Coherent light generators – Particular active media – Semiconductor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-28
2003-02-18
Ip, Paul (Department: 2828)
Coherent light generators
Particular active media
Semiconductor
C372S068000, C372S043010, C372S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06522678
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array and its production method, and particularly to a multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array having approximately the same optical output levels of inducing kink and catastrophic optical damage (COD), and a fabrication method of the multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, optical disks such as CD (compact disk), DVD (digital versatile disk) and MD (mini disk) for storing information optically are frequently used as a high capacity storage medium capable of storing a large amount of information.
Information may be recorded on the optical disks and reproduced from the optical disks via an optical pick-up apparatus. Due to differences in storage densities, an optical pick-up apparatus for reproduction of the CD uses 780 nm wavelength laser light while an optical pick-up apparatus for reproduction of the DVD uses 650 nm wavelength laser light.
Lately, a compatible optical disk apparatus has been commanding considerable attention. The compatible optical disk apparatus is equipped with an optical pick-up apparatus capable of reproducing both the CD and the DVD, to replace an optical disk apparatus dedicated for the CD to reproduce the CD, or an optical disk apparatus dedicated for the DVD to reproduce the DVD.
As one of such optical pick-up apparatuses, there has been developed an optical pick-up apparatus equipped with a 780 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of an AlGaAs type three-element compound semiconductor emitting a laser light of 780 nm emission wavelength for reproducing the CD, and, a 650 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of an AlGaInP type four-element compound semiconductor emitting a laser light of 650 nm emission wavelength for reproducing the CD.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array will now be explained. The two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array comprises a compound semiconductor substrate, and a 780 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of an AlGaAs type three-element compound semiconductor and a 650 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of an AlGaInP type four-element compound semiconductor. Both semiconductor laser devices are fabricated on the compound semiconductor substrate.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view showing an overview of the two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array. For the sake of simplicity, an apparatus which comprises two semiconductor laser devices of a chip form monolithically disposed on the same substrate in parallel direction as shown in
FIG. 2
, is called a two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array in the instant specification.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array
10
comprises an embedded gain guide type 780 nm band semiconductor laser device
12
and an air ridge gain guide type 650 nm band semiconductor laser device
14
. Both semiconductor laser devices
12
and
14
are monolithically fabricated on the same compound semiconductor substrate
18
with being separated by a separation groove
16
.
Furthermore, a reflection film
20
is deposited at light emitting end faces of the both semiconductor laser devices
12
and
14
by depositing aluminum oxide (Al
2
O
3
).
However, there are problems in the above cited two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array
10
as follows.
One of the problems is that the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of AlGaInP type four-element compound semiconductor yields a lower optical output level at which a kink of an input-current vs. optical-output characteristic is observed in comparison with that of the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device consisting of AlGaAs type three-element compound semiconductor. That is, an input-current is limited to a small amount.
Furthermore, the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device also yields a lower optical output level at which COD (catastrophic optical damage) is induced in comparison with that of the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device.
Accordingly, it is difficult to operate both the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device and the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device together at the same optical output.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array having the same or approximately the same optical output levels of inducing kink and COD, and a fabrication method of the multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array.
The conventional two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array was examined for what was causing the lower optical output levels at which the kink and the COD are induced in the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device in comparison with the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device, and it was determined that one of the causes was due to an approximately same reflectivity at light emitting end faces of both the semiconductor laser devices.
In the conventional two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array
10
, a thickness of the reflection film
20
is determined to have the same reflectivity at the light emitting end faces of the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device and the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device. For example, as shown in
FIG. 3
, the thickness of the reflection film in the conventional two-wavelength semiconductor laser device array
10
may be selected to 225 nm whereby reflectivities of both the 780 nm band semiconductor laser device and the 650 nm band semiconductor laser device are 31%.
FIG. 3
is a graph showing a relationship between the thickness of reflection film at the light emitting end face and the reflectivity.
The present invention is achieved through experiments, and enables to provide the following to resolve the above-cited shortcomings. Namely, according to the present invention, it is found that the optical output level inducing the kink may be set to the same or approximately the same as the optical output level inducing the COD by adjusting a thickness of the reflection film fabricated on the light emitting end faces without any structural modification of a multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array. More particularly, the above cited shortcomings may be resolved by setting the reflection film thickness so as to have a higher reflectivity at the light emitting end face of a shorter emission wavelength semiconductor laser device and a lower reflectivity at the light emitting end face of a longer emission wavelength semiconductor laser device.
The object of the present invention may be achieved by a multiple wavelength semiconductor laser device array comprising a plurality of semiconductor laser devices of an end face emission type, emitting laser lights with wavelengths different from one another, the plurality of semiconductor laser devices being disposed on the same substrate, wherein a reflectivity at a light emitting end face in one of the plurality of semiconductor laser devices (called a first semiconductor laser device, hereafter) is less than that of another of the plurality of semiconductor laser devices (called a second semiconductor laser device, hereafter) an emission wavelength of the second semiconductor laser device being longer than that of the first semiconductor laser device.
The optical output level inducing the kink and the optical output level inducing the COD in the first semiconductor laser device may be increased by decreasing the reflectivity at the end face of the first semiconductor laser device (the shorter wavelength semiconductor laser device).
Furthermore, an operation current I
op
and a threshold current I
th
in the second semiconductor laser device may be decreased by increasing the reflectivity at the end face of the second semiconductor laser device (the longer wavelength semiconductor laser device).
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a thickness of the reflection films disposed on the light emitti
Ip Paul
Rodriguez Armando
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
Sony Corporation
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