Optical device and method of manufacturing the same

• US 6,178,035 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals)
• Inventors: Eda, Akira, Muro, Kiyofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAFER, RICKY D
• Application Number:
  US08/955,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 359/850, 359/857, 359/858, 359/861, 359/834, 359/618, 359/727, 359/328, 359/332, 359/326, 372/22, 372/66, 372/93, 372/21, 372/23, 372/97, 372/99, 385/122, 385/133, 385/146
• US Class Current: 359/326
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0012 characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0018 Reflow, i.e. characterized by the step of melting microstructures to form curved surfaces, e.g. manufacturing of moulds and surfaces for transfer etching
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0068 arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements G02B5/1885, G02B17/002, G02B30/27 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1245 Geodesic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/37 for second-harmonic generation G02F1/3532 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0005 Production of optical devices or components in so far as characterised by the lithographic processes or materials used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0606 with polygonal cross-section, e.g. slab, prism H01S3/0604 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0615 Shape of end-face
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0621 Coatings on the end-faces, e.g. input/output surfaces of the laser light
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0625 Coatings on surfaces other than the end-faces
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0627 the resonator being monolithic, e.g. microlaser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08095 Zig-zag travelling beam through the active medium
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/09415 the pumping beam being parallel to the lasing mode of the pumped medium, e.g. end-pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2308 Amplifier arrangements, e.g. MOPA
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2383 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0267 Integrated focusing lens H01S5/18388 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18388 Lenses

Abstract

An optical device includes a light transmitting non-linear optical material having a first face and a second face. The first and second faces oppose each other. The first face has a plurality of first reflecting portions provided thereon, and the second face has a plurality of second reflecting portions provided thereon. Each of the second reflecting portions corresponds to one of the first reflecting portions. Furthermore, the first and second faces are substantially flat except for at least one convex arcuate portion being formed on at least one of the first and second faces. Additionally, at least one of the first and second reflecting portions is obtained by coating a reflective material on the convex arcuate portion.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a light transmitting non-linear optical material or laser material having a first face and a second face, said first and second faces opposing each other, said first face having a plurality of first reflecting portions provided thereon, said second face having a plurality of second reflecting portions provided thereon, each of said second reflecting portions corresponding to one of said first reflecting portions, said first and second faces being substantially flat except for at least one convex arcuate portion being formed on at least one of said first and second faces, and at least one of said first and second reflecting portions being obtained by coating a reflective material on said arcuate portion.

2. An optical device, comprising:

a light transmitting non-linear optical material or a laser material having a first face and a second face, said first and second face opposing each other, said first face having a plurality of first reflecting portions provided thereon, said second face having a plurality of second reflecting portions provided thereon, each of said second reflecting portions corresponding to one of said first reflecting portions, said first face having at least one convex arcuate portion and a flat portion parallel to said second face formed thereon, said at least one convex arcuate portion being coated with a first reflective material, said second face being flat and at least one of said second reflecting portions being obtained by coating a second reflective material on said second face.

3. A laser apparatus, comprising:

an exciting source producing at least one excitation laser beam; and

a laser resonator receiving said at least one excitation laser beam, said laser resonator including,

a light transmitting non-linear optical material or laser material having a first face and a second face, said first and second face opposing each other, said first face having a plurality of first reflecting portions provided thereon, said second face having a plurality of second reflecting portions provided thereon, each of said second reflecting portions corresponding to one of said first reflecting portions, said first and second faces being substantially flat except for at least one convex arcuate portion being formed on at least one of said first and second faces, and at least one of said first and second reflecting portions being obtained by coating a reflective material on said convex arcuate portion.

4. The laser apparatus of claim 3, wherein

said exciting source produces a plurality of excitation laser beams and

said laser resonator receives respective ones of said excitation laser beams, wherein said laser resonator includes said light transmitting non-linear optical material or laser material having a plurality of convex arcuate portions formed on said one of said first and second faces which is flat.

5. The laser apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said convex arcuate portions receives a corresponding one of said excitation laser beams.

6. The laser apparatus of claim 4, wherein said exciting source includes a semiconductor laser of a multistripe type which outputs a plurality of laser beams as said excitation laser beams.

7. The laser apparatus of claim 4, wherein said exciting source includes a plurality of laser producing devices, each of said laser producing devices producing a laser beam as an excitation laser beam, each of said laser producing devices including an optical fiber which guides said laser beam to a corresponding one of said plurality of convex arcuate portions of said resonator.

8. A laser apparatus of claim 3, wherein

said light transmitting non-linear optical material or laser material is formed integrally.

9. An optical device of claim 3, wherein said first face and said second face are coated with a reflective material to form said first and second reflecting portions, said reflective material each having a window for receiving and outputting said at least one excitation beam.

10. A laser apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of exciting sources producing a plurality of excitation laser beams; and

an optical block, wherein

said optical block including at least a part of laser resonators receiving each of said excitation laser beams and emitting emitted laser beams with different wavelength from that of the excitation laser beams, and

said optical block having a first end face and a second end face disposed opposite said first end face, said first end face including a planar portion and a plurality of convex arcuate portions, an entire surface of said second end face being substantially planar, and optical film coating at least said convex arcuate portions on the first end face.

11. The laser apparatus of claim 10, wherein

said optical film coated on at least said convex arcuate portions being a totally reflective film, and an anti-reflective film coating at least a plurality of portions on said second end face.

12. The laser apparatus of claim 11, wherein

said laser resonators further includes a semi-transmitting mirror, coating a portion of said first end face other than said convex arcuate portions, opposed to said second end face.

13. The laser apparatus of claim 12, wherein said optical block is a laser medium.

14. The laser apparatus of claim 11, wherein said optical block is a laser medium.

15. The laser apparatus of claim 10, wherein

said optical film coated on at least said convex arcuate portions being a totally reflective film, and a semi-transmitting mirror film coating at least a plurality of portions on said second end face.

16. The laser apparatus of claim 15, wherein said optical block is a laser medium.

17. The laser apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a totally reflective film coating at least a plurality of portions on said second end face and said optical film coated on at least said convex arcuate portions being a semi-transmitting mirror.

18. The laser apparatus of claim 17, wherein said optical block is a laser medium.

19. The laser apparatus of claim 10, wherein said optical block is a non-linear optical material.