Patent ID: 6493148
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B23K,G02B

Abstract:
Apparatus for collimating a stack of laser beams from a stack of n laser diodes having a height H1 greater than can be collimated by an objective lens having a given numerical aperture, comprising:a group of n/4 laser diodes having a first wavelength arranged in said stack above and below a group of n/2 laser diodes having a second wavelength, where n is an even number not less than four; a compound prism having a central dichroic portion that reflects said first wavelength but passes said second wavelength undeflected; said compound prism having sections to direct said first wavelength beams to opposite oblique surfaces of said dichroic portion whereby said beams of said first and said second wavelengths are concentrated into a height H2 less than H1 lying a single vertical plane.