Optical Pumping of Laser Structure via LED Substrate Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nitride-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers face challenges in deep UV emission due to deficient hole injection, particularly for deep UV LEDs, where a higher Al molar fraction is required, leading to manufacturing difficulties and inefficiencies in standard UV laser diodes.
Innovation Solution
A laser light generating device that uses one or more light emitting diodes to optically pump a laser light generating structure, which can include organic or inorganic materials, with the LEDs located on the same substrate or a separate connected substrate, enabling enhanced optical and electrical pumping of the active structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a higher Al molar fraction is used in AlGaN alloys to achieve deep UV emission, then the deep UV output power is improved, but the hole injection efficiency deteriorates due to increased acceptor binding energy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple functional regions: deep UV LEDs on the first substrate for generating pump light, and an active media layer on the second substrate for lasing. This segmentation allows the deep UV LED to operate independently without being constrained by the hole injection requirements of the laser structure, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving deep UV emission and maintaining hole injection efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
An optical coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the deep UV LED and the active media. The LED optically pumps the active media through this intermediary coupling, allowing energy transfer without direct electrical contact, thereby avoiding the hole injection problem while still achieving deep UV lasing
2Device complexity
If standard UV laser diodes are manufactured using conventional methods, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the light source (deep UV LED) and the laser active media into a single integrated device with two substrates. This combination eliminates the need for separate laser diode manufacturing processes, simplifying production while maintaining device functionality. The monolithic integration approach reduces manufacturing steps and associated costs
3Power
If deep UV LEDs are used to achieve deep UV emission, then output power density is improved, but lasing action cannot be achieved due to deficient hole injection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the deep UV LED as a model light source to optically pump a separate active media layer that is specifically designed for lasing. By copying the deep UV emission characteristics in the LED and using that light to pump a dedicated laser medium, the system achieves both high power density and lasing capability without the hole injection constraints
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves the efficiency and output power of deep UV light emission, overcoming the limitations of standard UV laser diodes by enabling effective optical pumping and potentially achieving deep UV lasing.
Implementation Method 1
a set of light emitting diodes located on the substrate, the set of light emitting diodes being configured to optically pump the laser light generating structure
Implementation Method 2
the set of light emitting diodes being configured to optically pump the laser light generating structure
Data Source
AI summary
Laser light generating solutions are provided that use one or more light emitting diodes to optically pump a laser light generating structure. The laser light generating structure can include organic or inorganic laser material. The light emitting diodes can be located on the same substrate as the laser light generating structure or on a separate substrate that is connected to the substrate with the laser light generating structure. Various other features can be included to enhance the optical pumping and/or enable electrical pumping of the active structure when it includes an inorganic laser material.