Laser diode structure with reduced interference signals

• US 8,199,786 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axetris AG
• Original Assignee: Leister Technologies AG
• Inventors: Gaillard, Mathieu, Willing, Bert, Manzeneder, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forde, Delma R
• Application Number:
  US12/779,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 372/34, 372/36, 372/101, 438/25, 438/122, 438/125, 257/706, 257/E33.057, 257/E33.058, 257/E33.075
• US Class Current: 372/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/399 Diode laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 2301/02 ASE (amplified spontaneous emission), noise; Reduction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0071 for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0085 for modulating the output, i.e. the laser beam is modulated outside the laser cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02253 using lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02255 using beam deflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02257 using windows, e.g. specially adapted for back-reflecting light to a detector inside the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02415 by using a thermo-electric cooler [TEC], e.g. Peltier element
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0656 Seeding, i.e. an additional light input is provided for controlling the laser modes, for example by back-reflecting light from an external optical component H01S5/14, H01S5/4062 and H01S5/4006 take precedence

Abstract

A laser diode structure for generating a collimated or divergent laser beam, preferably for application in gas detection, with a laser diode arranged in a closed housing, with the housing comprising a housing bottom, an exit window, electrical connections, a temperature control device for the laser diode, and an optical element for influencing the laser beam. The temperature control device carrying the laser diode is arranged on the housing bottom and the optical element is positioned at a distance from the laser diode. The invention proposes an electrically controllable power device for the cyclic alteration of the position and/or alignment of the optical element in relation to the laser diode so that the optical path length for the laser beam in the housing changes periodically. The oscillating motion of the optical element has the effect of time-averaging the etalon and/or self-mixing effects caused by the back-reflections of the laser beam in the housing, thereby reducing the optical noise of the laser diode structure.

Claims

1. A laser diode structure for generating a laser beam, preferably for application in gas detection, with a laser diode arranged in a closed housing, with the housing comprising a housing bottom, an exit window for the laser beam, electrical connections, a Peltier element as an active temperature control device for the laser diode, and an optical element for guiding and/or shaping the laser beam, with the Peltier element being arranged on the housing bottom and carrying the laser diode, and with the optical element positioned at a distance from the laser diode, wherein the laser diode structure comprises an electrically controllable power device that cyclically alters the position of the optical element relative to the laser diode by moving the optical element in and contrary to the propagation direction of the laser beam, thereby varying the distance in the propagation direction of the laser beam between the laser diode and the optical element, wherein the distance changes with periodic oscillation in a magnitude of the wavelength of the laser beam and therewith the optical path length between the laser diode and the optical element in an equal manner, and where the power device is arranged beside the Peltier element on the housing bottom.

2. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a lens for collimating the laser beam of the laser diode.

3. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a diffractive optical element.

4. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a deflecting mirror for guiding the laser beam of the laser diode.

5. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the power device has an electrical actuator that connects the optical element with the housing, preferably with the housing bottom.

6. A laser diode structure according to claim 5, wherein a translational motion, a swiveling motion, or a rotating motion of the optical element can be performed by means of the actuator.

7. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein a direct voltage portion and/or an alternating voltage portion can be applied to the actuator by means of a control system of the power device.

8. A laser diode structure according to claim 7, wherein the control system varies the amplitude, the frequency, and/or the wave shape of the alternating voltage portion.

9. A laser diode structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is a microactuator, preferably a piezo oscillating element, an electro-mechanical drive system, an electrostatic or a thermal control device.

10. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the exit window, the collimator lens, and/or the deflecting mirror have optical axes that are tilted in relation to an optical axis of the laser aperture of the laser diode.

11. A laser diode structure according to claim 6, wherein the actuator is a microactuator, preferably a piezo oscillating element, an electro-mechanical drive system, an electrostatic or a thermal control device.

12. A laser diode structure according to claim 7, wherein the actuator is a microactuator, preferably a piezo oscillating element, an electro-mechanical drive system, an electrostatic or a thermal control device.

13. A laser diode structure according to claim 1, wherein the electrically controllable power device is configured to move the optical element in and contrary to the propagation direction of the laser beam by 1 μ

m to 3 μ

m.