Near-Infrared VCSEL With Complex Bragg Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are oversized, leading to space constraints and increased manufacturing costs due to complex structures, and struggle to achieve high-quality laser emission with current confinement methods.
Innovation Solution
A near-infrared vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser design utilizing a domestic substrate, epitaxial layer, n-type and p-type confining layers, complex Bragg reflectors, and a transfer method that includes depositing and etching layers to form trenches and metal contacts, allowing for efficient light confinement and resonance, with the use of dielectric Bragg reflectors and reflective metal layers to simplify the structure and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional distributed Bragg reflector and complex structure are used to construct vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, then laser emission quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines dielectric Bragg reflector layers with metal reflective layers to form a composite cavity structure. This composite approach leverages the high reflectivity of metals at specific wavelengths while using dielectric layers for angular selectivity and spectral control, achieving superior laser emission quality without requiring excessively complex structures
Solution Approach 2:
The metal reflective layer serves multiple functions: providing high reflectivity for laser wavelength, acting as an electrical contact layer, and serving as a thermal management interface. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining high emission quality
2Reliability
If dielectric Bragg reflector and metal mirror are used to form cavity, then reflectance efficiency is improved, but current confinement and emission direction control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical cavity function with the electrical contact function by integrating the metal reflective layer directly as the contact layer. This unified structure simultaneously provides high reflectance efficiency and effective current confinement, as the metal layer naturally confines current while the Bragg reflector layers control emission direction
3Power
If vertical cavity surface emitting laser structure is adopted, then laser threshold current is reduced and cavity length is shortened, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness and refractive index parameters of the Bragg reflector layers to achieve the desired cavity resonance conditions with minimal layers. By carefully selecting layer thicknesses to be quarter-wavelength at the laser emission wavelength, the structure achieves low threshold current with reduced overall complexity
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
The design achieves efficient light confinement and resonance, reducing manufacturing costs and enabling operation with high-power lasers while maintaining compact size, with improved heat dissipation and reflectance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a near-infrared vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser including a domestic substrate, an epitaxial layer, a n-type contact layer, a n-type distributed Bragg reflector, a n-type confining layer, an active layer, a p-type confining layer, a p-type contact layer, at least one trench, a complex Bragg reflector, and a contact metal layer
Implementation Method 2
The light-emitting area of the present invention is confined through the cavity formed by the n-type distributed Bragg reflector and the complex Bragg reflector and with the collocation of the n-type confining layer and the p-type confining layer, which allows the light generated from the active layer to resonate in the cavity so as to generate laser
Implementation Method 3
each of the complex Bragg reflectors includes a Bragg reflector and a reflective metal layer. The Bragg reflector is disposed on the p-type contact layer and made of a dielectric material. The reflective metal layer is disposed on the Bragg reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A near-infrared vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser is provided, which utilizes a conventional distributed Bragg reflector and a complex Bragg reflector which consists of a dielectric Bragg reflector and a reflective metal layer to construct a cavity. With the disposition of a confining layer, the light emitted from an active layer is confined in the cavity to resonate so as to emit a laser light. The thickness of the complex Bragg reflector is much thinner than that of the conventional distributed Bragg reflector, thereby lowering the cost of manufacture. In addition, with the transfer method, the laser is transferred to the substrate with high thermal conductivity to increase the heat dissipation efficiency. Therefore, the present invention can maintain operation while emitting a high-power laser.