skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Thermally robust semiconductor optical amplifiers and laser diodes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:874237
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Moraga, CA
  2. Danville, CA
  3. El Cerrito, CA
  4. Pleasanton, CA
  5. Manteca, CA
  6. Antioch, CA
+ Show Author Affiliations

A highly heat conductive layer is combined with or placed in the vicinity of the optical waveguide region of active semiconductor components. The thermally conductive layer enhances the conduction of heat away from the active region, which is where the heat is generated in active semiconductor components. This layer is placed so close to the optical region that it must also function as a waveguide and causes the active region to be nearly the same temperature as the ambient or heat sink. However, the semiconductor material itself should be as temperature insensitive as possible and therefore the invention combines a highly thermally conductive dielectric layer with improved semiconductor materials to achieve an overall package that offers improved thermal performance. The highly thermally conductive layer serves two basic functions. First, it provides a lower index material than the semiconductor device so that certain kinds of optical waveguides may be formed, e.g., a ridge waveguide. The second and most important function, as it relates to this invention, is that it provides a significantly higher thermal conductivity than the semiconductor material, which is the principal material in the fabrication of various optoelectronic devices.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Number(s):
US 6347106
OSTI ID:
874237
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Related Subjects

thermally
robust
semiconductor
optical
amplifiers
laser
diodes
highly
heat
conductive
layer
combined
placed
vicinity
waveguide
region
active
components
enhances
conduction
generated
close
function
causes
nearly
temperature
ambient
sink
material
insensitive
combines
dielectric
improved
materials
achieve
overall
package
offers
thermal
performance
serves
basic
functions
provides
index
device
kinds
waveguides
formed
ridge
relates
significantly
conductivity
principal
fabrication
optoelectronic
devices
semiconductor material
thermal conductivity
heat sink
semiconductor device
laser diode
optical waveguide
optical amplifier
heat conductive
semiconductor optical
/372/