Patent ID: 6618417
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A ridge waveguide semiconductor laser diode comprising:a semiconductor substrate, a front facet and a back facet; at least one active layer disposed over said semiconductor substrate and disposed between said front and back facets, said at least one active layer having a surface, and at least one cladding layer disposed over said at least one active layer and disposed between said front and back facets and having a ridge structure part and an underlying remaining part, said remaining part overlying substantially an entire surface of said active layer and having a thickness D, and wherein the laser diode emits a beam of light from its front facet when operated, the beam having a maximum power level substantially at its center and a peripheral edge where the power level of the beam is a fraction {fraction (1/e2)} of the maximum power level, wherein â€œeâ€  is the base of the natural logarithm, the peripheral edge of the beam having a vertical width W as measured at the front facet and in a direction which is perpendicular to the surface of the at least one active layer, and wherein said thickness D has a value in the range of: 1.1Ã—W>D&gE;WÃ—0.5.