Patent ID: 6765948
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
An apparatus for optically coupling at least one surface-emitting laser to at least one edge-receiving optical device comprising:(a) an optical bench substrate having a mounting surface in the x-y coordinate plane, the mounting surface having a plurality of alignment features comprising a pair of x-direction stops and a pair of y direction stops defined therein; (b) an array comprising the at least one edge-receiving optical device, said array monolithically fabricated and mounted on the mounting surface of the optical bench substrate, wherein: each of the at least one edge-receiving optical device has an input edge in the x-z coordinate plane, each said input edge being perpendicular to both the mounting surface and to the substrate of the at least one edge-receiving optical device, whereby each of the at least one edge-receiving optical device is adapted to receive light traveling in the y direction into its input edge; and each of the at least one edge-receiving optical device is for conditioning light traveling in the y-direction and received at its input edge; and (c) the at least one surface-emitting laser, said at least one surface-emitting laser having a primary epi surface from which laser radiation is emitted in a direction perpendicular to the primary epi surface, a mounting edge perpendicular to the primary epi surface, and an active region parallel to the primary epi surface and perpendicular to the direction in which the laser radiation is emitted, the at least one surface-emitting laser being mounted at its mounting edge on the mounting surface in the plurality of alignment features, with the pair of x direction stops bounding the mounting edge and for securing the at least one surface-emitting laser from movement in the x direction and the pair of y direction stops bounding the mounting edge and for securing the at least one surface-emitting laser from movement in the y direction, further wherein the plurality of alignment features are positioned on said mounting surface with respect to the at least one edge-receiving optical device, so that the primary epi surface of the at least one surface-emitting laser is in the x-z coordinate plane and the at least one surface-emitting laser, when activated, will emit laser radiation in the y direction and into the input edge of the at least one edge-receiving optical device, respectively, whereby the at least one surface-emitting laser is directly optically coupled to the at least one edge-receiving optical device, respectively.