LED-BASED OPTICAL PUMPING FOR LASER LIGHT GENERATION

• US 20070171953A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shur, Michael, Gaska, Remigijus
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0933 of a semiconductor, e.g. light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/094084 with pump light recycling, i.e. with reinjection of the unused pump light, e.g. by reflectors or circulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/041 Optical pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/11 Comprising a photonic bandgap structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/36 comprising organic materials

Abstract

Laser light generating solutions are provided that use one or more light emitting diodes to optically pump a laser light generating structure. The laser light generating structure can include organic or inorganic laser material. The light emitting diodes can be located on the same substrate as the laser light generating structure or on a separate substrate that is connected to the substrate with the laser light generating structure. Various other features can be included to enhance the optical pumping and/or enable electrical pumping of the active structure when it includes an inorganic laser material.

Claims

1. A laser light generating heterostructure comprising:

a substrate;

a laser light generating structure located on the substrate; and

a set of light emitting diodes located on the substrate, the set of light emitting diodes being configured to optically pump the laser light generating structure.

2. The heterostructure of claim 1, the substrate comprising sapphire.

3. The heterostructure of claim 1, the substrate comprising a flexible substrate.

4. The heterostructure of claim 1, the substrate comprising anodized aluminum and including an array of holes.

5. The heterostructure of claim 1, the laser light generating structure comprising an organic laser material.

6. The heterostructure of claim 1, the laser light generating structure comprising an inorganic laser material.

7. The heterostructure of claim 6, the laser light generating structure comprising at least one of:

a multiple quantum well laser structure, a quantum wire laser structure, or a quantum dot laser structure.

8. The heterostructure of claim 1, the substrate including a trench, wherein the laser light generating structure is in the trench.

9. The heterostructure of claim 1, further comprising an epitaxial layer directly on the substrate, the set of light emitting diodes being directly on the epitaxial layer.

10. The heterostructure of claim 1, the set of light emitting diodes including a group-III nitride-based light emitting diode.

11. The heterostructure of claim 1, the set of light emitting diodes including a light emitting diode that emits ultraviolet light.

12. The heterostructure of claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface configured to reflect at least one of:

light emitted from a light emitting diode toward the laser light generating structure or laser light generated by the laser light generating structure out of the heterostructure.

13. The heterostructure of claim 12, the reflective surface comprising a distributed Bragg reflector structure.

14. A laser light generating device comprising:

a substrate;

a laser light generating structure;

a plurality of light emitting diodes located on the substrate, the plurality of light emitting diodes being configured to optically pump the laser light generating structure.

15. The device of claim 14, the laser light generating structure being located on the substrate.

16. The device of claim 14, the substrate being configured to direct light emitted from the set of light emitting diodes towards the light generating structure.

17. The device of claim 16, the substrate having a substantially arc-shape.

18. The device of claim 14, the substrate comprising a material that is substantially transparent with respect to at least one of:

the laser light generated by the laser light generating structure or the light emitted by the set of light emitting diodes.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a set of electrical contacts connected to the laser light generating structure, the laser light generating structure comprising an inorganic laser material.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising a reflective surface located on the substrate, the reflective surface being configured to reflect at least one of:

light emitted from a light emitting diode toward the laser light generating structure or laser light generated by the laser light generating structure out of the heterostructure.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising an epitaxial layer directly on the substrate, the set of light emitting diodes being directly on the epitaxial layer.

22. The device of claim 14, further comprising a transparent substrate connected to the substrate, the laser light generating structure being located on the transparent substrate.

23. A method of generating laser light, the method comprising:

obtaining a laser light generating device including;

a substrate;

a laser light generating structure located on the substrate; and

a set of light emitting diodes located on the substrate; and

optically pumping the laser light generating structure with light emitted from the set of light emitting diodes.

24. The method of claim 23, the optically pumping including providing pulsed light from a light emitting diode.

25. The method of claim 23, the optically pumping including providing continuous light from a light emitting diode.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising electrically pumping the laser light generating structure, the laser light generating structure comprising an inorganic laser material.

27. The method of claim 26, the electrically pumping including providing a pulsed electrical current to the laser light generating structure.

28. The method of claim 26, the electrically pumping including providing a continuous electrical current to the laser light generating structure.

29. A method of manufacturing a laser light generating device, the method comprising:

obtaining a substrate;

applying a laser light generating structure on the substrate; and

applying a set of light emitting diodes on the substrate, the set of light emitting diodes being configured to optically pump the laser light generating structure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the applying the laser light generating structure includes:

forming a trench in the substrate; and

depositing the laser light generating structure within the trench.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the applying the set of light emitting diodes includes:

applying an epitaxial layer directly on the substrate; and

applying the set of light emitting diodes directly on the epitaxial layer.