Patent ID: 6243210
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A semiconductor laser system for combining the outputs of a plurality of semiconductor laser elements to provide a highly collimated beam, comprising:a. a plurality of semiconductor laser sources arranged in a linear pattern, each said source emitting radiation along a first, fast, axis having a relatively higher angular divergence and along a second, slow, axis having a relatively lower angular divergence;b. first collimating means positioned to collimate said radiation emitted along said fast axis;c. an image relay system positioned to receive said fast axis collimated radiation and to create individual images of said semiconductor laser sources;d. an optical image rotation system positioned to receive said individual images and to rotate said images 90 degrees around individual axes parallel to said radiation emitted along said fast and slow axes, and to redirect said rotated images back along the original path;e. A polarizing beamsplitter positioned between said image relay system and said optical image rotation system for redirecting said reflected radiation in a direction substantially different from said reflected radiation; and,f. second collimating means positioned to collimate said redirected radiation emitted along said slow axis and provide an output beam of radiation collimated along both said fast and slow axes.