Side-view Laser Element with Metallic Cladding for Crack Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional semiconductor laser elements with aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) cladding layers face issues of fragmentation and poor crystal quality, affecting yield and product life due to the need for precise thickness control to prevent weakened light confinement and cracking.
Innovation Solution
A side-view light emitting laser element design featuring electrode layers with improved refractive indices, including silver or aluminum layers, and insulation/conductive layers to enhance light confinement and prevent cracking, with a resonant cavity defined by overlapping light reflection surfaces for efficient light oscillation and emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) is used as cladding layers, then light confinement ability is improved, but crystal quality deteriorates and fragmentation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from AlGaN to silver or aluminum for cladding layers, which have different optical and mechanical properties. This parameter change maintains light confinement ability through high refractive index while eliminating the crystal quality issues and fragmentation problems associated with AlGaN.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures by combining silver or aluminum cladding layers with semiconductor laser layers. This composite approach allows the metallic cladding layers to provide both optical confinement and mechanical stability, resolving the contradiction between light confinement and crystal quality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cladding layer thickness is increased, then light confinement ability is improved, but cracking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from semiconductor material to silver or aluminum for cladding layers. These materials have superior mechanical strength and ductility, allowing the cladding layers to achieve adequate light confinement without the cracking issues that occur when increasing the thickness of traditional semiconductor cladding layers.
3Ease of manufacture
If cladding layer thickness is decreased, then manufacturing ease is improved, but light confinement ability weakens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to silver or aluminum, which have different optical properties including higher refractive indices. This allows the cladding layers to achieve effective light confinement at reduced thicknesses, thereby easing manufacturing requirements while maintaining optical performance.
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 increases light confinement ability and extends product life by preventing cracking while maintaining effective light emission, improving upon the limitations of traditional semiconductor laser elements.
Implementation Method 1
The first extending portion has a first light reflection surface which is disposed on one surface of the first extending portion opposite to the support substrate. The second extending portion has a second light reflection surface which is disposed on one surface of the second extending portion facing towards the support substrate.
Implementation Method 2
A resonant cavity is defined between the second light reflection surface and the first light reflection surface for confining light waves and repeatedly oscillating the light waves so as to convert and discharge laser lights from the resonant cavity outwardly.
Implementation Method 3
A first refractive index of the first electrode layer and a second refractive index of the second electrode layer are between 1 and 0, respectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A side-view light emitting laser element includes a support substrate, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emitting multilayer unit sandwiched between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is disposed on the support substrate. The second electrode layer is disposed on the first electrode layer. The light emitting multilayer unit includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and an activating layer sandwiched between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. A first refractive index of the first electrode layer and a second refractive index of the second electrode layer are between 1 and 0, respectively.