A smart light source configured for visible light communication. The light source includes a controller comprising a modem configured to receive a data signal and generate a driving current and a modulation signal based on the data signal. Additionally, the light source includes a light emitter configured as a pump-light device to receive the driving current for producing a directional electromagnetic radiation with a first peak wavelength in the ultra-violet or blue wavelength regime modulated to carry the data signal using the modulation signal. Further, the light source includes a pathway configured to direct the directional electromagnetic radiation and a wavelength converter optically coupled to the pathway to receive the directional electromagnetic radiation and to output a white-color spectrum. Furthermore, the light source includes a beam shaper configured to direct the white-color spectrum for illuminating a target of interest and transmitting the data signal.

A method for forming optical devices. The method includes providing a gallium nitride substrate member having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The method also includes subjecting the backside region to a laser scribing process to form a plurality of scribe regions on the backside region and forming a metallization material overlying the backside region including the plurality of scribe regions. The method removes at least one optical device using at least one of the scribe regions.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device includes: forming a plurality of guide grooves so as to be depressed from a surface of a semiconductor structure layer toward a semiconductor substrate and to align and extend along a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of a plurality of line electrodes; forming, in each of the plurality of guide grooves, a scribe groove so as to be depressed from a bottom surface of the guide groove toward the semiconductor substrate and to extend along an extending direction of the guide groove; and dividing a semiconductor wafer along the plurality of guide grooves. The guide groove and the scribe groove are formed to have end shapes in such a manner that inner walls thereof project toward each other in the extending direction of the scribe groove.

A method for fabricating a surface emitting laser includes the steps of: carrying out etching of a semiconductor laminate with a mask; and stopping the etching in response to a detection signal from an end point detector in an etching apparatus. The mask has a device area including device sections and an accessary area. The device area has an aperture ratio (OPD/SC) having a first value, the aperture ratio (OPD/SC) being defined as a total area (OPD) of an opening in each device section to an area (SC) of the device section. The accessary area has an aperture ratio having a second value configured to have substantially the same value as the first value, the aperture ratio of the accessary area being defined as an area of the opening pattern in a portion having an area, which is equal to the area of the device section, in the accessary area.

A method for fabricating a surface emitting laser includes the steps of: preparing an epitaxial substrate including a substrate and a laminate disposed on the substrate, the laminate including a Bragg reflector and an active layer; forming a mask for defining a semiconductor post on the epitaxial substrate; after forming the mask, placing the epitaxial substrate in an etching apparatus with an end point detector including an optical device; carrying out plasma etching of the epitaxial substrate by supplying a gas including boron chloride and chlorine in the etching apparatus; and stopping the plasma etching in response to an end point detection from the end point detector of the etching apparatus. The optical device of the end point detector detects an end point of a process through a viewport of the etching apparatus. The plasma etching is carried out in a process pressure of one Pascal or less.

A method of producing a laser chip includes providing a semiconductor wafer; creating a plurality of depressions arranged one behind another along a breaking direction on a top side of the semiconductor wafer, wherein 1) each depression includes a front boundary face and a rear boundary face successively in the breaking direction, 2) in at least one depression, the rear boundary face is inclined by an angle of 95° to 170° relative to the top side of the semiconductor wafer, 3) at least one depression includes a shoulder adjacent to the rear boundary face, and 4) the shoulder includes a shoulder face parallel to the top side of the semiconductor wafer and adjacent to the rear boundary face; and breaking the semiconductor wafer in the breaking direction at a breaking plane oriented perpendicularly to the top side of the semiconductor wafer and which runs through the depressions.

A front facet of the semiconductor laser device includes a resonator facet portion containing an end of an active layer, and a protruding portion which protrudes beyond the resonator facet portion in a resonator length direction by a predetermined protrusion amount and has a stepped bottom surface portion. The resonator facet portion and the stepped bottom surface portion are connected to each other to form a corner portion. The distance from a thickness center position of the active layer to the stepped bottom surface portion is defined by a bottom surface portion depth. The bottom surface portion depth is set to be equal to a predetermined specific depth or deeper than the specific depth.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a semiconductor laser comprising a semiconductor layer sequence for generating laser radiation. According to the invention, the semiconductor layer sequence has a geometric structuring on a top side. A resonator is located in the semiconductor layer sequence and is delimited by opposing facets, wherein the facets contain optically active resonator end faces. The structuring ends spaced apart from the facets. The resonator end faces are spaced apart from material removals from the semiconductor layer sequence.

A semiconductor laser apparatus includes: a semiconductor laser device for junction down mounting that includes a first light-emitting device region and a second light-emitting device region formed separately on a substrate. The first light-emitting device region and the second light-emitting device region in the semiconductor laser device each have a stack structure in which an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer are stacked in stated order. The first light-emitting device region includes a first electrode film located on the n-type semiconductor layer. The second light-emitting device region includes a second electrode film located on the p-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode film and the second electrode film are electrically connected to each other.

A smart light source configured for visible light communication. The light source includes a controller comprising a modem configured to receive a data signal and generate a driving current and a modulation signal based on the data signal. Additionally, the light source includes a light emitter configured as a pump-light device to receive the driving current for producing a directional electromagnetic radiation with a first peak wavelength in the ultra-violet or blue wavelength regime modulated to carry the data signal using the modulation signal. Further, the light source includes a pathway configured to direct the directional electromagnetic radiation and a wavelength converter optically coupled to the pathway to receive the directional electromagnetic radiation and to output a white-color spectrum. Furthermore, the light source includes a beam shaper configured to direct the white-color spectrum for illuminating a target of interest and transmitting the data signal.