Patent ID: 7561606

Claim:
A semiconductor laser comprising: a substrate; a first clad layer of a first conduction type on said substrate; an active layer on said first clad layer; a second clad layer of a second conduction type on said active layer; and a contact layer of the second conduction type on said second clad layer, wherein, an upper portion of each of said second clad layer and said contact layer is provided with a pair of grooves in parallel to each other and at a predetermined interval so as to form a ridge therebetween, an electrode on the second conduction type side is formed only on said ridge, an insulation layer is provided on side surfaces of said ridge, on the inside of said grooves, and on said contact layer in the areas on the outside of said grooves, and the thickness of those portions of said insulation layer which are located on said contact layer in said areas on the outside of said grooves is greater than at least the thickness of said electrode on the second conduction type side, a pad electrode is formed to cover said electrode on the second conduction type side and to extend on said insulation layer on the upper side of said areas on the outside of said grooves, and the upper surfaces of those portions of said pad electrode which are located on the upper side of said areas on the outside of said grooves are located above the upper surface of that portion of said pad electrode which is located on the upper side of said ridge, and said second conduction type electrode covers said contact layer of the second conduction type and said insulating layer.