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US 4,730,331 AGranted
Superluminescent LED source
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRobert D. Burnham, Thomas L. Paoli, Robert L. Thornton, Robert A. Sprague
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AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRobert D. Burnham, Thomas L. Paoli, Robert L. Thornton, Robert A. Sprague
Estimating the term…
A light source comprises a semiconductor laser having a plurality of deposited semiconductor layers including an active region consisting of a plurality of layers forming at least two quantum wells in the active region. The layers immediately adjacent to the active region provide confinement for light generated in one or more optical cavities established in the active region and propagating between end facets of the source. Means, such as in the form of an antireflection (AR) coating, is provided to convert the semiconductor laser into a superluminescent LED source. Further, means is provided to broaden the wavelength spectral emission from the source by rendering the energy levels present in the quantum wells to be at different levels between or among the quantum wells. The resulting output beam has high output intensity and a uniform far field pattern without intensity variation along the beam width particularly useful as a superluminescent LED source for electrooptic line TIR modulators and line printers.
In a light source comprising a semiconductor laser comprising a plurality of deposited semiconductor layers, an active region in said source and comprising a plurality of layers forming at least two quantum wells in said active region, a p-n junction is proximity to said active region, the layers immediately adjacent to said active region providing confinement for light generated in at least one optical cavity established in said active region and propagating between end facets of said source, means to convert said semiconductor laser into a superluminescent LED source, means to broaden the wavelength spectral emission from said source by rendering the energy levels present in said quantum wells to be at different levels between or among said quantum wells thereby producing an output beam having high output intensity and a uniform far field pattern without intensity variation along the beam width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.