Patent ID: 7596161

Claim:
A surface emitting laser having a light emitting surface, said laser comprising: a substrate; a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on said substrate; one of said semiconductor layers comprising an active layer having an active region therein; a first reflector located on one side of said active layer and a second reflector located on an opposite side of said active layer, at least one of said reflectors allowing a partial transmission of light energy therethrough; one of said semiconductor layers being a current controlling layer, said current controlling layer being penetrated by a plurality of hollow cavities; an aperture region in said current controlling layer which affects current flowing through said active region, said aperture region being defined by a conductive region in said current controlling layer bordered by oxidized regions in said current controlling layer, and wherein each of said oxidized regions bordering said aperture region surrounds one of said hollow cavities and wherein said aperture region has a shape and a size that are directly dependent upon shape and arrangement of said hollow cavities; and first and second electrodes located on said laser device to enable biasing of said active region.