# US 10,484,087 B2 · Optical transmission device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,087 B2 - Document ID: US10484087B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/727,098 - Filed: 2017-10-06 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-16 - Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Akemi Murakami; Junichiro Hayakawa; Hideo Nakayama; Tsutomu Otsuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484087B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/07: Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems - H01S 5/0021: {Degradation or life time measurements} - H01S 5/0625: in multi-section lasers - H01S 5/423: {having a vertical cavity} - H04B 10/2507: for the reduction or elimination of distortion or dispersion - H04B 10/50: Transmitters - H04B 10/66: Non-coherent receivers, e.g. using direct detection - H04B 10/801: {using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections} - H04L 7/0075: {with photonic or optical means} - H01S 5/02257: using windows, e.g. specially adapted for back-reflecting light to a detector inside the housing - H01S 5/02325: Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches - H01S 5/02345: Wire-bonding - H01S 5/026: Monolithically integrated components, e.g. waveguides, monitoring photo-detectors, drivers (stabilisation of output H01S5/06) - H01S 5/0282: {Passivation layers or treatments} - H01S 5/0683: by monitoring the optical output parameters - H01S 5/18311: {using selective oxidation} - H01S 5/34313: {with a well layer having only As as V-compound, e.g. AlGaAs, InGaAs} - H01S 2301/176: Specific passivation layers on surfaces other than the emission facet - H01S 2304/04: MOCVD or MOVPE - H04B 2210/07: Monitoring an optical transmission system using a supervisory signal - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An optical transmission device includes a first light emitting element, a second light emitting element, and a detection unit. The first light emitting element is configured to emit light. The second light emitting element is configured to emit light. The second light emitting element is connected in parallel with the first light emitting element and is configured to deteriorate earlier than the first light emitting element. The detection unit is configured to detect whether the second light emitting element is deteriorated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical transmission device comprising: a first light emitting element configured to emit light at a wavelength λ; a second light emitting element configured to emit light at the wavelength λ, the second light emitting element being connected in parallel with the first light emitting element and being configured to have a shorter expected initial service life than the first light emitting element; and a detector configured to detect whether the second light emitting element is deteriorated, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element have current confinement structures, and wherein the second light emitting element has a current confinement diameter smaller than a current confinement diameter of the first light emitting element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light receiving unit configured to receive the light emitted from the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element; and a drive unit configured to drive the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element based on an amount of light received by the light receiving unit so that an amount of light emitted from the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element emit is constant, wherein the detector is configured to, when a value of a current or a voltage output from the drive unit to the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element deviates from a predetermined range, detect that the second light emitting element is deteriorated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical transmission device according to claim 2, wherein a number of first light emitting elements is greater than a number of second light emitting elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light receiving unit configured to receive the light emitted from the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element; and a drive unit configured to drive the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element with a constant voltage or a constant current, wherein the detector is configured to, when an amount of light received by the light receiving unit deviates from a predetermined range, detect that the second light emitting element is deteriorated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The optical transmission device according to claim 4, wherein a number of first light emitting elements is greater than a number of second light emitting elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a number of first light emitting elements is greater than a number of second light emitting elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element have identical shapes, an insulating film is provided around each of the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element, and the insulating film around the first light emitting element and the insulating film around the second light emitting element are different from each other in at least one of a thickness, an area, or a shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: a third light emitting element configured to deteriorate earlier than the second light emitting element, wherein the detector is configured to detect whether each of the second light emitting element and the third light emitting element is deteriorated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit configured to issue a notification when the detector detects that the second light emitting element is deteriorated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the second light emitting element is manufactured to have a shorter expected service life than the first light emitting element under the same operating conditions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element are connected in parallel such that light from the first light emitting element and light from the second light emitting element are always emitted substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element are connected to a same electrode pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The optical transmission device according to claim 1, wherein an anode of the first light emitting element and an anode of the second light emitting element are connected to a first common wiring, and wherein a cathode of the first light emitting element and a cathode of the second light emitting element are connected to a second common wiring. ### Claim 14 An optical transmission device comprising: a first light emitting element configured to emit light; a second light emitting element configured to emit light, the second light emitting element being connected in parallel with the first light emitting element and being configured to deteriorate earlier than the first light emitting element; and a detector configured to detect whether the second light emitting element is deteriorated, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element have current confinement structures, and wherein the second light emitting element has a current confinement diameter smaller than a current confinement diameter of the first light emitting element.