Patent ID: 6546038
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B82Y,H01S

Abstract:
A semiconductor surface-emitting element having a light-emitting portion and formed of a plurality of semiconductor layers including a plurality of light-generating layers of a quantum well structure for generating lights having respective different emission spectra whose peak wavelengths are different from one another, and a pair of reflecting layers between which said plurality of light-generating layers are interposed for reflecting said lights generated by said plurality of light-generating layers, said pair of reflecting layers functioning as a light resonator, said semiconductor surface-emitting element emitting a light resonated by said light resonator from said light-emitting portion, wherein the improvement comprises:a first of said plurality of light-generating layers formed of a first predetermined thickness which corresponds to an emission spectrum having a shortest peak wavelength such that said shortest peak wavelength is substantially equal to a light resonance wavelength of said light resonator at a predetermined maximum operating temperature of said semiconductor surface-emitting element, so that said shortest peak wavelength is substantially equal to said light resonance wavelength of said light resonator at said predetermined maximum operating temperature, while a second of said plurality of light-generating layers is formed of a second predetermined thickness which corresponds to an emission spectrum having a longest peak wavelength such that said longest peak wavelength is substantially equal to said light resonance wavelength of said light resonator at a predetermined minimum operating temperature of said semiconductor surface-emitting element, so that said longest peak wavelength is substantially equal to said light resonance wavelength of said light resonator at said predetermined minimum operating temperature.