Broadened spectrum laser diode for display device
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsShiva Shahin, Dale Eugene Zimmerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A broad-spectrum laser for use in a MEMS laser scanning display device is provided. In one example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter with plural quantum wells each having a different spectral peak. In another example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter with a tunable absorber to achieve a broadened emissions spectrum. In another example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter array having plural individual emitters with different spectral peaks.
Claims10
A laser diode emitter for use in a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning display device, the laser diode emitter comprising:
- a gain section coupled with a first current or voltage source via a first electrode;
- and
- a tunable absorber section coupled with a second current or voltage source via a second electrode, wherein:
- at least a portion of the gain section is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the tunable absorber section by a notch separating the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- the notch extends into the laser diode emitter in a vertical direction;
- wherein the second current or voltage source is configured to modify an absorption spectrum of the tunable absorber section by supplying a drive current or voltage that sweeps through a range of values over a period of time to cause a shifting of a wavelength of the laser diode emitter at which an overall gain is at maximum, to thereby cause the laser diode emitter to emit spectrally broadened light.
A method comprising:
- supplying, via a first current or voltage source, a first drive current or voltage to a gain section coupled with the first current or voltage source by a first electrode;
- supplying, via a second current or voltage source, a second drive current or voltage to a tunable absorber section coupled with the second current or voltage source by a second electrode, wherein:
- the gain section and the tunable absorber section are included in a laser diode emitter for user in a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning display device;
- at least a portion of the gain section is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the tunable absorber section by a notch separating the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- the notch extends into the laser diode emitter in a vertical direction;
- and
- modifying an absorption spectrum of the tunable absorber section by modulating the second drive current or voltage to sweep through a range of values over a period of time to cause a shifting of a wavelength of the laser diode emitter at which an overall gain is at maximum, to thereby cause the laser diode emitter to emit spectrally broadened light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.