Coherent light generators – Particular resonant cavity – Distributed feedback
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-11
2004-09-21
Jackson, Jerome (Department: 2815)
Coherent light generators
Particular resonant cavity
Distributed feedback
C372S098000, C372S075000, C372S069000, C372S044010, C372S045013, C372S046012, C372S050121
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795477
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to photonic devices in general, and more particularly to tunable lasers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In pending prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/105,399, filed Jun. 26, 1998 by Parviz Tayebati et al. for MICROELECTROMECHANICALLY TUNABLE, CONFOCAL, VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASER AND FABRY-PEROT FILTER, and in pending prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/543,31, filed Apr. 5, 2000 by Peidong Wang et al. for SINGLE MODE OPERATION OF MICROMECHANICALLY TUNABLE, HALF-SYMMETRIC, VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASERS, which patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference, there are disclosed tunable Fabry-Perot filters and tunable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL's).
More particularly, and looking now at
FIG. 1
, there is shown a tunable vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)
5
formed in accordance with the aforementioned U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 09/105,399 and 09/543,318. VCSEL
5
generally comprises a substrate
10
, a bottom mirror
20
mounted to the top of substrate
10
, a gain medium (or “active region”)
23
mounted to the top of bottom mirror
20
, a bottom electrode
15
mounted to the top of grain medium.
23
, a thin support
25
atop bottom electrode
15
, a top electrode
30
fixed to the underside of thin support
25
, a reinforcer
35
fixed to the outside perimeter of thin support
25
, and a confocal top mirror
40
set atop thin support
25
, with an air cavity
45
being formed between bottom mirror
20
and top mirror
40
.
As a result of this construction, when active region
23
is appropriately stimulated, e.g., by optical pumping or electrical current, lasing can be established within air cavity
45
, between top mirror
40
and bottom mirror
20
. Furthermore, by applying an appropriate voltage across top electrode
30
and bottom electrode
15
, the position of top mirror
40
can be changed relative to bottom mirror
20
, whereby to change the length of the laser's resonant cavity, and hence tune VCSEL
5
.
The present invention is directed to VCSEL's which are constructed so as to have their active region stimulated by optical pumping.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for modulating the output of an optically pumped, tunable VCSEL.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for modulating the output of an optically pumped, tunable VCSEL by modulating the pump laser.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for modulating the output of an optically pumped, tunable VCSEL by modulating a voltage applied across the active region.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are addressed by the present invention.
In one form of the invention, there is provided a method for modulating the output of an optically pumped, tunable VCSEL, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (1) optically pumping the VCSEL with a pump laser so as to cause the VCSEL to generate an output; and (2) modulating the output light power of the pump laser so as to modulate the carrier population in the VCSEL's active region whereby to modulate the output of the VCSEL.
In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for modulating the output of an optically pumped, tunable VCSEL, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (1) optically pumping the VCSEL with a pump laser so as to cause the VCSEL to generate an output; and (2) applying a voltage across the active region so as to alter the optical power circulating in the VCSEL's cavity, whereby to increase or decrease the output power of the VCSEL.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5295209 (1994-03-01), Huber
patent: 5914976 (1999-06-01), Jayaraman et al.
patent: 5933444 (1999-08-01), Molva et al.
patent: 5991318 (1999-11-01), Caprara et al.
patent: 5991326 (1999-11-01), Yuen et al.
patent: 6088376 (2000-07-01), O'Brien
patent: 6285704 (2001-09-01), Kullander-Sjoberg et al.
Tayebati Parviz
Vakhshoori Daryoosh
Cortek Inc.
Jackson Jerome
Nguyen Joseph
Steubing McGuinness & Manaras LLP
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