Laser diode assembly with tunnel junctions and providing multiple beams
First Claim
1. A laser diode assembly providing multiple output beams from multiple p-n junctions and at least one tunnel junction comprising:
- (a) a semiconductor substrate;
(b) a multiplicity of superposed semiconductor laser stacks thereon each having an active layer sandwiched between p and n layers, and at least one pair of adjacent semiconductor laser stacks having a tunnel junction therebetween; and
(c) ohmic contacts on the outer surface of said substrate and the outer surface of the uppermost semiconductor laser stack, whereby an applied potential across said ohmic contacts produces lasing in the active layers semiconductor laser stacks on the opposite sides of said tunnel junction.
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Abstract
A laser diode assembly provides multiple output beams from multiple p-n junctions in a multiplicity of stacked laser diodes with at least one tunnel junction. A semiconductor substrate has a multiplicity of superposed semiconductor laser stacks thereon each having an active layer sandwiched between p and n layers, and at least one pair of adjacent semiconductor laser stacks has a tunnel junction therebetween. When a potential is applied across the ohmic contacts on the outer surface of the substrate and the outer surface of the uppermost semiconductor laser stack, lasing is produced in the semiconductor stacks to form multiple beams. The tunnel junction may be provided by highly doped p+, n+ layers between the stacks, or it may be provided by highly doped abutting p+, n+ surface portions in the adjacent stacks. Tunnel junctions may be provided at the interfaces between all of the stacks, or between all but one pair of the adjacent stacks. The assembly may be edge emitting or surface emitting, and it may include single or multiple quantum well configurations and distributed feedback configuration.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A laser diode assembly providing multiple output beams from multiple p-n junctions and at least one tunnel junction comprising:
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(a) a semiconductor substrate; (b) a multiplicity of superposed semiconductor laser stacks thereon each having an active layer sandwiched between p and n layers, and at least one pair of adjacent semiconductor laser stacks having a tunnel junction therebetween; and (c) ohmic contacts on the outer surface of said substrate and the outer surface of the uppermost semiconductor laser stack, whereby an applied potential across said ohmic contacts produces lasing in the active layers semiconductor laser stacks on the opposite sides of said tunnel junction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification