Finisar Corporation

James A Tatum

James Kenneth Guenter

Ralph Herbert Johnson

James Robert Biard

Jack Gilkerson

An avalanche photodiode can include: an avalanche region having one or more layers prepared from GaAs; an Nabsorption layer extending across the avalanche region; an N-type layer above at least a center portion of the Nabsorption layer; and optionally a lower conductivity layer laterally from the N-type layer to a surface of the avalanche region and above a perimeter portion of the Nabsorption layer, the lower conductivity layer having lower conductivity compared to the N-type layer. The avalanche photodiode can include a window layer above the N-type layer and lower conductivity layer, and an anode contact above the window layer. The avalanche photodiode can include an Nbarrier layer below the Nabsorption layer, an Nconduction layer below the Nbarrier layer, a substrate below the Nconduction layer, and a cathode contact coupled with the Nconduction layer.

Gallium arsenide avalanche photodiode

A system and method for aligning optical components based on coupled optical power and encircled flux is described. In one embodiment of the invention, coupled power and encircled flux is measured corresponding to multiple locations of a first optical component relative to a second optical element. The measured coupled power and encircled flux values are analyzed and an appropriate location of the first optical component relative to the second optical component is selected.

Power and encircled flux alignment

A VCSEL having a metallic heat spreading layer adjacent a semiconductor buffer layer containing an insulating structure. The heat spreading layer includes an opening that enables light emitted by an active region to reflect from a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) top mirror located above the heat spreading layer. A substrate is below the active region. A lower contact provides electrical current to that substrate. The lower contact includes an opening that enables light emitted from the active region to reflect from a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lower mirror. Beneficially, the substrate includes a slot that enables light to pass through an opening in the lower contact. That slot acts as an alignment structure that enables optical alignment of an external feature to the VCSEL.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

James A Tatum