Sony patents laser using tiny structures to control light direction
Sony has filed a patent for a surface-emitting laser that uses a special layer called a metasurface to trap light. This layer allows engineers to adjust how light moves sideways within the device, giving them more control over the laser's performance.
In the filing’s own words
To provide a surface-emitting laser with a high degree of freedom in setting an effective refractive index distribution in an in-plane direction of a light-trapping structure. A surface-emitting laser according to the present technique includes a resonator including: first and second reflecting structures; and an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, wherein the resonator includes, between a surface of the first reflecting structure on an opposite side to a side of the active layer and the active layer and/or between a surface of the second reflecting structure on an opposite side to a side of the active layer and the active layer, a metasurface for generating in an in-plane direction an effective refractive index distribution that traps light. With the surface-emitting laser according to the present technique, a surface-emitting laser with a high degree of freedom in setting an effective refractive index distribution in an in-plane direction of a light-trapping structure can be provided.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A surface-emitting laser, comprising a resonator that includes: first and second reflecting structures; and an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, wherein the resonator includes, between a surface of the first reflecting structure on an opposite side to a side of the active layer and the active layer and/or between a surface of the second reflecting structure on an opposite side to a side of the active layer and the active layer, a metasurface for generating in an in-plane direction an effective refractive index distribution that traps light.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
- Official title
- SURFACE-EMITTING LASER
- Publication number
- US20260269567A1
- Application number
- 19164416
- Filed
- Feb 19, 2024
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 32
Classified under
H01S 5/18308 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/18361 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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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.