Vixar, Inc.

Mytek, LLC

Other

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Brenner, Mary K.

Johnson, Klein L.

Mary K Brenner

Klein L Johnson

William Hogan

Matthew Dummer

Kent D Choquette

Chen Chen

Dave Shelander

David Sandquist

The present disclosure relates to an approach for monitoring the output power of a VCSEL or VCSEL array in a relatively compact, low profile package. A VCSEL device or VCSEL package of the present disclosure may generally be configured with a photodiode for monitoring output power of one or more VCSELs. In some embodiments, one or more VCSEL devices may be arranged over or on a photodetector, such that the photodetector is configured to detect light emitted through a bottom of the VCSEL. In such embodiments, the VCSEL device may have a patterned bottom metal layer and/or an etched substrate to allow light to pass below or behind the VCSEL to the photodiode. In other embodiments, a photodetector may be arranged on a submount adjacent one or more VCSELs, and may be configured to detect light reflected via a diffuser in order to monitor output power.

Power monitoring approach for VCSELS and VCSEL arrays

A segmented VCSEL array having a plurality of individually addressable segments, each segment comprising one or more VCSELs. In some cases, at least two of the plurality of individually addressable segments may be driven in combination. The plurality of individually addressable segments, in some embodiments, may be centered around the same central point. An optical element may be used in conjunction with the segmented VCSEL array, and in some cases may be aligned to the central point. The optical element may be configured such that light passing therethrough may be directed according to which of the plurality of individually addressable segments is activated. In some embodiments, the optical element is a grating or diffractive optical element. The grating or diffractive optical element could be patterned with optical segments that each correspond to at least one the plurality of individually addressable segments.

VCSELs and VCSEL arrays designed for improved performance as illumination sources and sensors

An optical package having a patterned submount, an optoelectronic device mounted to the patterned submount, a spacer affixed on one side to the patterned submount, the spacer having a bore hole therethrough wherein the optoelectronic device is positioned, and an optical element affixed to the spacer on a side opposite the patterned submount and covering the spacer bore hole. The patterned submount may be a circuit board. The optoelectronic device may be a VCSEL. The spacer may be affixed to the circuit board, for example, using an epoxy preform or an adhesive laminate. The spacer may, for example, be manufactured from a sheet of stainless steel or from a circuit board. The optical element may be, for example, a diffuser, a concave lens, a convex lens, a holographic element, polarizers, or diffraction gratings. The optical element may be affixed to the spacer using an epoxy preform or an adhesive laminate.

Low cost optical package

A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, each having more than two modes, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs. A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, each having an aperture size of at least about 6 &#x3bc;m, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs. A VCSEL array having a plurality of VCSELs, wherein the spectral width of each VCSEL is at least about 0.5 nm, and the optical emission from each of the VCSELs overlaps in a far field of the VCSELs.

VCSELS and VCSEL arrays designed for improved performance as illumination sources and sensors

A VCSEL package including a VCSEL, a housing, containing the VCSEL, and a diffuser operably attached to the housing and configured to receive an emitted beam of light from the VCSEL and produce a beam of predetermined angular divergence. The housing may be a PLLC package, a ceramic package, or a TO-style package. The diffuser could be a substantially planar diffuser sheet, which in some cases may be comprised of glass or plastic. In some embodiments, the diffuser could be a diffractive optical element or holographic light shaping diffuser. In some embodiments, the diffuser can be designed to produce a beam with an illumination full angle of up to about 90 degrees.

VCSELs and methods having improved characteristics. In some embodiments, these include a semiconductor substrate; a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) on the substrate; a first electrical contact formed on the VCSEL; a second electrical contact formed on the substrate, wherein the VCSEL includes: a first resonating cavity having first and second mirrors, at least one of which partially transmits light incident on that mirror, wherein the first second mirrors are electrically conductive. A first layer is between the first mirror and the second mirror and has a first aperture that restricts the path of current flow. A second layer is between the first layer and the second mirror and also restricts the electrical current path. A multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structure is between the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the first and second apertures act together to define a path geometry of the current through the MQW structure.

Method and apparatus including improved vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Plastic optical fiber data communication links. Particularly, plastic optical fiber data communication links for embedded applications. More particularly, unique packaging approaches to constructing a very small, low cost, but high performance optical link, which may operate at 1 gigabits per second (Gbps) or faster.

Plastic optical fiber data communication links

A laser system having separately electrically operable cavities for emitting modulated narrow linewidth light with first, second and third mirror structures separated by a first active region between the first and the second and by a second active region between the second and the third. The second mirror structure has twenty of more periods of mirror pairs.

Push-pull modulated coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and method

Direct modulated modified vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and method

A semiconductor material vertical cavity surface emitting laser for emitting narrow linewidth light comprising a compound semiconductor material substrate and pairs of semiconductor material layers in a first mirror structure on the substrate of a first conductivity type each differing from that other in at least one constituent concentration and each first mirror pair separated from that one remaining by a first mirror spacer layer with a graded constituent concentration. An active region on the first mirror structure has plural quantum well structures separated by at least one active region spacer layer and there is a second mirror structure on the active region similar to the first but of a second conductivity type. A pair of electrical interconnections is separated by said substrate, said first mirror structure, said active region and said second mirror structure.

Red light laser

A coupler with an optical element for passing signals between a signaling device and an optical fiber in one direction along a fiber axis and away from the fiber axis in the opposite direction. A molded housing with the optical element houses the signaling device with the optical fiber aligned thereto.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Mary K Brenner