Semiconductor Laser Package Recess Structure for Optical Axis Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Light-emitting devices with semiconductor laser elements often experience deviation of the optical axis due to manufacturing errors or structural deformation, leading to inaccurate beam alignment.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting device configuration featuring a semiconductor laser element, a base with a recessed portion, and lead terminals, where the base's upper surface is pressed to form a flat recessed area for the laser element, ensuring parallel alignment of the optical axis with the designed axis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a semiconductor laser element is mounted on a flat upper surface of the base, then the mounting process is simple, but the optical axis of the laser beam deviates from the designed optical axis due to manufacturing errors or structural deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting process simplicityVSAvoidoptical axis alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming a recessed portion in the upper surface of the base before mounting the semiconductor laser element. This recessed portion is pre-formed to precisely accommodate the laser element, ensuring that the optical axis aligns with the designed optical axis. The pressing step creates this recessed portion in advance, so that when the laser element is mounted, it automatically achieves precise optical axis alignment without requiring complex post-adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the upper surface of the base is pressed to form a recessed portion through the gap between lead terminals, then optical axis alignment precision is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical axis alignment precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by designing a structure where the lead terminals themselves serve as the pressing tool to form the recessed portion. The pressing step utilizes the gap between the lead terminals to apply pressure and create the recessed portion that accommodates the semiconductor laser element. This eliminates the need for separate complex alignment tools or multiple processing steps, as the existing lead terminal structure is repurposed to achieve precise optical axis alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If the recessed portion is formed by pressing the upper surface, then the flat bottom surface ensures accurate optical axis alignment, but additional manufacturing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical axis alignment precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the formation of the recessed portion with the existing mounting process. The pressing step that creates the recessed portion is integrated into the manufacturing flow, and the lead terminals serve dual purposes: as electrical connections and as the pressing mechanism. This consolidation of functions reduces the need for separate alignment and mounting operations, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining high optical axis alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20230283041A1Light-emitting device, method for producing package, and method for producing light-emitting device
Publication Date: 2023.09.07 NICHIA CORP
  • US20230283041A1 patent drawing
  • US20230283041A1 patent drawing
  • US20230283041A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A light-emitting device includes a semiconductor laser element, a base, a cover, and two lead terminals. The base has a bottom portion supporting the semiconductor laser element and a lateral wall surrounding the semiconductor laser element with the lateral wall being bonded to the bottom portion. The lateral wall includes a light-transmitting portion configured to transmit a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser element. The cover and the base together define an encapsulation space in which the semiconductor laser element is encapsulated. The two lead terminals penetrate through the lateral wall of the base, one end of each of the lead terminals being located inside the encapsulation space. The bottom portion of the base has an upper surface defining a recessed portion located between the two lead terminals as viewed from above. The recessed portion has a flat bottom surface over which the semiconductor laser element is placed.