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Sony patents laser chip with built-in curved mirror for better light control

Sony describes a laser device that combines a light-emitting chip with a lens-shaped structure and a reflective layer. The reflective layer sits on top of the curved lens to create a concave mirror, which helps shape and direct the emitted light.

Why it mattersThis design could improve how small lasers focus light, which is useful for technologies like optical data storage or high-speed communication.

In the filing’s own words

[Object] To provide a laser device that has a concave mirror structure and exhibits excellent optical characteristics, a laser device array, and a method of producing the laser device. [Solving Means] A laser device according to the present technology includes: a first light-reflecting layer; a second light-reflecting layer; and a stacked body. The stacked body includes an active layer, a lens being provided on a first surface on a side of the first light-reflecting layer. The lens has a lens shape protruding toward a side of the first light-reflecting layer with a first direction as a longitudinal direction and a second direction as a lateral direction, a central portion of the lens in the first direction having a first width that is the shortest width along the second direction, a non-central portion of the lens in the first direction having a second width that is the largest width along the second direction, the lens having a shape in which a height thereof is uniform or the central portion is higher than an end portion, a radius of curvature of an apex of the lens in the second direction being uniform. The first light-reflecting layer is stacked on the first surface to form a concave mirror having a concave surface shape on the lens.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A laser device, comprising: a first light-reflecting layer that reflects light of a specific wavelength; a second light-reflecting layer that reflects light of the wavelength; and a stacked body that includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer, is disposed between the first light-reflecting layer and the second light-reflecting layer, and has a first surface on a side of the first light-reflecting layer and a second surface on a side of the second light-reflecting layer, the first semiconductor layer being formed of a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, the second semiconductor layer being formed of a semiconductor material having a second conductivity type, the active layer being disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and emitting light by carrier recombination, a lens being provided on the first surface, the lens having a lens shape protruding toward a side of the first light-reflecting layer with a first direction as a longitudinal direction and a second direction as a lateral direction, the first direction being parallel to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis direction of emitted light, the second direction being parallel to the plane and orthogonal to the first direction, a central portion of the lens in the first direction having a first width that is the shortest width along the second direction, a non-central portion of the lens in the first direction having a second width that is the largest width along the second direction, the lens having a shape in which a height thereof from the plane is uniform or the central portion is higher than an end portion, a radius of curvature of an apex of the lens in the second direction being uniform, the first light-reflecting layer being stacked on the first surface to form a concave mirror having a concave surface shape on the lens.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title
Laser device, laser device array, and method of producing a laser device
Patent number
US12738713B2
Application number
18276717
Filed
Jan 11, 2022
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

H01S 5/18 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/026 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/3432 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/3434 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/34353 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/34373 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.