Patent ID: 7330494

Claim:
A laser structure, comprising: an active region; a first electrical contact disposed on a first surface of said laser structure; a second electrical contact, said active region being disposed between said first and second electrical contacts; a first oxidizable layer, said first oxidizable layer being subject to physical change when exposed to an oxidizing agent; means for selectively exposing a portion of said first oxidizable layer to said oxidizing agent; a first unchanged region of said first oxidizable layer surrounded by a first changed region of said first oxidizable layer, said first unchanged region of said first oxidizable layer being aligned with a preselected region of said active region, said first changed region being electrically insulative, said first unchanged region being electrically conductive; wherein said means for selectively exposing includes at least one pit extending from said first surface of said laser structure into the body of said laser structure and through said first oxidizable layer to expose a portion of said oxidizable layer to said oxidizing agent during manufacture of said laser structure.