Filamented multi-wavelength vertical-cavity surface emitting laser

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal, the first mirror region generally having a first resistance value;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal, the second mirror region generally having a second resistance value;
• at least one of the first and second mirror regions having a number of discrete locations, wherein each of the number of discrete locations has a different resistance value than the corresponding first and second resistance value;
• and
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal;
• an active region situated below the first mirror region;
• a second mirror region situated below the active region and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• an exit window positioned above the first mirror region;
• and
• a patterned layer situated above the first mirror region and substantially aligned with the exit window, wherein the patterned layer provides filamentation to the filamented light output.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• and
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions, the active region generally having a first gain, but further having a number of discrete locations wherein the gain at each of the number of discrete locations is different from the first gain value, thereby providing the filamented light output.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions, the active region having a gain;
• and
• means for altering the gain at a number of discrete locations.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal, wherein the first mirror region has a reflectance;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions, the active region having a gain;
• and
• means provided in the first mirror region for altering the reflectance of the first mirror region at a number of discrete locations.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal, wherein the first mirror region has a resistance;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions, the active region having a gain;
• and
• means provided in the first mirror region for altering the resistance of the first mirror region at a number of discrete locations.

A VCSEL for providing a filamented light output, comprising:

• a first mirror region electrically coupled to a first terminal;
• a second mirror region situated substantially parallel to the first mirror and electrically coupled to a second terminal;
• an active region situated between the first and second mirror regions, the active region generally having a gain;
• and
• means provided in the active region for altering the gain of the active region at a number of discrete locations.