VCSEL and VCSEL array having integrated microlenses for use in a semiconductor laser pumped solid state laser system
First Claim
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1. A laser system comprising:
- a VCSEL pump source; and
a doped-glass laser optically coupled with said VCSEL pump source to receive an output therefrom, wherein the doped glass laser comprises a doped glass disk having a highly refelective mirror coating on a first face and a partially reflective coating on an opposing, output face, the highly reflective mirror faces the VCSEL pump source and is arranged to be transmitting at a wavelength of the VCSEL pump source.
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Abstract
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device with improved power and beam characteristics. The VCSEL device contains one VCSEL or an array of VCSELs. Each VCSEL has a corresponding integrated microlens, and a heat sink is attached to the device side of the VCSEL device. The heat sink allows improved heat dissipation, and therefore provides improved power characteristics of the VCSEL device output laser beam. The microlens or microlens array allows easier and more compact focussing of the VCSEL device output laser beam. The VCSEL device can be used in a variety of optical systems, and its improved power and focusing characteristics provide a compact, low power, low cost laser system.
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A laser system comprising:
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a VCSEL pump source; and
a doped-glass laser optically coupled with said VCSEL pump source to receive an output therefrom, wherein the doped glass laser comprises a doped glass disk having a highly refelective mirror coating on a first face and a partially reflective coating on an opposing, output face, the highly reflective mirror faces the VCSEL pump source and is arranged to be transmitting at a wavelength of the VCSEL pump source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for generating and emitting a laser beam, comprising:
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generating a pump laser beam within a VCSEL pump source;
emitting the pump laser beam from the VCSEL pump source through a microlens which is integrated within a substrate of the VCSEL pump source;
focusing the pump laser beam onto a doped-glass laser with a lens system which comprises the microlens;
pumping said doped-glass laser with said pump laser beam;
generating an output laser beam within said doped-glass laser; and
emitting said output laser beam, wherein the doped glass laser is a doped glass disk having a highly refelective mirror coating on a first face and a partially reflective coating on an opposing, output face, the highly reflective mirror faces the VCSEL pump source and is arranged to be transmitting at a wavelength of the VCSEL pump source.
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19. A tunable laser, comprising:
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a semiconductor pump laser;
a laser output coupler disposed proximate said semiconductor pump laser;
a solid laser gain medium disposed between said semiconductor pump laser and said output coupler; and
a tunable wavelength selective device disposed between said solid laser gain medium and said laser output coupler, wherein the solid laser gain medium is a doped glass disk having a highly reflective mirror coating on a first face, the highly reflective mirror faces the semiconductor pump laser and is arranged to be transmitting at the wavelength of the semiconductor pump laser, wherein said semiconductor pump laser pumps said solid laser gain medium substantially along a path coinciding with a light output path, from a side opposed to said light output side.
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20. A method for generating a beam of light, comprising:
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pumping a solid laser gain medium with a VCSEL pump source along a pump direction, said gain medium being disposed within a laser resonant cavity; and
selecting an output wavelength from a range of wavelengths from said laser resonant cavity, wherein said beam of light generated is substantially co-linear with said pump direction, on an opposing side of said solid laser gain medium, and wherein a tunable wavelength selective device is disposed in the resonant cavity, the tunable wavelength selective device is constructed to restrict the laser output to a wavelength from said laser cavity.
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Specification