VECSEL Mirror Element Pump Radiation Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optically-pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser devices require time-consuming and bulky setups for aligning pump lasers, leading to complex and inefficient manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
The integration of pump vertical cavity surface-emitting laser diodes (VCSELs) with a mirror element that directs pump radiation onto the active region of the VECSEL, acting as both the external mirror and focusing element, allowing for automatic alignment and a compact design, with the option of integration on the same chip or separate chips for reduced manufacturing costs and dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separated mounting and alignment of pump lasers to the VECSEL resonator is used, then the pump radiation can be directed to the active region, but the alignment process becomes time-consuming and the module size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump laser diodes and the VECSEL resonator onto a single semiconductor chip, eliminating the need for separate mounting and alignment of pump lasers to the resonator. This integration directly resolves the alignment complexity and production time issues by making the components permanently positioned relative to each other at the wafer level.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor chip serves multiple functions: it acts as the substrate for growing the VECSEL layer sequence, provides the mounting platform for pump laser diodes, and enables direct optical coupling between the pump sources and the active region. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate alignment procedures.
2Ease of operation
If separated mounting and alignment of pump lasers is performed, then the pump radiation can be focused on the active region, but the module becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump laser diodes and VECSEL resonator onto a single semiconductor chip, dramatically reducing the overall module volume. The integrated design eliminates the need for bulky external mounting structures and alignment mechanisms, achieving a compact configuration while maintaining proper optical coupling.
3Productivity
If wafer-level integration of pump laser diodes and VECSEL layer sequence is performed, then manufacturing efficiency increases, but precise alignment of pump radiation with the active region becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning of the pump laser diodes relative to the VECSEL layer sequence during wafer fabrication, before the actual laser operation. The pump laser diodes are pre-aligned to the active region using the semiconductor wafer as a common reference plane, ensuring correct optical coupling is established before devices are separated and packaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor wafer structure provides self-alignment features that automatically position the pump laser diodes and VECSEL layer sequence in the correct relative orientations. The common wafer substrate acts as a self-service alignment reference, eliminating the need for complex external alignment procedures during assembly.
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 solution enables easier alignment of pump optics, reduces manufacturing complexity, and achieves a compact design while maintaining exceptional brightness and efficiency, allowing for the production of thousands of micro-VECSELs in parallel with improved alignment tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
The pump laser diodes are arranged to optically pump the active region of the VECSEL by reflection of pump radiation at a mirror element
Implementation Method 2
The mirror element is designed to concentrate the pump radiation in the active region
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an optically pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser device comprising at least one VECSEL (200) and several pump laser diodes(300). The pump laser diodes(300) are arranged to optically pump the active region (108) of the VECSEL (200) by reflection of pump radiation (310) at a mirror element (400). The mirror element (400) is arranged on the optical axis (210) of the VECSEL (200) and is designed to concentrate the pump radiation (310) in the active region (108) and to form at the same time the external mirror of the VECSEL (200). The proposed device avoids time consuming adjustment ofthe pump lasers relative to the active region of the VECSEL and allows a very compact design of the laser device.