Wavelength beam combining laser systems with micro-optics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9823480-B2
Application number	US-201514667094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Feb 22, 2012
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining systems feature multiple beam emitters each emitting an individual beam, as well as multiple micro-optics arrangements each disposed optically downstream from a beam emitter to intercept the beam emitted thereby and direct the beam toward a dispersive element for combination into a multi-wavelength output beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser system comprising:
a plurality of beam emitters each emitting an individual beam;
a plurality of micro-optics arrangements, each micro-optic arrangement being disposed optically downstream from a beam emitter to (i) intercept only the beam emitted thereby, (ii) rotate the beam, and (iii) direct the beam toward a dispersive element;
disposed optically downstream from the plurality of micro-optics arrangements, focusing optics for overlapping the rotated beams on the dispersive element, the focusing optics having a focal length;
a dispersive element for receiving and dispersing the overlapped rotated beams; and
a partially reflective output coupler for receiving the dispersed beams, reflecting a first portion thereof back toward the dispersive element, and transmitting a second portion thereof as a multi-wavelength output beam,
wherein (i) an optical distance between the focusing optics and the dispersive element is less than the focal length, and (ii) each micro-optics arrangement rotates its corresponding beam by a different angle to thereby converge the beams toward each other before the beams reach the focusing optics.

2. The laser system of claim 1 , wherein each micro-optics arrangement is disposed proximate a front facet of the beam emitter emitting the beam intercepted by the micro-optics arrangement.

3. The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.

4. The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the focusing optics comprises a spherical lens.

5. The laser system of claim 1 , wherein an optical distance between the plurality of beam emitters and the focusing optics is approximately equal to the focal length.

6. The laser system of claim 1 , wherein each micro-optics arrangement comprises a fast-axis collimation lens, an optical rotator, and a slow-axis collimation lens.

7. The laser system of claim 6 , wherein the optical rotator is disposed (i) optically downstream from the fast-axis collimation lens and (ii) optically upstream from the slow-axis collimation lens.

8. The laser system of claim 1 , further comprising a cross-talk mitigation system disposed (i) optically downstream from the dispersive element and (ii) optically upstream from the partially reflective output coupler.

9. The laser system of claim 8 , wherein the cross-talk mitigation system comprises a plurality of spherical lenses.

10. The laser system of claim 8 , wherein the cross-talk mitigation system comprises (i) a first lens having a first focal length, and (ii) a second lens, disposed optically downstream from the first lens, having a second focal length.

11. The laser system of claim 10 , wherein a ratio of the first focal length to the second focal length is two or greater.

12. The laser system of claim 10 , wherein an optical distance between the first and second lenses is approximately equal to a sum of the first and second focal lengths.

13. A laser system comprising:
a plurality of beam emitters each emitting an individual beam;
a plurality of micro-optics arrangements, each micro-optic arrangement (i) being disposed optically downstream from a beam emitter to (a) intercept only the beam emitted thereby, and (b) direct the beam toward a dispersive element, and (ii) comprising a fast-axis collimation lens, an optical rotator optically downstream of the fast-axis collimation lens, and a slow-axis collimation lens optically downstream of the optical rotator;
disposed optically downstream from the plurality of micro-optics arrangements, focusing optics for overlapping the beams on the dispersive element, the focusing optics having a focal length;
a dispersive element for receiving and dispersing the overlapped beams;
a partially reflective output coupler for receiving the dispersed beams, reflecting a first portion thereof back toward the dispersive element, and transmitting a second portion thereof as a multi-wavelength output beam; and
a cross-talk mitigation system disposed (i) optically downstream from the dispersive element and (ii) optically upstream from the partially reflective output coupler.

14. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein an optical distance between the focusing optics and the dispersive element is less than the focal length.

15. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein each micro-optics arrangement is disposed proximate a front facet of the beam emitter emitting the beam intercepted by the micro-optics arrangement.

16. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein the dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.

17. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein the focusing optics comprises a spherical lens.

18. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein an optical distance between the plurality of beam emitters and the focusing optics is approximately equal to the focal length.

19. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein the cross-talk mitigation system comprises a plurality of spherical lenses.

20. The laser system of claim 13 , wherein the cross-talk mitigation system comprises (i) a first lens having a first focal length, and (ii) a second lens, disposed optically downstream from the first lens, having a second focal length.

21. The laser system of claim 20 , wherein a ratio of the first focal length to the second focal length is two or greater.

22. The laser system of claim 20 , wherein an optical distance between the first and second lenses is approximately equal to a sum of the first and second focal lengths.

Assignees

• Tayebati Parviz
• Chann Bien
• Huang Robin
• Zhou Wang-Long
• Teradiode Inc

Inventors

• Tayebati Parviz
• Chann Bien
• Huang Robin
• Zhou Wang-Long

Classifications

• G02B27/4244

  in wavelength selecting devices (spectrometry G01J) · CPC title

• H01S5/143

  Littman-Metcalf configuration, e.g. laser - grating - mirror · CPC title

• H01S5/4062

  with an external cavity or using internal filters, e.g. Talbot filters · CPC title

• H01S5/4087

  emitting more than one wavelength · CPC title

• G02B19/0057

  in the form of a laser diode array, e.g. laser diode bar (semiconductor laser arrays with beam combining arrangement H01S5/4012) · CPC title