Coherent light generators – Particular temperature control – Heat sink
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2003-10-21
Ip, Paul (Department: 2828)
Coherent light generators
Particular temperature control
Heat sink
C372S045013, C372S050121
Reexamination Certificate
active
06636538
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to lasers diodes and, in particular, to a package for a laser diode that is easy to manufacture, has a low thermal resistance, and requires no beryllium oxide.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Semiconductor laser diodes have numerous advantages. They are small in that the widths of their active regions are typically submicron to a few microns and their heights are usually no more than a fraction of a millimeter. The length of their active regions is typically less than about a millimeter. The internal reflective surfaces, which produce emission in one direction, are formed by cleaving the substrate from which the laser diodes are produced and, thus, have high mechanical stability.
High efficiencies are possible with semiconductor laser diodes with some pulsed junction laser diodes having external quantum efficiencies near 50%. Semiconductor lasers produce radiation at wavelengths from about 20 to about 0.7 microns depending on the semiconductor alloy that is used. For example, laser diodes made of gallium arsenide with aluminum doping (AlGaAs) emit radiation at approximately 0.8 microns (~800 nm) which is near the absorption spectrum of common solid state laser rods and slabs made from Neodymium doped, Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG), and other crystals and glasses. Thus, semiconductor laser diodes can be used as the optical pumping source for larger; solid state laser systems.
Universal utilization of semiconductor laser diodes has been restricted by thermally related problems. These problems are associated with the large heat dissipation per unit area of the laser diodes which results in elevated junction temperatures and stresses induced by thermal cycling. Laser diode efficiency and the service life of the laser diode is decreased as the operating temperature in the junction increases.
Furthermore, the emitted wavelength of a laser diode is a function of its junction temperature. Thus, when a specific output wavelength is desired, maintaining a constant junction temperature is essential. For example, AlGaAs laser diodes that are used to pump a Nd:YAG rod or slab should emit radiation at about 808 nm since this is the wavelength at which optimum energy absorption exists in the Nd:YAG. But, for every 3.5° C. to 4.0° C. deviation in the junction temperature of the AlGaAs laser diode, the wavelength shifts 1 nm. Accordingly, controlling the junction temperature and, thus, properly dissipating the heat is critical.
When solid state laser rods or slabs are pumped by laser diodes, dissipation of the heat becomes more problematic since it becomes necessary to densely pack a plurality of individual diodes into arrays which generate the required amounts of input power for the larger, solid state laser rod or slab. However, when the packing density of the individual laser diodes is increased, the space available for extraction of heat from the individual laser diodes decreases. This aggravates the problem of heat extraction from the arrays of individual diodes.
To remove heat from the laser diodes, some laser diode array packages have used beryllium oxide which has a relatively high thermal conductivity while being electrically insulative. One known commercially available package which attempts to resolve these thermally-related problems by use of beryllium oxide is produced by Laser Diode Array Inc. of Auburn, N.Y. This package generally includes a beryllium oxide structure into which a plurality of grooves are cut, etched or sawed. A metallized layer extends from groove to groove to conduct electricity through the laser diodes that are within the grooves.
However, beryllium oxide is a hazardous material and requires additional care in handling. This is especially true when the beryllium oxide is being mechanically processed (e.g. cutting or sawing) which produces airborne particles of the beryllium oxide. Because it requires additional care in handling and shipping (e.g. additional BeO warning labels), it is relatively expensive when considering the cost of the overall laser diode array package. Additionally, once the laser diode bar is placed within the groove, its reflective surface is not accessible for cleaning after the array has been assembled. Furthermore, it is difficult to test an individual laser diode bar before it is placed in the grooves. Thus, a laser diode bar lacking the desired operational characteristics for a specific array must often be removed from a groove after it has been installed.
A need exists for a thermally efficient laser diode package which is easy to assemble and test, and which preferably lacks the hazardous beryllium oxide.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a laser diode package that includes a heat sink, a laser diode, and an electrically nonconductive (i.e. insulative) substrate. The laser diode has an emitting surface and a reflective surface opposing the emitting surface. The laser diode further has first and second side surfaces between the emitting and reflective surfaces. The heat sink has an upper surface and a lower surface. The first side surface of the laser diode is attached to the heat sink adjacent to the upper surface of the heat sink. The substrate is attached to the lower surface of the heat sink.
Preferably, the heat sink is made of heat conducting metal such as copper and the substrate is primarily made from gallium arsenide. The substrate is soldered to the heat sink as is the laser diode. In one embodiment, the heat sink is coated with a layer of solder such that at least its surfaces that will contact the laser diode and the substrate are “pretinned.” The laser diode and substrate are then attached to the heat sink during one soldering step in which the heat sink is heated above the melting point of the solder layer on its surface.
The exposed second side surface of the laser diode preferably includes a layer of solder so that two packages can be joined. Accordingly, the heat sink of a first package is placed in contact with the laser diode bar of a second adjacent package. The packages are then heated to a point where the solder layer on the laser diode reflows and the laser diode of the second package becomes integral with the heat sink of the adjacent first package. To avoid reflowing all solder present in the package, the solder layer on the laser diode is a lower melting temperature solder than the other resident solders of the package. Numerous individual packages can be made integral in such a fashion resulting in a multi-bar laser diode array.
A laser diode package and a laser diode array that are constructed in this manner lack the hazardous beryllium oxide. More importantly, each individual package has its own electrical isolation and can be directly soldered to an ultimate heat sink. Furthermore, each individual package can be tested on its own before being placed in an array to ensure that it will function within the operational parameters (e.g. wavelength and power) desired for such an array. When the substrate is made of a cleaveable material such as GaAs, it can be produced with relatively small dimensions thereby minimizing the thermal resistance between the laser diode and the ultimate heat sink. The resulting laser diode package can be used for continuous wave (CW) modes of operation or for pulsed modes of operation.
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Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc.
Ip Paul
Jackson Cornelius H
Jenkens & Gilchrist
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