Microlenses for multibeam arrays of optoelectronic devices for high frequency operation

1. An optical device, comprising:

a monolithic laser array including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) devices and a plurality of raised inactive regions on an electrical contact, the VCSEL devices being arranged in a pattern on a substrate of the laser array, each of the VCSEL devices generating a beam of light having an axis; and

a plurality of refractive micro lenses formed within the substrate, each microlens among the plurality of microlenses being located over a corresponding VCSEL device, each microlens in a set of microlenses among the plurality of microlenses being positioned over each corresponding VCSEL device at an offset relative to the axis of the VCSEL device so as collimate or concentrate the beam of light emitted by the corresponding VCSEL device to a target or for scanning without requiring optical elements external to the laser array to collimate or concentrate the light for illumination of the target.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link.

3. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the offset is a distance from the axis of the corresponding VCSEL device that is necessary to cause the beam of light to converge or diverge on the target or for scanning.

4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the distance is based on a desired angular deviation of the beam of light.

5. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a driver circuit for powering the laser array, wherein the pattern includes two or more subarrays of VCSEL devices, wherein each subarray among the two or more subarrays is independently powered and modulated for operation by the driver circuit, and wherein the microlenses for the corresponding VCSEL devices of each subarray are positioned as a group for directing a subarray beam of light from each subarray to the target or for scanning.

6. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different area of the receiver, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to actively scan the receiver to identify the subarray or combination of subarrays that provides a best link performance at the receiver.

7. The optical device of claim 6 , wherein each subarray and combination of subarrays is sequentially operated by the driver circuit.

8. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a linear area in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the linear area of space at discrete intervals.

9. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a two-dimensional pattern in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the two-dimensional pattern in space at discrete intervals.

10. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein one or more microlenses among the plurality of microlenses have a different radius of curvature from other microlenses among the plurality of microlenses, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a three-dimensional volume in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the three-dimensional volume in space at discrete intervals.

11. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a common point, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit generates a combined subarray beam of light at the common point that varies in strength.

12. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, and wherein the strength of the combine subarray beam of light is varied as needed to maintain a quality link with the receiver.

13. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed in a common direction, but each subarray beam of light is focused at a different distance to maintain a quality link with the receiver.

14. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays in different combinations by the driver circuit enables a quality link to be maintained during movement of the transmitter or receiver.

15. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein the transmitter is directed as a second receiver, wherein a second transmitter is directed at the receiver, and wherein and the transmitter and the receiver are located at a fixed distance apart and operate as a transceiver.

16. The optical device of claim 15 , further including a low bandwidth link between the transmitter and the receiver that provides feedback on a performance of optical links between the transmitter and the second receiver and the second transmitter and the receiver.

17. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein the driver circuit for the transmitter operates one or more subarrays separately or in combination based on the performance to improve the performance.

18. The optical device of claim 17 , wherein the driver circuit for the transmitter operates one or more subarrays separately or in combination based on the fixed distance, and a geometry between the transmitter and the second receiver and the second transmitter and the receiver.

19. The optical device of claim 15 , wherein the transceiver is coupled with additional transceivers to form an optical switch or optical router.

20. The optical device of claim 5 , wherein the two or more subarrays are formed on the substrate.

21. The optical device of claim 20 , further comprising a submount including two or more electrical contacts, each electrical contact being bonded to a subarray and connecting the subarray to the driver circuit through an impedance matching transmission line built into the submount for providing transmission of high data rate optical signals from the driver circuit to the subarray.

22. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein one or more of the plurality of microlenses included kinematic features that are transparent to an infrared wavelength of the beam of light and that align the transmitter with the receiver.

23. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein pattern forms a profile.

24. The optical device of claim 23 , wherein the profile is hemispherical.

25. The optical device of claim 23 , wherein the profile is aspheric.

26. The optical device of claim 23 , wherein the profile is holographic.

27. The optical device of claim 23 , wherein the profile is astigmatic.

28. The optical device of claim 23 , wherein the profile is a polarization control optic.

29. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a focal point for the beam of light emitted by the corresponding VCSEL devices is a virtual focus located behind the laser array.

30. The optical device of claim 29 , wherein the virtual focus acts as a source for another optical system.

31. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a current source configured to deliver a total current to the plurality of VCSEL devices; and

an electronic circuit including one or more switches for distributing the total current to zero or more of the VCSEL devices among the plurality of VCSEL devices, the electronic circuit being configured to generate an output power from a single VCSEL device among the optical sources that is eye-safe when the total current is distributed to only the single VCSEL device and to generate a combined optical power from two or more VCSEL devices that is eye-safe when the total current is distributed to two or more VCSEL devices.

32. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the target includes two or more targets, wherein the beams of light emitted by a first group of one or more VCSEL devices are focused on a first target, and at least the beams of light emitted by a second group of one or more VCSEL devices are focused on a second target.

33. The optical device of claim 32 , wherein the first target and the second target form a line.

34. The optical device of claim 32 , wherein the two or more targets form a geometric pattern.

35. An optical device, comprising:

a monolithic laser array including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) devices and a plurality of raised inactive regions on an electrical contact, the VCSEL devices being arranged in a pattern on a first substrate of the laser array, each of the VCSEL devices generating a beam of light having an axis; and

a plurality of refractive microlenses formed within a second substrate bonded to the first substrate, each microlens among the plurality of microlens being located over a corresponding VCSEL device, each microlens in a sect of microlenses among the plurality of microlenses being positioned over each corresponding VCSEL device at an offset relative to the axis of the VCSEL devices so as directing a beam of light emitted by the corresponding VCSEL device to a target or for scanning without requiring optical elements external to the laser array to collimate or concentrate the beam of light emitted by the corresponding VCSEL device to a target or for scanning.

36. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link.

37. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein the offset is a distance from the axis of the corresponding VCSEL device that is necessary to cause the beam of light to converge or diverge on the target or for scanning.

38. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein the distance is based on a desired angular deviation of the beam of light.

39. The optical device of claim 35 , further comprising a driver circuit for powering the laser array, wherein the pattern includes two or more subarrays of VCSEL devices, wherein each subarray among the two or more subarrays is independently powered and modulated for operation by the driver circuit, and wherein the microlenses for the corresponding VCSEL devices of each subarray are positioned as a group for directing a subarray beam of light from each subarray to the target or for scanning.

40. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the two or more subarrays are formed on the first substrate.

41. The optical device of claim 40 , further comprising a submount including two or more electrical contacts, each electrical contact being bonded to a subarray and connecting the subarray to the driver circuit through an impedance matching transmission line built into the submount for providing transmission of high data rate optical signals from the driver circuit to the subarray.

42. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different area of the receiver, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to actively scan the receiver to identify the subarray or combination of subarrays that provides a best link performance at the receiver.

43. The optical device of claim 42 , wherein each subarray and combination of subarrays is sequentially operated by the driver circuit.

44. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a linear area in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the linear area of space at discrete intervals.

45. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a two-dimensional pattern in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the two-dimensional pattern in space at discrete intervals.

46. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein one or more microlenses among the plurality of microlenses have a different radius of curvature from other microlenses among the plurality of microlenses, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a different part of a three-dimensional volume in space, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit causes each subarray beam of light to scan the three-dimensional volume in space at discrete intervals.

47. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein each subarray beam of light is directed to a common point, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays by the driver circuit generates a combined subarray beam of light at the common point that varies in strength.

48. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, and wherein the strength of the combine subarray beam of light is varied as needed to maintain a quality link with the receiver.

49. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein each subarray beam of light is directed in a common direction, but each subarray beam of light is focused at a different distance to maintain a quality link with the receiver.

50. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, and wherein operation of the two or more subarrays in different combinations by the driver circuit enables a quality link to be maintained during movement of the transmitter or receiver.

51. The optical device of claim 39 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein the transmitter is directed as a second receiver, wherein a second transmitter is directed at the receiver, and wherein and the transmitter and the receiver are located at a fixed distance apart and operate as a transceiver.

52. The optical device of claim 51 , further including a low bandwidth link between the transmitter and the receiver that provides feedback on a performance of optical links between the transmitter and the second receiver and the second transmitter and the receiver.

53. The optical device of claim 52 , wherein the driver circuit for the transmitter operates one or more subarrays separately or in combination based on the performance to improve the performance.

54. The optical device of claim 53 , wherein the driver circuit for the transmitter operates one or more subarrays separately or in combination based on the fixed distance, and a geometry between the transmitter and the second receiver and the second transmitter and the receiver.

55. The optical device of claim 51 , wherein the transceiver is coupled with additional transceivers to form an optical switch or optical router.

56. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein the optical device is a transmitter for a free space optical data link including a receiver, wherein one or more of the plurality of microlenses included kinematic features that are transparent to an infrared wavelength of the beam of light and that align the transmitter with the receiver.

57. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein pattern creates a profile.

58. The optical device of claim 57 , wherein the profile is hemispherical.

59. The optical device of claim 57 , wherein the profile is aspheric.

60. The optical device of claim 57 , wherein the profile is holographic.

61. The optical device of claim 57 , wherein the profile is astigmatic.

62. The optical device of claim 57 , wherein the profile is a polarization control optic.

63. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein a focal point for the beam of light emitted by the corresponding VCSEL devices is a virtual focus located behind the laser array.

64. The optical device of claim 63 , wherein the virtual focus acts as a source for another optical system.

65. The optical device of claim 35 , further comprising:

a current source configured to deliver a total current to the plurality of VCSEL devices; and

an electronic circuit including one or more switches for distributing the total current to zero or more of the VCSEL devices among the plurality of VCSEL devices, the electronic circuit being configured to generate an output power from a single VCSEL device among the optical sources that is eye-safe when the total current is distributed to only the single VCSEL device and to generate a combined optical power from two or more VCSEL devices that is eye-safe when the total current is distributed to two or more VCSEL devices.

66. The optical device of claim 35 , wherein the target includes two or more targets, wherein the beams of light emitted by a first group of one or more VCSEL devices are focused on a first target, and at least the beams of light emitted by a second group of one or more VCSEL devices are focused on a second target.

67. The optical device of claim 66 , wherein the first target and the second target form a line.

68. The optical device of claim 66 , wherein the two or more targets form a geometric pattern.