Patent ID: 6970491

Claim:
A method for packaging a surface emitting laser, the method comprising: attaching a laser to a first substrate, wherein the laser emits a laser beam from a surface of the laser; attaching a photo detector to the first substrate, wherein the photo detector receives light from the laser; and attaching a second substrate to the first substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate enclose the laser and the photo detector in a cavity, wherein one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes at least one lens element, wherein the at least one lens element is constructed and positioned with respect to the laser to shape and direct the laser beam into a light guide, wherein the step of attaching the photo detector to the substrate includes aligning the photo detector so that the photo detector receives light from an edge of the laser, and wherein the step of aligning the photo detector includes aligning the photo detector so that the photo detector receives light directly from the edge of the laser.