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:
Jul. 14, 2009
Filed:
May. 21, 2004
Jan Lipson, Cupertino, CA (US);
Jan Lipson, Cupertino, CA (US);
Finisar Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for producing a tunable vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) using photonic crystals and an electrostrictive material that includes a hologram with a narrow filter function. Photonic crystals are formed such that the active region of the VCSEL is bounded by the photonic crystals. The photonic crystals have a periodic cavity structure that reflects light of certain wavelengths through the active region of the VCSEL such that laser light at the wavelengths is generated. The periodic cavity structure includes a central defect that does not include any cavities. The single mode is emitted through the central defect. The electrostrictive material that includes a hologram makes the VCSEL tunable because the shape of the electrostrictive material changes when an electric field is applied. The filter function of the hologram thus changes as well in response to the electric field such that the VCSEL is tunable.