OPTICAL MODULE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical module exhibiting an improved reliability which can replace faulty semiconductor elements. SOLUTION: The optical module has: a VCSEL array which is composed of several VCSEL elements, each including a p-type lower DBR; an active region and an n-type upper DBR constituting a resonator along with the lower DBR formed on a substrate; drive circuits 54 and 56 which drive a VCSEL element A with bias in the forward direction and drive a VCSEL element B next to it with bias in the reverse direction; a failure detecting circuit 52 which detects whether the VCSEL element A is faulty; and a switching circuit 58, which switches driving of the VCSEL element B from bias in the direction reverse to that of bias in the forward direction, when failure of the VCSEL element A is detected by the failure detecting circuit 52. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT