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US 6,639,931 B1Granted
Laser devices
AssigneeThe University of Bristol
InventorsPhilip Dowd, Ian Hugh White, Richard Vincent Penty, Peter John Heard, Geoffrey Charles Allen, Michael Renne Ty Tan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser device (10) has a discontinuity (11) formed within the body of the device. When the device is in use, the direction of polarization of light emitted from the device is substantially aligned with a boundary of the discontinuity.
Claims24
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a lower mirror structure adjacent to the substrate;
- an active region adjacent to the lower mirror structure;
- an upper mirror structure adjacent to the active region;
- a contact region adjacent to the upper mirror structure, wherein the contact region defines an aperture through which laser light can be emitted;
- and
- a discontinuity formed within the contact region, wherein the direction of polarization of light emitted from the device is substantially aligned with a boundary of the discontinuity.
4 more elements
A method of polarizing light, the method comprising:
- providing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser device, the device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a lower mirror structure adjacent to the substrate;
- an active region adjacent to the lower mirror structure;
- an upper mirror structure adjacent to the active region;
- and
- a contact region adjacent to the upper mirror structure, wherein the contact region defines an aperture through which laser light can be emitted;
- and
- forming a discontinuity in the contact region, wherein the direction of polarization of light emitted from the device is substantially aligned with a boundary of the discontinuity.
6 more elements
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a lower mirror structure adjacent to the substrate;
- an active region adjacent to the lower mirror structure;
- an upper mirror structure adjacent to the active region;
- a contact region adjacent to the upper mirror structure, wherein the contact region defines an aperture through which laser light can be emitted;
- and
- a trench region which extends through the contact region into the device towards the active region, wherein the direction of polarization of light emitted from the device is substantially aligned with a boundary of the trench region.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.