Patent ID: 6611539
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A wavelength tunable semiconductor vertical cavity surface emitting laser comprising:a) a substrate; b) a bottom mirror formed by a Bragg reflector region above the substrate; c) an active element that includes: i) a light generating layer that emits light when exposed to an injection current when a forward bias is applied, ii) a first n-doped current spreading region above the substrate and below the light generating layer, iii) a first p-doped current spreading region above the light generating layer, iv) a first current aperture placed between each neighboring region, and v) an active element bias control device between the n-doped current spreading region and the p-doped current spreading region such that current can be injected into the light generating layer to generate light; d) a phase control element that includes: i) a modulating layer located above the first p-doped current spreading region that modulates the wavelength of light when exposed either to an electric field when a reverse bias is applied, or to an injection current when a forward bias is applied due to position-dependent electro-optical effect, ii) a second n-doped current spreading region above the modulating layer, iii) a second current aperture placed between each neighboring region, and iv) a phase control element bias control device between the second n-doped current spreading region and the first p-doped current spreading region such that an electrical field can be created that causes the modulating layer to modulate the wavelength of light; and e) a top mirror formed by a Bragg reflector region above the second n-doped current spreading region.