David Heald

High-power high-brightness 980-nm lasers based on the extended cavity surface emitting lasers concept

We describe design and performance of novel, electrically pumped, vertical compound cavity semiconductor lasers emitting at 980 nm. The laser combines a vertical cavity semiconductor laser with a partially reflecting output coupler and an external cavity for mode control. The concept is scalable and has been demonstrated in monolithic low power (few miliwatts) devices all the way to high power extended cavity devices which generate over 950 mW CW multimode power and 0.5 W CW power in a TEM00 mode, the latter with 90% coupling efficiency into a single mode telecommunication fiber. The concept has been applied to the development of uncooled lasers, mounted in TO-56 cans, capable of producing 50 to 100 mW of fiber-coupled power. We have also demonstrated the extended cavity lasers at wavelengths of 920 nm and 1064 nm. We present reliability data for the chips used in the extended cavity lasers.

Novel 980-nm and 490-nm light sources using vertical cavity lasers with extended coupled cavities

We have developed novel electrically pumped, surface-emitting lasers emitting at 980 nm with an extended coupled cavity. The concept is scalable from monolithic low power devices all the way to high power extended cavity lasers. The latter have demonstrated 1W cw multi-mode and 0.5 W cw in a TEM00 mode and a single frequency, with 90% coupling efficiency into a single-mode fiber. By inserting a nonlinear optical medium in the external cavity, efficient and compact frequency doubling has been achieved with CW output powers 5-40 mW demonstrated at 490 nm. The latter devices are especially noteworthy due to their very low noise, sub 10 μrad beam pointing stability combined with small size, low power consumption and high efficiency.

The iMoD display: considerations and challenges in fabricating MOEMS on large area glass substrates

QUALCOMM has developed and transferred to manufacturing iMoD displays, a MEMS-based reflective display technology. The iMoD array architecture allows for development at wafer scale, yet easily scales up to enable fabrication on flat-panel display (FPD) lines. In this paper, we will describe the device operation, process flow and fabrication, technology transfer issues, and display performance.

Novel 980-nm and 490-nm light sources using vertical-cavity lasers with extended coupled cavities

We have developed novel electrically pumped, surface-emitting lasers emitting at 980 nm with an extended coupled cavity. The concept is scalable from monolithic low power (~10 mW) devices all the way to high power extended cavity lasers. The latter have demonstrated ~1 W cw multi-mode and 0.5 W cw in a TEM00 mode and a single frequency, with 90% coupling efficiency into a single-mode fiber. By inserting a nonlinear optical medium in the external cavity, efficient and compact frequency doubling has been achieved with CW output powers 5-40 mW demonstrated at 490 nm. The latter devices are especially noteworthy due to their very low noise (0.05% rms from dc-2 MHz), sub 10 mrad beam pointing stability combined with small size, low power consumption (<10 W) and high efficiency.

High-brightness 980-nm pump lasers based on the Novalux extended cavity surface-emitting laser (NECSEL) concept

We describe design, fabrication and performance of novel, electrically pumped, vertical compound cavity InGaAs lasers emitting at 980 and 920 nm. The concept is scalable and has been demonstrated using monolithic low power (~10 mW) devices all the way to high power extended cavity devices which have demonstrated 1 W cw multi-mode and 0.5 W cw in a TEM00 mode and a single frequency, with 90% coupling efficiency into a single-mode fiber. We also describe uncooled vertical compound cavity lasers in TO-56 can packages which produce 50-100 mW of fiber coupled power. Finally, recent developments in intracavity frequency doubling are summarized.

71.2: Distinguished Paper: iMoD™ Display Manufacturing

QUALCOMM has developed and transferred to manufacturing iMoD Displays, a MEMS-based reflective display technology. The iMoD array architecture allows for development at wafer scale, yet easily scales-up to enable fabrication on flat-panel display (FPD) lines. In this paper, we will describe the device operation, process flow and fabrication, technology transfer issues, and display performance.