Vertical-cavity surface emitting laser utilizing a reversed biased diode for improved current confinement
First Claim
1. A current confinement element comprising:
- a top layer comprising a top semiconducting material of a first conductivity type that is transparent to light; and
an aperture defining layer comprising an aperture region and a confinement region, said aperture region comprising an aperture semiconducting material of said first conductivity type that is transparent to light, said confinement region surrounding said aperture region and comprising a confinement semiconducting material of a second conductivity type, said aperture defining layer being in electrical contact with said top layer such that current will flow preferentially through said aperture region relative to said confinement region when a potential difference is applied between said top and said aperture defining layers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A current confinement element that can be used in constructing light-emitting devices. The current confinement element includes a top layer and an aperture-defining layer. The top layer includes a top semiconducting material of a first conductivity type that is transparent to light. The aperture-defining layer includes an aperture region and a confinement region. The aperture region includes an aperture semiconducting material of the first conductivity type that is transparent to light. The confinement region surrounds the aperture region and includes a material that has been doped to provide a high resistance to the flow of current. In one embodiment of the invention, the confinement region includes a semiconducting material of a second conductivity type.
35 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A current confinement element comprising:
-
a top layer comprising a top semiconducting material of a first conductivity type that is transparent to light; and
an aperture defining layer comprising an aperture region and a confinement region, said aperture region comprising an aperture semiconducting material of said first conductivity type that is transparent to light, said confinement region surrounding said aperture region and comprising a confinement semiconducting material of a second conductivity type, said aperture defining layer being in electrical contact with said top layer such that current will flow preferentially through said aperture region relative to said confinement region when a potential difference is applied between said top and said aperture defining layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A laser diode comprising:
-
a bottom mirror comprising an electrically conducting material;
a first conductive spacer situated above said bottom mirror;
a light emitting layer;
a second conductive spacer situated above said light emitting material;
a top mirror comprising a layer of a semiconducting material of a first conductivity type above said second conductive spacer, and an aperture defining layer comprising an aperture region and a confinement region, said aperture region comprising an aperture semiconducting material of said first conductivity type, said confinement region surrounding said aperture region and comprising a confinement semiconducting material of a second conductivity type, wherein current flows preferentially through said aperture region relative to said confinement region when a potential difference is applied between said top and bottom mirrors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification