Other

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Phillip D Wright

Ronald J Nelson

Braden A Reiber

A small, hands free, portable, rechargeable, waterproof, UV-C light emitting disinfection device. The disinfection device has a durable outer housing that holds an array of externally facing Ultraviolet C spectrum (UV-C) Light Emitting (LEDs) that emit light within the germicidal range of the Ultraviolet C spectrum or between the wavelength(&#x3bb;) range of 200 nm to 280 nm. The disinfection unit can be deployed in a water bottle, backpack bladder, water jug, or any suitable container to disinfect water or other liquids.

Portable disinfection device

Discrete InP-InGaAsP mesa double heterostructure lasers have been fabricated by a batch process in which the laser mirrors are formed by chemically etching the wafer from the top surface down into the substrate. A feature of the process is that the metal contact on the top surface is recessed within the periphery of an overlying mask, and the etching time is controlled so that the contact is not undercut by the sidewalls of the mesa. Another feature is the use of a self-limiting etchant which etches the mirrors smoothly and at a faster rate than the sidewalls. Preferably, the mirrors etch isotropically and the sidewalls etch preferentially along crystallographic planes. Also described is subsequent batch processing (e.g., forming mirror coatings) and on-wafer testing of the etched-mirror lasers.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Phillip D Wright