Mark Mcelhinney

US Patent:

6590920, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Oct 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/168600

Inventors:

Mark McElhinney - White Bear Lake MN
Paul Colombo - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H01S 500

US Classification:

372 49

Abstract:

A semiconductor laser with improved device characteristics and novel protection against high power output degradation is disclosed. The laser comprises a plurality of layers deposited on a substrate, including an active layer with neighboring cladding layers, so as to define a waveguide, said waveguide having opposing end surfaces. A single crystal mirror layer is formed directly on at least one of the end surfaces, providing improved device characteristics and a longer life time for high power output applications. The mirror layer has sufficient thickness and is made of a material having a refractive index sufficiently different from that of the active layer to substantially modify the reflectivity of the first end surface. In a preferred embodiment, the laser is an AlGaAs laser designed to operate at 980 nm, and the single crystal mirror layer comprises a large band gap material, such as ZnSe, MgS, or BeTe.

US Patent:

6673699, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Jul 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/208366

Inventors:

Kevin J. Hubbard - Vadnais Heights MN
Mark McElhinney - Vadnais Heights MN
Scott W. Priddy - St. Paul MN
Paul E. Colombo - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H01L 21301

US Classification:

438460, 438 33, 438462

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for batch processing semiconductor lasers producing substantially contamination free laser bar end surfaces for optimal growth of end surface layers are provided. The method includes loading a laser cell comprising a plurality of laser bars and an empty cassette capable of holding a plurality of laser bars into a cleaving chamber and pumping the cleaving chamber down to a desired pressure. Next, a cleaving cycle is performed in which an end laser bar is cleaved off the laser cell. The laser bar is deposited in the cassette, while the laser cell is positioned for a subsequet operation. The cleaving cycle repeats until a plurality of laser bars are cleaved off the laser cell and loaded into the cassette. The cassette is then moved into a deposition chamber where a layer of material is deposited on at least one end surface of all of the laser bars in the cassette.

US Patent:

6806998, Oct 19, 2004

Filed:

Mar 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/103161

Inventors:

Edward C. Gage - Apple Valley MN
Mark McElhinney - Lino Lakes MN

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

359333, 359334

Abstract:

An optical communications control station includes an equipment rack and a fiber frame for interfacing between the fiber communications link and the equipment in the rack. Raman pump lasers in the equipment rack produce a Raman pump output that bypasses the fiber frame and is coupled directly into the fiber communications link. The number of connectorized components that the pump light passes through is reduced, thus reducing the possibility of damaging fiber connections by passing the high power Raman pump light through fiber connections. The approach also reduces the possibility of an operator being inadvertently exposed to the high power Raman pump light, thus increasing operator safety.

US Patent:

7076130, Jul 11, 2006

Filed:

Sep 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/657807

Inventors:

Li Cai - Fayetteville AR, US
James M. VanHove - Superior CO, US
Mark McElhinney - Oro Valley AZ, US

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G02B 6/26

US Classification:

385 31, 372 4301

Abstract:

In order to reduce the possibility of a laser operating in multiple transverse modes at high power, the laser is provided with laterally asymmetric losses that discriminate against modes higher than the fundamental mode. One approach to doing this is form an asymmetric ridge waveguide in the laser, that allows the light of the higher order modes to leak out of the waveguide.

US Patent:

7660335, Feb 9, 2010

Filed:

Apr 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/105126

Inventors:

Prabhu Thiagarajan - Tucson AZ, US
Mark McElhinney - Tucson AZ, US
John J. Cahill - West Orange NJ, US

Assignee:

Lasertel, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01S 3/04

US Classification:

372 34, 372 35

Abstract:

A laser diode array having a plurality of diode bars bonded by a hard solder to expansion matched spacers and mounted on a gas or liquid cooled heatsink. The spacers are formed of a material such as copper/diamond composite material having a thermal expansion that closely matches that of the laser bars.

US Patent:

7864825, Jan 4, 2011

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829030

Inventors:

Prabhu Thiagarajan - Tucson AZ, US
Mark McElhinney - Tucson AZ, US
Jason Helmrich - Tucson AZ, US
Feliks Lapinski - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Lasertel, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01S 3/04

US Classification:

372 36, 372 34, 257E33075, 257701, 257706, 438 34

Abstract:

A laser diode array is formed on a heat sink having an insulating layer in which a plurality of grooves is formed through the ceramic layer and to or into the heat sink. A laser diode stack is soldered to the ceramic layer.

US Patent:

7944955, May 17, 2011

Filed:

Dec 28, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/648141

Inventors:

Prabhu Thiagarajan - Tucson AZ, US
Mark McElhinney - Tucson AZ, US
John J. Cahill - West Orange NJ, US

Assignee:

Lasertel, Inc. - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01S 3/04

US Classification:

372 34, 372 36

Abstract:

A laser diode array having a plurality of diode bars bonded by a hard solder to expansion matched spacers and mounted on a gas or liquid cooled heatsink. The spacers are formed of a material such as copper/diamond composite material having a thermal expansion that closely matches that of the laser bars.

US Patent:

6451120, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Sep 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/667068

Inventors:

Kevin J. Hubbard - Vadnais Heights MN
Mark McElhinney - Vadnais Heights MN
Scott W. Priddy - St. Paul MN
Paul E. Colombo - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

C23C 1600

US Classification:

118719, 118723 VE, 118 33, 225 6, 225 23, 225 51, 225 82, 225 93, 148DIG 28

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for batch processing semiconductor lasers producing substantially contamination free laser bar end surfaces for optimal growth of end surface layers are provided. The method includes loading a laser cell comprising a plurality of laser bars and an empty cassette capable of holding a plurality of laser bars into a cleaving chamber and pumping the cleaving chamber down to a desired pressure. Next, a cleaving cycle is performed in which an end laser bar is cleaved off the laser cell. The laser bar is deposited in the cassette, while the laser cell is positioned for a subsequent operation. The cleaving cycle repeats until a plurality of laser bars are cleaved off the laser cell and loaded into the cassette. The cassette is then moved into a deposition chamber where a layer of material is deposited on at least one end surface of all of the laser bars in the cassette.