Patent ID: 8325332
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: G02B,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A start-up method for a frequency converted light source comprising a semiconductor laser, a wavelength conversion device, and an adjustable optical component arranged to optically couple an output beam of the semiconductor laser with an input facet of the wavelength conversion device, the start-up method comprising: directing the output beam of the semiconductor laser onto the input facet of the wavelength conversion device with the adjustable optical component; modulating a wavelength of the output beam of the semiconductor laser over a wavelength alignment range corresponding to at least a portion of a phase-matching bandwidth of a waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device; monitoring an output intensity of a wavelength converted output beam emitted from the wavelength conversion device; oscillating the adjustable optical component over a first angular range about a first scanning axis such that the output beam of the semiconductor laser is dithered over the input facet of the wavelength conversion device on a first dithering trace; adjusting an angular orientation of the adjustable optical component about a second scanning axis to vary a position of the first dithering trace over the input facet of the wavelength conversion device on a first scan line as the wavelength of the output beam is modulated and the adjustable optical component is oscillated about the first scanning axis; determining a first alignment set point on the first scan line based on the output intensity of the wavelength converted output beam as the position of the first dithering trace is varied over the first scan line; oscillating the adjustable optical component over a second angular range about the second scanning axis such that the output beam of the semiconductor laser is dithered over the input facet of the wavelength conversion device on a second dithering trace; adjusting the angular orientation of the adjustable optical component about the first scanning axis to vary a position of the second dithering trace over the input facet of the wavelength conversion device on a second scan line as the wavelength of the output beam is modulated and the adjustable optical component is oscillated about the second scanning axis; determining a second alignment set point on the second scan line based on the output intensity of the wavelength converted output beam as the position of the second dithering trace is varied over the second scan line, wherein the first alignment set point and the second alignment set point define a position where the output beam of the wavelength conversion device is aligned with the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device; terminating modulating the wavelength of the output beam of the semiconductor laser; and positioning the output beam of the semiconductor laser on the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device using the first alignment set point and the second alignment set point.