Patent ID: 7112460

Claim:
A method for producing a semiconductor laser device, the method comprising the steps of: forming a first and a second electrode on opposite faces of the semiconductor substrate on which a semiconductor thin film including the active layer is laminated; defining a light emitting surface on a side face of the semiconductor substrate to which the active layer and an edge of at least one of the electrodes is exposed; and forming a protective film on the light emitting surface by vapor deposition; wherein the protective film forming step comprises the step of masking the edge of the at least one of the electrodes with a jig spaced a predetermined distance from the edge of the at least one of the electrodes so as to indirectly shield the edge of the at least one of the electrodes from a vapor deposition source during the vapor deposition, whereby the protective film is formed as having a smaller thickness on the edge of the at least one of the electrodes than on the active layer.