Patent ID: 7678596
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a monolithic semiconductor laser device including first and second semiconductor lasers, the method comprising: forming a first lower cladding layer, a first active layer, a first upper cladding layer, a first etching stopper layer, a second upper cladding layer, and a first contact layer of said first semiconductor laser, on a semiconductor substrate; forming a second lower cladding layer, a second active layer, a third upper cladding layer, a second etching stopper layer, a fourth upper cladding layer, and a second contact layer of said second semiconductor laser interelement-separated from said first semiconductor laser, on said semiconductor substrate so that total thickness of said fourth upper cladding layer and said second contact layer is smaller than total thickness of said second upper cladding layer and said first contact layer; applying a resist covering all of said first and second contact layers and patterning said resist to form openings at said first and second semiconductor lasers; simultaneously forming first and second ridges of parts of said second upper cladding layer and said first contact layer, and parts of said fourth upper cladding layer and said second contact layer, respectively, by dry etching, using said resist as a mask, and stopping the dry etching when said second etching stopper layer is exposed at said second ridge by the dry etching; and selectively removing said second upper cladding layer remaining on said first etching stopper layer at said first ridge, by wet etching, using said resist as a mask.