Patent ID: 7852895

Claim:
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser diode, comprising: a first Bragg reflector comprised of an n-type semiconductor material; an active layer provided on said first Bragg reflector; a p-type spacer layer provided on said active layer, said p-type spacer layer having a primary surface with a first area and a second area surrounding said first area; a heavily doped p-type mesa provided on said first area of said p-type spacer layer; a heavily doped n-type layer provided on said first area and said second area of said p-type spacer layer that covers a top and a side of said heavily doped p-type mesa; a first n-type spacer layer provided on said heavily doped n-type layer; a second Bragg reflector provided on said first n-type spacer layer, wherein said heavily doped p-type mesa and said heavily doped n-type layer forms a tunnel junction.