Patent ID: 6993059
Filing Date: 2006-01-31
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus, comprising: a plurality M+N of diode-laser bars, each thereof emitting at least one beam of radiation plane-polarized in one of a first and a second polarization orientation, said polarization orientations being at ninety degrees to each other, and said diode-laser bars being selected and arranged such that all beams emitted thereby are polarized in the same polarization orientation, are parallel to each other, and are spaced a first distance apart; a first polarization rotator arranged to rotate the polarization plane of beams having one of said first and second polarization orientations by ninety degrees; a compound prism having a first, total reflecting surface and a second, polarization-selective surface, said second surface being highly transmissive for radiation plane-polarized in said first polarization orientation and highly reflective for radiation plane-polarized in said second polarization orientation, said first and second surfaces being parallel to each other; wherein, if said beams emitted by diode-laser bars are plane-polarized in said first polarization orientation, said first polarization rotator, and said compound prism are configured and arranged such that a beam from at least one of said N diode-laser bars has the polarization-orientation thereof rotated by said first polarization-rotator and is transmitted through said compound prism via sequential reflections from said first and second surfaces, and such that a beam from at least one said M diode-laser bars is transmitted through said compound prism transmission via transmission through said second surface; wherein, if said beams emitted by diode-laser bars are plane-polarized in said second polarization orientation, said first polarization rotator, and said compound prism are configured and arranged such that a beam from at least one of said N diode-laser bars is transmitted through said compound prism via sequential reflections from said first and second surfaces, and such that a beam from at least one said M diode-laser bars has the polarization-orientation thereof rotated by said first polarization-rotator and is transmitted through said compound prism via transmission through said second reflecting surface; and wherein said plurality of diode-laser bars and said compound prism are configured such that adjacent ones of said transmitted beams exit said compound prism parallel to each other, and spaced apart by a second distance less than said first distance.