The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 1988
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1986
William Streifer, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A phased array semiconductor laser favoring emission in the 1st or Nth supermode over other potential supermodes of the laser comprising a plurality of spatially disposed laser elements formed relative to an active region to provide optical cavities for light wave generation and propagation under lasing conditions and wherein the optical field of laser elements are coupled into the optical cavities of adjacent laser elements to provide a phase locked condition across the array. The position of the outer laser element at each end of the array are spaced closer to adjacent laser element compared to the spacing provided between all the other of laser elements such that the coupling across the array is enhanced to produce at least one supermode with a nearly uniform and fairly rectangular shaped intensity envelope. The optimized optical coupling coefficient between the outer lasing elements and their adjacent laser elements is .sqroot.2 K, where K is the optical coupling coefficient between the other laser elements. The optical coupling coefficient of .sqroot.2 K between these outer lasing elements, however, may be within the range of 80% to 120% of .sqroot.2 K. The phase of some of the laser elements in the array may be reversed 180.degree..