Silicon Light Machines Corporation

Finisar Corporation

Screen Holdings Co., Ltd.

Lars Eng

Alexander P Payne

James A Hunter

Ashish K Verma

Stephen Hamann

Olav Solgaard

Richard P Ratowsky

Tianbo Liu

Kenichi Sano

David Bruce Young

Satoshi Yamashita

Yuk Lung Ha

Yuki Ashida

Gregory Jacob

Daniel Eng

An optical scanner including micro-electromechanical system phased-arrays suitable for use in a LiDAR system, and methods of operating the same are described. Generally, the scanner includes an optical transmitter having first phased-arrays to receive light from a light source, form a swath of illumination in a far field scene and to modulate phases of the light to sweep or steer the swath over the scene in two-dimensions (2D). An optical receiver in the scanner includes second phased-arrays to receive light from the far field scene and direct at least some of the light onto a detector. The second phased-arrays are configured to de-scan the received light by directing light reflected from the far field scene onto the detector while rejecting background light. In one embodiment the second phased-arrays direct light from a slice of the far field scene onto a 1D detector array.

MEMs phased-array for LiDAR applications

An optical system including a dual-layer microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, and methods of fabricating and operating the same are disclosed. Generally, the MEMS device includes a substrate having an upper surface; a top modulating layer including a number of light modulating micro-ribbons, each micro-ribbon supported above and separated from the upper surface of the substrate by spring structures in at least one lower actuating layer; and a mechanism for moving one or more of the micro-ribbons relative to the upper surface and/or each other. The spring structures are operable to enable the light modulating micro-ribbons to move continuously and vertically relative to the upper surface of the substrate while maintaining the micro-ribbons substantially parallel to one another and the upper surface of the substrate. The micro-ribbons can be reflective, transmissive, partially reflective/transmissive, and the device is operable to modulate a phase and/or amplitude of light incident thereon.

Dual-layer micro-ribbon MEMS light modulator

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) and systems using same are described. Generally, the system includes a laser, a fixture holding a workpiece to be processed using the laser, illumination optics to illuminate the SLM with laser light, imaging optics to focus modulated light from the SLM onto the workpiece, and a controller to control the laser, the SLM, imaging optics and the fixture to scan the modulated light across a workpiece surface. The SLM includes an array of microelectromechanical system based diffractors, each including an electrostatically deflectable member coupled to a first light reflective surface and to bring light reflected from the first light reflective surface into interference with light reflected from a second light reflective surface in the SLM. The controller is operable to provide analog gray-scale control of an intensity of modulated light reflected from each diffractor by controlling an electrostatic force generated by a driver coupled thereto.

MEMS based spatial light modulators and applications

A capacitive micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) structure or device and methods of making and operating the same are described. Generally, the MEMS device provides a large stroke while maintaining good damping, enabling fast beam steering and large scan angles. In one embodiment, the capacitive MEMS device includes a bottom electrode formed over a substrate; an electrically permeable damping structure formed over the bottom electrode, the electrically permeable damping structure including a first air-gap and a dielectric layer suspended above and separated from the bottom electrode by the first air-gap; and a plurality of movable members suspended above the damping structure and separated therefrom by a second air-gap, each of the plurality of movable members including a top electrode and being configured to deflect towards the bottom electrode by electrostatic force. Other embodiments are also described.

Spatial light modulators for phased-array applications

A system and method are provided for spectral shaping of light from a broadband source using a linear spatial light modulator (SLM). The system includes an illumination source generating light including a plurality of wavelengths, a lens to collimate the light and an aperture to define its angular spread, a diffraction grating to disperse the beam by wavelength, and a focusing element to focus the dispersed beams from the diffraction grating onto a plurality of pixels of the SLM. The SLM is configured to individually modulate the dispersed beams by diffracting light output therefrom into higher orders, where a diffraction angle of output light is greater than an input cone angle of incoming light from the illumination source.

MEMS based spectral shaper using a broadband source

A spatial light modulator (SLM) including a two-dimensional (2D) array of n rows of m pixels, and a stacked drive circuit including at least one, one-dimensional (1D) array of n*m drivers monolithically integrated on the same substrate and methods of fabricating and methods of using the same in materials processing applications are provided. Generally, each pixel includes at least one modulator, and is configured to modulate light incident thereon in response to drive signals received from the stacked drive circuit. The 1D array of the stacked drive circuit includes a single row of n*m drivers arranged adjacent to and laterally separated from the 2D array of pixels. Other embodiments are also described.

Stacked PLV driver architecture for a microelectromechanical system spatial light modulator

A flow through Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) package and methods of operating a MEMS packaged using the same are provided. Generally, the package includes a cavity in which the MEMS is enclosed, an inlet through which a fluid is introduced to the cavity during operation of the MEMS and an outlet through which the fluid is removed during operation of the MEMS, wherein the package includes features that promote laminar flow of the fluid across the MEMS. The package and method are particularly useful in packaging spatial light modulators including a reflective surface and adapted to reflect and modulate a light beam incident thereon. Other embodiments are also provided.

Flow through MEMS package

A flow through Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) package and methods of operating a MEMS packaged using the same are provided. Generally, the package includes a cavity in which the MEMS is enclosed, an inlet through which a fluid is introduced to the cavity during operation of the MEMS and an outlet through which the fluid is removed during operation of the MEMS. In certain embodiments, the fluid includes an gas, such as nitrogen, and the inlet and outlet are adapted to provide a flow of gas of from 0.01 Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute (sccm) to 10000 sccm during operation of the MEMS. The package and method are particularly useful in packaging spatial light modulators including a reflective surface and adapted to reflect and modulate a light beam incident thereon. Other embodiments are also provided.

Systems and methods for stripping an optical mode from a semiconductor laser. A waveguide layer with multiple layers is included in the semiconductor laser and is typically arranged beneath the active region. The waveguide layer is configured to match the phase of the second order mode. The waveguide layer does not substantially match the primary optical mode of the laser. By matching the phase of the second order mode, the confinement of the second order mode is reduced and the second order mode strongly couples with the waveguide layer. The optical confinement of the primary mode is not substantially reduced. The side-mode suppression ratio is thereby improved by stripping the second order mode from the active region.

Semiconductor laser with side mode suppression

Systems and methods for stripping an optical mode from a semiconductor laser. A waveguide layer is included in the semiconductor laser and is typically arranged beneath the active region. The waveguide layer is configured to match the phase of the second order mode. The waveguide layer does not substantially match the primary optical mode of the laser. By matching the phase of the second order mode, the confinement of the second order mode is reduced and the second order mode strongly couples with the waveguide layer. The optical confinement of the primary mode is not substantially reduced. The side-mode suppression ratio is thereby improved by stripping the second order mode from the active region.

Semiconductor lasers having a doped active region. In one example embodiment, a laser includes a substrate and a doped active region positioned above the substrate. The doped active region includes a plurality of quantum wells separated by a plurality of barrier layers. The quantum wells and the barrier layers are doped with a doping material with a concentration between about 1*10^16/cm3 to about 1*10^17/cm3.

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Lars Eng