Optical coupling system
First Claim
1. An apparatus of beam shaping for laser diode array, comprising at least one laser diode array, beam offsetting means, beam redirection means, conventional optics disposed between said beam offsetting means and said beam redirection means, wherein said beam offsetting means collimates the beams from the emitters in the fast axis and offsets said beams from each other along the fast axis by offsetting the outgoing angles of the beams, and said conventional optics collimates the beams from said beam offsetting means in the slow axis and allows each of the beams to strike upon said beam redirection means so the beams travel one or a plurality of predetermined directions after the beam redirection means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the present invention, the methods and apparatus for making efficient laser beam coupling are disclosed. In particular, new structures for shaping and rearranging laser beams from diode laser array are disclosed. Along with the use of unique methods for coupling pumping laser beam into optical fiber or other media, high efficiency can be achieved. These aspects of the present invention will facilitate the realization of high-efficiency and high-power fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, or other solid state lasers. The beam shaping structures can significantly improve the quality of the beams from diode laser array, and is easy to realize and less demanding in system alignment. Thus, a diode-pumped solid state laser of this invention may comprise a laser medium, a focusing means, a beam source comprising at least one laser diode array, a beam offsetting means, an image optics and a beam redirection means.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus of beam shaping for laser diode array, comprising
at least one laser diode array, beam offsetting means, beam redirection means, conventional optics disposed between said beam offsetting means and said beam redirection means, wherein said beam offsetting means collimates the beams from the emitters in the fast axis and offsets said beams from each other along the fast axis by offsetting the outgoing angles of the beams, and said conventional optics collimates the beams from said beam offsetting means in the slow axis and allows each of the beams to strike upon said beam redirection means so the beams travel one or a plurality of predetermined directions after the beam redirection means.
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15. An apparatus of beam shaping for laser diode array, comprising
at least one laser diode array, beam offsetting means, beam redirection means, optical system disposed between said beam offsetting means and said beam redirection means, wherein said beam offsetting means collimates the beams from the emitters in the fast axis and offsets said beams from each other along the fast axis by translation while substantially maintaining the outgoing angle of said beams and wherein said optical system collimates the beams from said beam offsetting means in the slow axis and allows each of the beams to strike upon said beam redirection means so the beams travel one or a plurality of predetermined directions after the beam redirection means.
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18. A diode-pumped solid state laser apparatus comprising,
a laser medium, at least one focusing means, a beam source comprising at least one laser diode array along with beam redirection means, beam offsetting means for collimating the beams from the emitters of said laser diode array and offsetting the beams along the fast axis, and a conventional optics placed in such a distance from said beam offsetting means that it collimates the laser beams from said beam offsetting means in the slow axis and allows each offset beam to strike upon said beam redirection means so that the beams travel in predetermined direction after the beam redirection means, wherein said focusing means is disposed between said beam source and the aperture of said laser medium and focuses the beam from said beam source onto the aperture of said laser medium.
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22. A fiber coupled laser diode array apparatus comprising,
at least one optical fiber, focusing means, beam source comprising at least one laser diode array, beam offsetting means, imaging optics and beam redirection means, wherein said beam offsetting means collimates the beams from said laser diode array and the offsets the beams from the emitters of said laser diode array along the fast axis, and said imaging optics collimates the beams in the slow axis and allows each of the offset beams to strike upon said beam redirection means so the beams travel in at least one predetermined direction after the beam redirection means, and wherein said focusing means is disposed between said beam source and the aperture of said optical fiber and focuses the beam from said beam redirection means onto the aperture of said optical fiber.
Specification