A proximity sensor which uses very narrow divergent beams from Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) for the illumination source is disclosed. Narrow divergent beams in the range 0.5 to 10 degrees can be achieved to provide high proximity sensing accuracy in a small footprint assembly. One approach to reducing the beam divergence is to increase the length of the VCSEL resonant cavity using external third mirror. A second embodiment extends the length of the VCSEL cavity by modifying the DBR mirrors and the gain region. Optical microlenses can be coupled with the VCSEL to collimate the output beam and reduce the beam divergence. These can be separate optical elements or integrated with the VCEL by modifying the substrate output surface profile or an added a transparent layer. These methods of beam divergence reduction are incorporated into various embodiment configurations to produce a miniature proximity sensor suitable for cell phones and tablets.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments for laser arrays that include graphene lens structures located on laser-emitting semiconductor structures. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprising (1) a laser-emitting epitaxial structure having a front and a back, wherein the laser-emitting epitaxial structure is back-emitting, and (2) a graphene lens structure located on the back of the laser-emitting epitaxial structure. Photolithography processes can be used to deploy the graphene lens structures on the laser structures.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments for laser apparatuses. In an example embodiment, the laser apparatus comprises (1) a laser-emitting epitaxial structure having a front and a back, wherein the laser-emitting epitaxial structure is back-emitting and comprises a plurality of laser regions within a single mesa structure, each laser region having an aperture through which laser beams are controllably emitted, (2) a micro-lens array located on the back of the laser-emitting epitaxial structure, wherein each micro-lens of the micro-lens array is aligned with a laser region of the laser-emitting epitaxial structure, and (3) a non-coherent beam combiner positioned to non-coherently combine a plurality of laser beams emitted from the apertures.

An optoelectronic component may include an optoelectronic semiconductor chip having an upper side and a lower side. An emitting region may be formed on the upper side. The emitting region may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. A subsurface, forming the emitting region, of the upper side may be smaller than a total surface of the upper side. A collimating optical element may be arranged over the emitting region.

A light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a laminate. The laminate includes an active layer, and a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer sandwiching the active layer. This light-emitting device further includes a current constriction layer having an opening and a vertical resonator including a first reflecting mirror having a concave-curved shape on the first semiconductor layer side and a second reflecting mirror on the second semiconductor side. The first reflecting mirror and the second reflecting mirror sandwich the laminate and the opening. This light-emitting device further includes an optically transparent substrate between the first reflecting mirror and the laminate. The optically transparent substrate has a first convex portion having a convex-curved shape and one or more second convex portions on a surface on the side opposite to the laminate. The first convex portion is in contact with the first reflecting mirror. The one or more second convex portions are provided around the first convex portion. The one or more second convex portions each have a height greater than or equal to a height of the first convex portion, and an end on the first reflecting mirror side has a convex-curved shape.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments for stronger and more powerful high speed laser arrays. For example, an apparatus is disclosed that comprises an epitaxial material comprising a mesa structure in combination with an electrical waveguide, wherein the mesa structure comprises a plurality of laser regions within the mesa structure itself, each laser region of the mesa structure being electrically isolated within the mesa structure itself relative to the other laser regions of the mesa structure.

A method of manufacturing a light emitting element includes, sequentially (a) forming a first light reflecting layer having a convex shape; (b) forming a layered structure body by layering a first compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer; (c) forming, on the second surface of the second compound semiconductor layer, a second electrode and a second light reflecting layer formed from a multilayer film; (d) fixing the second light reflecting layer to a support substrate; (e) removing the substrate for manufacturing a light emitting element, and exposing the first surface of the first compound semiconductor layer and the first light reflecting layer; (f) etching the first surface of the first compound semiconductor layer; and (g) forming a first electrode on at least the etched first surface of the first compound semiconductor layer.

A VCSEL includes a lower Bragg reflection layer, an active layer and an upper Bragg reflection layer. The active layer is located on a side of the lower Bragg reflection layer. The upper Bragg reflection layer is located on a side of the active layer away from the lower Bragg reflection layer. A current limiting layer is disposed inside or outside the active layer, and the current limiting layer has an opening for defining a light-emitting region. An extended cavity layer is disposed at least between the lower Bragg reflection layer and the active layer or between the upper Bragg reflection layer and the active layer, the extended cavity layer includes at least one resonant cavity inside, and the at least one resonant cavity is configured to increase the optical field intensity in the extended cavity layer.

A surface light emitting semiconductor laser element, comprises a substrate, a lower reflector including a semiconductor multi-layer disposed on the substrate, an active layer disposed on the lower reflector, an upper reflector including a semiconductor multi-layer disposed on the active layer, a compound semiconductor layer having a first opening for exposing the upper reflector and extending over the upper reflector, and a metal film having a second opening for exposing the upper reflector disposed inside of the first opening and extending over the compound semiconductor layer, wherein the metal film and the compound semiconductor layer constitute a complex refractive index distribution structure where a complex refractive index is changed from the center of the second opening towards the outside. A method of emitting laser light in a single-peak transverse mode is also provided.

This disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for sorting target particles. In various embodiments, the disclosure provides a cassette for sorting target particles, methods for sorting target particles, methods of loading a microchannel for maintaining sample material viability, methods of quantifying sample material, and an optical apparatus for laser scanning and particle sorting.