US Patent 11522342 Segmented vertical cavity surface emitting laser

A VCSEL device includes a first electrical contact, a substrate, a second electrical contact, and an optical resonator arranged on a first side of the substrate. The optical resonator includes a first reflecting structure comprising a first distributed Bragg reflector, a second reflecting structure comprising a second distributed Bragg reflector, an active layer arranged between the first and second reflecting structures, and a guiding structure. The guiding structure is configured to define a first relative intensity maximum of an intensity distribution within the active layer at a first lateral position such that a first light emitting area is provided, to define at least a second relative intensity maximum of the intensity distribution within the active layer at a second lateral position such that a second light emitting area is provided, and to reduce an intensity in between the at least two light-emitting areas during operation.