Patent ID: 6156582
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a top emitting, ridge VCSEL comprising the steps of:forming a first stack of mirrors and a second stack of mirrors with an active area sandwiched therebetween, the second stack of mirrors having an upper surface;forming a first metal contact layer on the upper surface of the second stack of mirrors, a layer of etchable material on the first metal contact layer and a layer of masking material on the layer of etchable material so as to form an etch mask defining the ridge VCSEL;etching the second stack of mirrors, using the etch mask, to form a ridge or mesa having a side surface;removing portions of the layer of etchable material to expose a first portion of the first metal contact layer;depositing a second metal contact layer on the side surface of the ridge or mesa and the exposed first portion of the first metal contact layer to define a light emitting area;removing the layers of etchable and masking materials to expose a second portion of the first metal contact layer in the light emitting area; andremoving the exposed second portion of the first metal contact layer to expose the light emitting area.