SBIR Phase II: Extended Performance Red VCSELs

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将展示RED VCSEL的输出功率、工作温度范围和可靠性显著提高。红色VCSEL技术的商业化一直受到器件有限的温度范围和输出功率以及未知的可靠性特性的困扰。第一阶段项目证明了1)通过多种技术提高输出功率和温度范围的可行性，2)温度范围的基本极限至少高达125°C，以及3)显著提高可靠性。这里提出的第二阶段方法打破了制造VCSEL的传统模型，包括各种生长和制造方法，使我们能够提供从有源区到封装的高导热路径。目标和预期的技术结果是在可重复性的基础上演示0.5 mW单模和1 mW多模在85°C时在670 nm处的有效输出功率，以及在65°C时在655 nm处的相同功率输出目标。该项目还将展示在85°C连续运行时超过10,000小时的器件寿命。项目活动包括设计、晶片生长和制造、性能测试和可靠性测试。到目前为止，商业上唯一可用的VCSEL是在780 nm到850 nm之间，这是因为在其他波长上存在巨大的材料挑战。这项拟议的工作适用于各种波长的VCSEL(在1310 nm到1550 nm之间存在类似的热问题)，以及其他光电子器件。在商业上，RED VCSEL性能的显著增强可以使基于塑料光纤的家庭和汽车网络迁移到更高的数据速率、更快和更高质量的激光打印、更远距离和更精确的运动控制传感、新型便携式或可穿戴医疗传感，以及提高放射成像设备的耐用性和成本。该项目的成功不仅为红色VCSEL供应商创造了重要的商机，还通过提供有价值的新技术来增强客户的竞争力。电力消耗的减少和医疗技术成本的提高解决了特别重要的社会问题。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will demonstrate significantly improved output power, temperature range of operation, and reliability of red VCSELs. Commercialization of red VCSEL technology has been plagued by the limited temperature range and output power of the devices and unknown reliability characteristics. The Phase I project demonstrated the 1) feasibility of improving output power and temperature range through a number of techniques, 2) that the fundamental limit of the temperature range is at least as high as 125°C, and 3) dramatically improved reliability. The Phase II approach proposed here breaks away from traditional models for fabricating VCSELs and consists of a variety of growth and fabrication methods allowing us to provide a high thermal conductivity path from the active region to the package. The goals and expected technical results are to demonstrate 0.5mW single mode, and 1mW multi-mode useful output power at 670nm at 85°C, and the same power output power objectives for 655nm at 65°C on a reproducible basis. This project will also demonstrate greater than 10,000 hours device lifetime at 85°C continuous operation. Project activities consist of design, wafer growth and fabrication, performance testing, and reliability testing. To date, the only commercially available VCSELs have been at 780nm to 850nm, due to the substantial materials challenges at other wavelengths. This proposed effort is applicable to a variety of VCSEL wavelengths (similar thermal issues exist at 1310nm to 1550nm), as well as other optoelectronic devices. Commercially, a significant enhancement in red VCSEL performance can enable the migration of plastic fiber based home and auto networks to higher data rates, faster and higher quality laser printing, longer distance and more precise motion control sensing, new types of portable or wearable medical sensing, and improved robustness and cost of radiography equipment. The success of this project not only creates a significant business opportunity for a red VCSEL supplier, but also enhances the competitiveness of customers by making available a valuable new technology. The reduction in power consumption and improvement in medical technology costs address particularly important societal issues.