Brightness multi-emitter laser diode module and method

摘要

Improved brightness and feedback multi-emitter laser diode modules and methods are provided. A plurality of laser diode emitters emit broad-area light beams in a beam direction. In cross-section, each beam is broad in its slow axis and narrow in its fast axis. Groups of downstream optical components collimate, shape, stack and direct the beams along a light path towards a beam spot (which may be fiber-coupled). After collimating, stacking and directing, the beams are Fourier transformed in the fast-axis through a lens feature having a fast-axis focal length less than about 3 millimeters. In some embodiments, the fast-axis focal length is between about 0.1 and 2.0 millimeters. Astigmatism may be introduced between the fast axis and the slow axis in the beams upstream of the lens feature and in accordance with the fast axis focal length of the lens feature. The emitters may receive feedback including wavelength locking feedback.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of laser diode emitters, each emitter for emitting a broad-area light beam in a beam direction, each beam having a fast axis transverse to the beam direction and a slow axis transverse to both the beam direction and the fast axis, each beam being broad in the slow axis and narrow in the fast axis; a group of optical components for each emitter for collimating, shaping, stacking and directing the beams along a light path towards a beam spot, each group aligned downstream on the beam direction of the group's associated emitter; and a lens feature aligned on the light path downstream of the groups of optical components and upstream of the beam spot, the lens feature having a fast axis focal length less than about 3 millimeters, wherein the lens feature is arranged to perform a fast-axis Fourier transform of the beams such that the edges of a fast axis near-field intensity distribution of the beams at the beam spot increase in steepness.