SBIR Phase II: Extended Performance Red VCSELs

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将展示显着改进的输出功率，工作温度范围和红色vcsel的可靠性。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。第一阶段的项目证明了1)通过多种技术提高输出功率和温度范围的可行性，2)温度范围的基本限制至少高达125°C， 3)大大提高了可靠性。这里提出的第二阶段方法打破了制造vcsel的传统模型，由各种生长和制造方法组成，使我们能够提供从有源区域到封装的高导热路径。目标和预期的技术结果是在85°C下，在670nm下展示0.5mW单模和1mW多模有用输出功率，并在65°C下可重复地实现655nm的相同功率输出功率目标。该项目还将展示在85°C连续操作下超过10,000小时的设备寿命。项目活动包括设计、晶圆生长和制造、性能测试和可靠性测试。到目前为止，由于其他波长的材料存在重大挑战，唯一可商用的vcsel的波长为780nm至850nm。这项工作适用于各种VCSEL波长（1310nm至1550nm存在类似的热问题），以及其他光电器件。在商业上，红色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，更远的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，以及改进的健壮性和放射照相设备的成本。该项目的成功不仅为红色VCSEL供应商创造了重要的商机，而且通过提供有价值的新技术，提高了客户的竞争力。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.