IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,083,150
Granted Patent B2
US 9,083,150 · App. 14/507,374 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Optical semiconductor device, semiconductor laser module, and optical fiber amplifier

Inventors: Junji Yoshida (Tokyo, JP); Hirokazu Itoh (Tokyo, JP); Satoshi Irino (Tokyo, JP); Yuichiro Irie (Tokyo, JP); Taketsugu Sawamura (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H01S5/2018H01S3/06754H01S5/2077H01S5/34H01S3/04H01S5/024H01S5/2205H01S5/2206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,083,150
App. No.
14/507,374
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical semiconductor device outputting a predetermined wavelength of laser light includes: a quantum well active layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in thickness direction; a separate confinement heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer.

Claims (52)

1. An optical semiconductor device outputting a predetermined wavelength of laser light comprising:

a quantum well active layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in thickness direction;

a separate confinement heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type cladding layer; and

an electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer.

2. The optical semiconductor device according to claim 1 , further comprising a current constriction structure positioned at both sides of width direction of the quantum well active layer, wherein

the electric-field-distribution-control layer is formed to overlap with the current constriction structure in the thickness direction.

3. The optical semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

the semiconductor layers constituting the electric-field-distribution-control layer are constituted by a first semiconductor layer made from semiconductor material having band gap energy that is the same as the n-type cladding layer and a second semiconductor layer made from semiconductor material having band gap energy greater than the barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer.

4. The optical semiconductor device according to claim 3 , wherein

the first semiconductor layer is made from InP, and

the second semiconductor layer is made from III-V group compound semiconductor including an As atom and a P atom as composition.

5. The optical semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein

the second semiconductor layer is made from GaInAsP, and

a sum of layer thicknesses of the second semiconductor layers constituting the electric-field-distribution-control layer is equal to or smaller than 1 μm.

6. The optical semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein band gap composition wavelength of GaInAsP constituting the second semiconductor layer is equal to or greater than 1 μm.

7. A semiconductor laser module comprising:

an optical semiconductor device which is a semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined wavelength of laser light comprising:

a quantum well active layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in thickness direction;

a separate confinement heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type cladding layer; and

an electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer;

a temperature-control module controlling temperature of the semiconductor laser element;

an optical fiber guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser element to outside; and

an optical-coupling lens system coupling the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber optically.

8. The semiconductor laser module according to claim 7 , further comprising:

an optical detector measuring optical output from the semiconductor laser element; and

an optical isolator transmitting therethrough the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser element.

9. The semiconductor laser module according to claim 7 , further comprising:

an optical detector measuring optical output from the semiconductor laser element; and

an optical feedback unit returning a part of the laser light propagating the optical fiber to the semiconductor laser element.

10. An optical fiber amplifier comprising:

a semiconductor laser module comprising:

an optical semiconductor device which is a semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined wavelength of laser light comprising:

a quantum well active layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in thickness direction;

a separate confinement heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type cladding layer; and

an electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer;

a temperature-control module controlling temperature of the semiconductor laser element;

an optical fiber guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser element to outside; and

an optical-coupling lens system coupling the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber optically;

an amplification optical fiber including amplification medium; and

an optical coupler multiplexing inputted signal light and the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser module and making the multiplexed light input into the amplification optical fiber.

11. An optical fiber amplifier comprising:

a semiconductor laser module comprising:

an optical semiconductor device which is a semiconductor laser element outputting a predetermined wavelength of laser light comprising:

a quantum well active layer positioned between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer in thickness direction;

a separate confinement heterostructure layer positioned between the quantum well active layer and the n-type cladding layer; and

an electric-field-distribution-control layer positioned between the separate confinement heterostructure layer and the n-type cladding layer and configured by at least two semiconductor layers having band gap energy greater than band gap energy of a barrier layer constituting the quantum well active layer;

a temperature-control module controlling temperature of the semiconductor laser element;

an optical fiber guiding the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser element to outside; and

an optical-coupling lens system coupling the semiconductor laser element and the optical fiber optically;

an optical fiber transmitting signal light; and

an optical coupler making the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser module input into the optical fiber, wherein

an optical amplification is performed by Raman amplification.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIFTH ASSIGNOR'S EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034582 FRAME 0626. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 8, 2015
From: YOSHIDA, JUNJI; ITOH, HIROKAZU; IRINO, SATOSHI; IRIE, YUICHIRO; SAWAMURA, TAKETSUGU
To: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034744/0988 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2014
From: YOSHIDA, JUNJI; ITOH, HIROKAZU; IRINO, SATOSHI; IRIE, YUICHIRO; SAWAMURA, TAKETSUGU
To: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034582/0626 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTJP2013060391 · Apr 4, 2013
Provisional Application 61621013 · Apr 6, 2012
Related Publication 20150103858A1 · Apr 16, 2015