basic layer 6A comprised of a first compound semiconductor of the zinc blend structure and growing embedded regions 6B comprised of a second compound semiconductor of the zinc blend structure, in the holes H, and an active layer 4 to supply light to the photonic crystal layer 6, in which a principal surface of the basic layer 6A is a (001) plane and in which side faces of each hole H have at least three different {100} facets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Kyoto University
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Hirose, Shinichi Furuta, Akiyoshi Watanabe, Takahiro Sugiyama, Kousuke Shibata, Yoshitaka Kurosaka, Susumu Noda
  • Patent number: 8687664
    Abstract: A laser assembly comprises a substrate, one or more standoffs and a semiconductor laser. The substrate has a first doped region and a second doped region. The second doped region is proximate to an upper surface of the substrate and forms a pn junction with the first doped region. The semiconductor laser is operative to emit light from an upper surface and a lower surface. Moreover, the semiconductor laser is attached to the upper surface of the substrate with the one or more standoffs such that the light emitted from the lower surface of the semiconductor laser impinges on the second doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Agere Systems LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Freund
  • Patent number: 8681831
    Abstract: A light outputting device includes, a substrate, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) provided on a surface of the substrate, including a light emitting surface which emits a light, and a monitoring detector provided on the light emitting surface of the VCSEL to receive a part of the light emitted from the VCSEL so as to monitor the amount of the light emitted from the VCSEL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-kyung Choi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8675701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to opto-isolators. Opto-isolators are disclosed that include a transmitter package and a vertical VCSEL disposed within the transmitter package. The opto-isolators further include a receiver package and a photodetector disposed within the receiver package. The photodetector is optically coupled to the VCSEL and configured to receive an output optical signal generated by the VCSEL. The opto-isolators further include an alignment package configured to receive the transmitter package and the receiver package. In another embodiment, opto-isolators include a VCSEL and a photodetector optically coupled to the VCSEL and configured to receive an output optical signal generated by the VCSEL. The opto-isolators further include a package enclosing both the VCSEL and the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Guenter, Jimmy A. Tatum, Norman Brent Stapleton, Richard L. Bell, Harold Young Walker, Jose Joaquin Aizpuru
  • Patent number: 8675706
    Abstract: Illuminator module comprising VCSEL arrays with planar electrical contacts, readily adaptable for surface mounting, is provided. Monolithic VCSEL arrays are configured in array patterns on two and three-dimensional surfaces. Illuminator modules are easily expandable by increasing the array size or by modularly arranging more arrays with or without a transparent substrate. Different shapes of illuminator modules may be configured by tiling array modules monolithically on a common substrate, or by tiling small modules. The surface mountable illuminator modules are easily assembled on a thermally conductive surface that may be air or liquid cooled for efficient heat dissipation. Array modules may be integrated with other electronic circuits such as current drivers, sensors, controllers, processors, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Princeton Optronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jean F Seurin, Chuni L Ghosh, Qing Wang, Laurence Watkins
  • Patent number: 8670472
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser light source that emits laser beams perpendicular to a top surface thereof; a first optical system that couples the beams from the light source; a deflecting unit that deflects the beams; a second optical system that guides the beams from the first optical system to the deflecting unit; a third optical system that focuses the beams deflected by the deflecting unit into an optical spot on a scanned surface; and a light-quantity adjusting element disposed between the light source and the deflecting unit and having a substrate formed of a first and second surfaces. The first surface of the light-quantity adjusting element is coated with neutral density coating and the second surface is coated with antireflection coating so that reflectance of the second surface is made smaller than reflectance of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hibiki Tatsuno, Daisuke Ichii
  • Publication number: 20140064315
    Abstract: VCSEL apparatus having a substrate, a solid-state gain medium, a reflective mirror on one side of the medium, a movable reflective mirror on an opposite side of the medium, and a mechanism configured to move the movable mirror to tune a characteristic wavelength. Also described is a VCSEL apparatus having a silicon substrate having a slot therethrough and electrical connections formed on a first face, a substrate having VCSELs thereon and mounted across the slot and electrically connected to the electrical connections on the silicon substrate, and a glass substrate affixed to a second face of the silicon substrate. Also described is a VCSEL apparatus having a graded-index lens array having GRIN lenses mounted adjacently in a staggered arrangement, a PCB mounted to the lens array, and VCSEL chips mounted adjacently on the PCB and arranged so as to emit laser light through the lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Vixar
    Inventor: Vixar
  • Patent number: 8654802
    Abstract: A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array includes a substrate having an element forming area, multiple columnar structures formed in the element forming area on the substrate, and at least one metal wire formed adjacent to the multiple columnar structures. Each columnar structure includes a lower semiconductor reflector of a first conductivity type, an upper semiconductor reflector of a second conductivity type, and an active region formed between the lower semiconductor reflector and the upper semiconductor reflector. The columnar structure emits light in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The at least one metal wire has a distortion applying segment that extends in the same direction relative to the multiple columnar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Kumei
  • Patent number: 8654812
    Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) system and method of fabrication are included. The VCSEL system includes a gain region to amplify an optical signal in response to a data signal and a first mirror arranged as a partially-reflective high-contrast grating (HCG) mirror at an optical output of the VCSEL system. The VCSEL system also includes a second mirror. The first and second mirrors can be arranged as a laser cavity to resonate the optical signal. The VCSEL system further includes a doped semiconductor region to generate a current through the first mirror in response to a voltage signal to substantially alter the reflectivity of the first mirror to provide Q-switching capability of the VCSEL system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David A. Fattal, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 8654811
    Abstract: Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) arrays with vias for electrical connection are disclosed. A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a plurality of first mirrors, a plurality of second mirrors, a plurality of active regions, coupled between the plurality of first mirrors and the plurality of second mirrors, and a heatsink, thermally and mechanically coupled to the second mirror opposite the plurality of active regions, wherein an electrical path to at least one of the plurality of second mirrors is made through a via formed through a depth of the plurality of second mirrors, and a plurality of VCSELs in the VCSEL array are connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Geske, Chad Shin-deh Wang, Michael MacDougal
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8638832
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a multilayer semiconductor structure formed by a periodic structure having a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, wherein in at least a portion of the multilayer semiconductor structure, the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer have different conduction types. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer have different refractive indexes, and the multilayer semiconductor structure functions as a multilayer reflective mirror. As a result, an electronic device, a surface emitting laser, a surface emitting laser array, a light source, and an optical module with decreased parasitic capacitance can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Furakawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shimizu, Yasumasa Kawakita
  • Patent number: 8638829
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a columnar lamination structure including a first multi-layer reflection mirror, a first spacer layer, an AlxGayIn1-x-yP (where 0?x<1 and 0<y<1) based active layer, a second spacer layer, a second multi-layer reflection mirror, and a lateral mode adjusting layer on a substrate in this order from the substrate and including a current narrowing layer. The current narrowing layer includes an unoxidized region in an in-plane central region and a circular oxidized region in the circumference of the unoxidized region. The later mode adjusting layer includes a high reflection region to correspond to the unoxidized region and a circular low reflection region in the circumference of the high reflection region. On the assumption that a diameter of the unoxidized region is Dox and a diameter of the high reflection region is Dhr, the diameters Dox and Dhr satisfy an expression of 0.8<Dhr/Dox<1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Maeda, Takehiro Taniguchi, Takahiro Arakida
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140010254
    Abstract: An array of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) may be fabricated with very high fill-factors, thereby enabling very high output power densities during pulse, quasi-continuous wave (QCW), and continuous wave (CW) operation. This high fill-factor is achieved using asymmetrical pillars in a rectangular packing scheme as opposed prior art pillar shapes and packing schemes. The use of asymmetrical pillars maintains high efficiency operation of VCSELs by maintaining minimal current injection distance from the metal contacts to the laser active region and by maintaining efficient waste heat extraction from the VCSEL. This packing scheme for very high fill-factor VCSEL arrays is directly applicable for next generation high-power, substrate removed, VCSEL arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Wang, Jonathan Geske
  • Patent number: 8625649
    Abstract: A surface emitting laser includes a stepped structure having a step between a first region and a second region, the stepped structure provided in an emission area located in an upper portion of the upper mirror. The surface emitting laser includes a light shielding member provided in a third region between the first region and the second region. The light shielding member is not provided in a portion of the first region and a portion of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Ikuta, Aihiko Numata
  • Patent number: 8619831
    Abstract: Included are: an active layer provided between an upper multilayer film reflecting mirror and a lower multilayer film reflecting mirror formed on a GaAs substrate and formed of a periodic structure of a low-refractive-index layer formed of AlxGa1-xAs (0.8?x?1) and a high-refractive-index layer formed of AlyGa1-yAs (0?y?x), at least one of the low-refractive-index layer and the high-refractive-index layer being of n-type; and a lower electrode provided between the lower multilayer film reflecting mirror and the active layer and configured to inject an electric current into the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Kawakita, Takeo Kageyama, Hitoshi Shimizu, Hirotatsu Ishii
  • Patent number: 8619830
    Abstract: A photonic crystal surface emission laser includes an active layer, and a photonic crystal layer made of a plate-shaped slab provided with modified refractive index area having a refractive index different from that of the slab, the modified refractive index areas being arranged on each of the lattice points of a first rhombic-like lattice and a second rhombic-like lattice in which both diagonals are mutually parallel and only one diagonal is of a different length, wherein ax1, ax2, ay, and n satisfy the following inequality: ? 1 a x ? ? 1 - 1 a x ? ? 2 ? ( 1 a x ? ? 1 + 1 a x ? ? 2 ) 2 + ( 2 a y ) 2 ? 1 n .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Kyoto University, Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Noda, Seita Iwahashi, Toshiyuki Nobuoka, Takui Sakaguchi, Eiji Miyai, Wataru Kunishi, Dai Ohnishi, Kazuya Nagase, Yoshikatsu Miura
  • Patent number: 8615028
    Abstract: A vertically integrated optical phased array has an array of a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers disposed in an aperiodic arrangement thereof, the plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers having light emitting ports disposed parallel to one another. An array of a plurality of vertical cavity phase modulators disposed in the same aperiodic arrangement as the array of the plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, with individual modulators of said array of a plurality of vertical cavity phase modulators each being disposed in optical alignment with an injection port of a corresponding one of said plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, James H. Scaffner, Carson R. White
  • Patent number: 8611383
    Abstract: A gain-module for use in an OPS-laser includes a multilayer semiconductor gain-structure surmounting a multilayer compound mirror-structure. Within the multilayer compound mirror-structure is a relatively thick layer of diamond which serves as a heat-spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Govorkov, Luis Spinelli
  • Patent number: 8605765
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are described that include a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a structure formed on or near the surface of the VCSEL that acts as a filter that benefits high-frequency VCSEL modulation performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen Ji, Jingyi Wang, Laura M. Giovane