Patent ID: 6614827
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: H01S,H04N

Abstract:
A laser for coupling light to the aperture of an optical fiber, said laser comprising:a first optical element having a concave reflective surface having a first radius of curvature and a convex transmissive surface having a second radius of curvature; a second reflector optically coupled to said first optical element, said concave reflective surface and said second reflector defining a vertical cavity resonator having an associated cavity length; a semiconductor laser body for generating a laser beam from said vertical cavity resonator, said laser body including a substrate region within said vertical cavity resonator and an active region disposed between said substrate region and said second reflective surface; and a first electrode disposed on a surface of said substrate remote from said active region and a second electrode disposed on said second reflector, said first and second electrodes cooperating to provide a flow of current through the substrate region and the active region for electrically pumping said laser; wherein: said convex transmissive surface of said first optical element is disposed between said optical fiber and said vertical cavity resonator; said cavity length is substantially proximate in value to said first radius of curvature for optimizing light output from said laser; and said first and second radius of curvature cooperate to focus said laser beam from the vertical cavity resonator into the aperture of the optical fiber.