Reflective Surface for Laser Beam Shaping and Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor lasers face challenges in beam alignment and coupling efficiency due to limitations in forming laser facets, leading to increased complexity and degradation in laser characteristics, particularly when using spot-size converters, which affect the laser threshold current and optical alignment with optical fibers or silicon photonics chips.
Innovation Solution
A reflective surface is integrated adjacent to the laser structure to modify and shape the laser beam, allowing for improved coupling efficiency by adjusting the beam direction and shape without significant impact on laser characteristics, using etched facets and lithographically defined reflective surfaces to align with silicon photonics chips or optical fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spot-size converters are used to improve beam coupling efficiency, then coupling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases and laser characteristics degrade
Solution Approach 1:
A reflective surface is introduced as an intermediary component between the laser facet and the target medium (optical fiber or silicon photonics chip). This reflector modifies the beam propagation path and shape without requiring complex internal modifications to the laser structure itself, thereby achieving improved coupling efficiency while avoiding the process complexity and characteristic degradation associated with spot-size converters
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the beam in the transverse dimension through spot-size converters, the invention utilizes the longitudinal dimension by introducing a reflective surface at a specific distance from the laser facet. This allows beam shaping and direction control through the spatial arrangement in the propagation direction, simplifying the overall device structure
2Ease of operation
If spot-size converters are used to expand beam tolerance for optical alignment, then alignment tolerance is improved, but laser threshold current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface acts as a mediator that provides alignment tolerance through its spatial positioning and angular orientation rather than through beam diameter expansion. This approach achieves ease of alignment without the energy losses and threshold current increases that result from using spot-size converters to expand the beam profile
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional lithographical techniques are used after wafer cleaving, then further processing is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases due to wafer fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface is defined lithographically on the wafer before cleaving occurs. This preliminary definition ensures that after the wafer is cleaved into small pieces, each fragment retains the pre-defined reflective surface pattern, enabling straightforward further processing without requiring complex re-alignment or re-patterning operations on the fragmented wafers
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 enhances the coupling efficiency of laser light into optical fibers or silicon photonics chips, reduces power consumption, and enables efficient beam directionality, particularly in applications like pico-projectors, by modifying the far-field patterns to achieve higher light transmission with reduced energy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A reflective surface is integrated adjacent to the laser structure to modify and shape the laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A reflective surface is disclosed in conjunction with a semiconductor laser to shape a laser beam and modify a direction of the laser beam. The reflective surface may be formed on a structure disposed adjacent to a laser structure to allow high coupling of laser light to, for example, a silicon photonics chip or an optical fiber.