Patent ID: 8831062

Claim:
A semiconductor laser diode comprising: a semiconductor body having a n-region and a p-region laterally spaced apart within the semiconductor body; an active region between the n-region and the p-region having a front end and a back end; a first metallisation layer adjacent the n-region and having a first injector disposed thereon for injecting current into the active region; and a second metallisation layer opposite the first metallisation layer and adjacent the p-region and having a second injector disposed thereon for injecting current into the active region; wherein the thickness and/or width of at least one metallisation layer is chosen so as to control the current injection in a part of the active region near at least one end of the active region compared to the current injection in another part of the active region, and the width of the at least one metallisation layer is larger than the width of the active region; and wherein the active region comprises a flared portion near the front end, which is covered by a section of the at least one metallisation layer having reduced width and/or thickness.