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Alignment and wavelength selection in external cavity lasers

  • US 7,822,096 B2
  • Filed: 12/12/2008
  • Issued: 10/26/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a laser projection system comprising an external cavity laser, an optical intensity monitor, laser projection optics, and a controller, wherein the external cavity laser comprises a laser diode, an intra-cavity wavelength conversion device, and a wavelength selective element for wavelength selection and beam steering through the wavelength conversion device and the method comprises:

  • monitoring an output intensity of the external cavity laser; and

    adjusting the position of the wavelength selective element relative to an optical axis Z of the external cavity laser to optimize the output intensity, wherein the position of the wavelength selective element is adjusted bytilting the wavelength selective element about its wavelength selective axis Y to reflect a wavelength of interest along an optimum path in an XZ plane of the external laser cavity andoperating the wavelength selective element as an adaptive mirror to maintain optimal coupling of light within the wavelength conversion device by tipping the wavelength selective element about its wavelength insensitive axis X to reflect the wavelength of interest back along a beam axis along an optimum path through the wavelength conversion device in a YZ plane of the external laser cavity, wherein the wavelength selective element is configured such that a given degree of tipping about the wavelength insensitive axis X changes the path of the back-reflected wavelength of interest, relative to the wavelength conversion device, to maintain optical coupling of light with the wavelength conversion device.

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