Patent ID: 7974327

Claim:
A surface emitting laser element array comprising: a plurality of surface emitting laser elements formed in an array pattern on a top surface of a substrate, wherein each of the surface emitting laser elements includes a lower DBR mirror formed on the substrate, a lower cladding layer formed on the lower DBR mirror, an active layer formed on the lower cladding layer, an upper cladding layer formed on the active layer, an upper DBR mirror, a mesa post formed of a layered structure including at least the active layer, the upper cladding layer, and the upper DBR mirror, a first electrode formed on a first side of the substrate, a second electrode formed on the first side of the substrate, the second electrode having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode, and a third electrode formed on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side of the substrate, the third electrode having a polarity the same as that of the second electrode, the third electrode is a common electrode for the surface emitting laser elements, an electric current is applied to the active layer through the first electrode and the second electrode, the lower DBR mirror includes a semi-insulating first lower DBR mirror formed on the substrate, and an electrically-conductive second lower DBR mirror formed on the first lower DBR mirror, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode.