Semiconductor Laser Device With Anisotropic Submount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor laser devices with different wavelengths for reducing speckle noise are costly and complex to manufacture, as they require separate crystal growth and assembly of multiple elements, leading to increased costs and yield deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor laser device with a submount having specific thermal conductivity ratios in the horizontal and vertical directions, featuring multiple light emitting regions on a single element, where the distance between opening ends and the submount end is optimized to achieve different active layer temperatures, allowing for the generation of laser beams with varying wavelengths from a single element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple semiconductor laser elements with different wavelengths are used to reduce speckle noise, then the speckle noise is suppressed, but the manufacturing cost and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light emitting regions with different wavelengths into a single semiconductor laser element. The active layer includes multiple quantum well structures that emit different wavelengths (e.g., 635nm and 650nm red light), eliminating the need to assemble multiple separate laser elements while still achieving speckle noise reduction through wavelength mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The single semiconductor laser element performs multiple functions: it generates multiple wavelengths simultaneously from different light emitting regions within the same element, provides integrated heat dissipation through a unified submount structure, and reduces speckle noise all at once. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple semiconductor laser elements with different wavelengths are used to reduce speckle noise, then the speckle noise is suppressed, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light emitting regions into a single integrated semiconductor laser element structure. The active layer contains multiple quantum well regions that emit different wavelengths, and all regions share a common submount for heat dissipation and electrical connection, simplifying assembly to a single element mounting process rather than multiple element assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The active layer is segmented into multiple light emitting regions with different quantum well structures, each emitting a specific wavelength. This internal segmentation allows multiple wavelengths to be generated within a single element, avoiding the need to assemble multiple separate elements while still achieving wavelength diversity for speckle noise reduction.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple active layers are crystal grown on one substrate to obtain different wavelengths, then multiple wavelengths are obtained, but the crystal growth process becomes complicated and yield deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The active layer is divided into multiple light emitting regions with different quantum well structures grown in a single continuous crystal growth process. Each region has specific composition ratios (e.g., different AlGaInP compositions) that determine the emission wavelength, allowing multiple wavelengths to be obtained from one substrate without requiring multiple separate crystal growth runs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the active layer have locally optimized compositions and structures tailored to emit specific wavelengths. The quantum well regions have different thicknesses and material compositions (e.g., varying Al content in AlGaInP) to produce different emission wavelengths from the same continuous crystal structure, avoiding the need for multiple growth processes.
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 configuration enables the suppression of speckle noise at a lower cost and with simplified manufacturing, as it allows for the generation of multiple wavelengths from a single element, reducing manufacturing and assembly costs while maintaining effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a submount having a thermal conductivity of kx in a horizontal direction, and a thermal conductivity of ky in a vertical direction that is joined on a heat sink
Implementation Method 2
a submount having a thermal conductivity of kx in a horizontal direction, and a thermal conductivity of ky in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
a laser element having a plurality of light emitting regions resulting from a plurality of openings for a single laser element
Implementation Method 4
the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is changed such that the material composition and the film thickness of the active layer that is a light emitting layer are changed
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one opening of a plurality of openings 10a and 10b, the following inequality is satisfied:x≦½·t·(kx/ky)where x represents a minimum distance in a horizontal direction between an end of the one opening and an end of a submount 8, and t represents a thickness of the submount, andin at least one of the other openings different from the one opening, the following inequality is satisfied:x>½·t·(kx/ky).