Patent ID: 8018980

Claim:
A laser diode device comprising: a substrate having a lower surface and an upper surface, wherein a height of the substrate is defined by a distance between the lower surface and the upper surface; a region disposed within the substrate and including a fusible metal characterized by a solid state and a liquid state, the region having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, wherein the upper surface of the region is flush with the upper surface of the substrate and the lower surface of the region is separated from the upper surface of the region by a first distance that is less than the height of the substrate; a cover plate disposed on the substrate, the cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface in contact with the upper surface of the substrate and the upper surface of the region; and a laser diode coupled to the top surface of the cover plate, wherein when in the liquid state the fusible metal is confined within the region during operation of the laser diode.