Abstract:
A mounting apparatus includes at least one diode laser pump module having a module bearing surface and connectors on a bearing side of the pump module, a carrier having at least one carrier bearing surface and counter connectors on a bearing side of the carrier, wherein the module is insertable onto the carrier, and a holder configured to hold the module bearing surface of the at least one pump module in abutment against the carrier bearing surface of the at least one carrier, such that a connection is formed between the connectors and the counter connectors.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to European Patent Application Serial No. 04 012 845.6, filed on May 29, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This disclosure relates to an arrangement for fastening at least one laser pump module to a laser pump module carrier  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Liquid-cooled high-performance diode laser stacks are increasingly used for exciting solid state lasers, in particular, disc lasers. Depending on the output power of the solid state laser, several such diode stacks may be required for exciting the solid state laser. Since the stacking height of the diode laser stacks is limited for technical and economic reasons, several stacks often are combined by a suitable optical system and imaged on the laser-active solid.  
         [0004]     The laser diode stacks are subject to wear, and replacement must be possible in case of degradation or defect. Usually, either only the laser diode stacks or an entire structural component, which includes the diode stack and facilitates replacement, are replaced. This structural component may comprise a housing with optics and electronics and is referred to herein as a pump module.  
         [0005]     German patent publication, DE 197 49 328 A1, discloses such a pump module for a diode-pumped bar laser. Adjustment after exchange of the pump module is not necessary since the housing of the pump module reproduces the defined spatial position of the diode stack relative to the laser bar. However, the user must produce further interfaces (e.g., cooling, data transfer, current supply), which are required for operating the laser, using suitable tools. These assembly steps require time and increase the inoperative time of the laser, and correct performance of the required assembly steps additionally requires special skills. The likelihood of assembly mistakes, which could cause failure of the device, increases with the number of assembly steps.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     A fastening arrangement for a pump module is disclosed in which the pump module (e.g., a replacement pump module) can be fastened to a carrier with minimum effort and without tools. The pump module has a bearing surface and connections on a bearing side and the carrier has a bearing side with at least one bearing surface and counter connections. A holder holds the bearing surface of the pump module in abutment against the bearing surface of the carrier, thereby forming a connection between the connections and counter connections.  
         [0007]     In a first general aspect, a mounting apparatus includes at least one diode laser pump module having a module bearing surface and connectors on a bearing side of the pump module, a carrier having at least one carrier bearing surface and counter connectors on a bearing side of the carrier, wherein the module is insertable onto the carrier, and a holder configured to hold the module bearing surface of the at least one pump module in abutment against the carrier bearing surface of the at least one carrier, such that a connection is formed between the connectors and the counter connectors.  
         [0008]     Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the pump module can include an outlet window at a front end of the module and a pivot bearing, and the carrier can include a counter pivot bearing on which the pivot bearing of the pump module engages in the mounted state. The pivot bearing of the pump module can be separated from the module bearing surface of the pump module. The pivot bearing of the pump module can be formed by one or more bearing recesses in front end of the module, and the counter pivot bearing of the carrier can be formed by one or more swivel pins. The counter pivot bearing of the carrier can be adjustable along a direction in which the module is insertable onto the carrier, its distance from the bearing surface of the carrier, and about an axis that extends perpendicularly to the bearing surface of the carrier. The pump module can include a projection at its front end, and where the carrier can include a corresponding recess, where the projection and the recess mutually engage without lateral play when the pump module is inserted onto the carrier. The pump module can include a recess at its front end, and the carrier can include a corresponding projection, where the projection and the recess mutually engage without lateral play when the pump module is inserted onto the carrier.  
         [0009]     The connections between the connectors and counter connectors can include an electric power connection for providing electrical power to the module, a cooling connecting for providing cooling to the to the pump module, a flowing gas connection for providing flowing gas to the pump module, and a data transfer connection for transferring data between the pump module and the carrier. The cooling connection can include a connector on the pump module having a seal, and a counter connector on the carrier having a flat sealing surface, where the seal is pressed against the sealing surface by the holder. The flowing gas connection can includes a connector on the pump module having a seal and a counter connector on the carrier having a flat sealing surface, where the seal is pressed against the sealing surface by the holder. The electric power connection can include a connector on the pump module having flat contacts, and a counter connector on the carrier having flat contacts, where the flat contact of the connector and the counter connector are pressed against the sealing surface by the holder. The data transfer connection can includes a plug on the pump module, and a plug on the carrier, where the plug on the pump module and on the carrier are floatingly disposed on the pump module and on the carrier. The connections between the connectors and the counter connectors can include a flowing gas connection for providing flowing gas to the pump module and a data transfer connection for transferring data between the pump module and the carrier, where the connector of the cooling connection is provided on the bearing side of the pump module in a plane that is lower than a plane in which the connector of the data transfer connection and the current supply connectors are provided.  
         [0010]     The holder can include one or more tension levers that tension the bearing surface of the pump module into abutment against the bearing surface of the carrier. The holder can includes a tension lever that tensions the pivot bearing of the pump module along a direction in which the pump module is inserted into the carrier against the counter pivot bearing of the carrier and that tensions the bearing surface of the pump module lying against the counter pivot bearing into abutment against the bearing surface of the carrier. The tension lever can be supported on the carrier and can engage with an end of the pump module opposite the front end of the module. The carrier can include a plurality of bearing surfaces located adjacent to each other, each bearing surface having counter connectors and counter pivot bearings for receiving a pump module. The bearing surfaces can be disposed along a circular arc and optics disposed within the circular arc and combine output laser beams from all pump modules inserted onto the carrier into one common laser beam.  
         [0011]     In another general aspect, a method of fastening a laser pump module to a carrier, where the laser pump module includes a module bearing surface, recesses, and connectors on a bearing side of the pump module and where the carrier includes at least one carrier bearing surface, swivel pins, and counter connectors on a bearing side of the carrier, can include inserting the pump module along an insertion direction onto the carrier, such that recesses of the pump module engage swivel pins of the carrier to locate the pump module in a pre-determined position on the carrier and engaging a holder to hold the module bearing surface of the pump module in abutment against the carrier bearing surface of the at least one carrier, such that connections are formed between the connectors and the counter connectors.  
         [0012]     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a carrier to which several pump modules can be fastened.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a bearing side of a pump module that can be fastened to the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a pump module fastened to a carrier. 
     
    
       [0016]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an arrangement  1  between a fan-shaped carrier  20  and four pump modules  10  serves to fasten the pump modules  10  to the carrier  20 . The pump modules  10  contain diode laser stacks for pumping a high-performance solid state laser (not shown). The module housing protects the diode laser stacks from environmental influences (e.g., splashing water, dust, contact, mechanical influences). The module housing is designed such that the diode laser stack can be kept dust-free, dry and solvent-free using flowing air.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pump module  10  has a flat bearing surface  12  and connections  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   d , and  13   d  on its bearing side  11 . At the front end of the module (as viewed in the insertion direction  14 ) is an output opening or outlet window  15  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) for a laser beam  16  of the diode laser stack and a pivot bearing  17 . The pivot bearing  17  is formed by two bearing recesses that open in a direction opposite to the insertion direction  14  and that define a pivot axis that extends parallel to the bearing surface  12  and perpendicular to the insertion direction  14 . A central projection  18  is provided between the bearing recesses, and the central projection  18  is separated on each side from the bearing recesses by a recess  19 . The outlet window  15  may be open or closed by a window, for example, in the form of a lens or a plane-parallel plate.  
         [0019]     A bearing side  21  of the carrier  20  has a flat bearing surface  22  and counter connections  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  for each pump module  10  and a counter pivot bearing  24  at its front end (as viewed in the insertion direction  14 ) for receiving a pump module. The counter pivot bearing  24  is formed by two swivel pins that can be adjusted in the insertion direction  14  and in their distance from the bearing surface  22  and/or about the axis  25  (shown by the double arrow) using adjusting screws (not shown). A recess  29  is provided between the swivel pins. A holder  26  in the form of a tension lever is provided at the rear end of the carrier  20  (as viewed in the insertion direction  14 ), is supported on the carrier  20  and has a free end that engages on the pump module  10 .  
         [0020]     Thus, the pivot bearing  17  of the pump module  10  is formed by one or more bearing recesses that open in a direction opposite to the insertion direction  14 , and the counter pivot bearing  24  of the carrier  20  is formed by one or more swivel pins. To prevent lateral displacement of the pump module  10 , the pump module  10  includes a projection at its front end (as viewed in the insertion direction  14 ), and the carrier  20  has a corresponding recess (or vice versa), wherein the projection and recess mutually engage without lateral play when the pump module  10  is fastened to the carrier  20 .  
         [0021]     For fastening the pump module  10  on the carrier  20 , the pump module  10  is slid onto the carrier  20  in the insertion direction  14  at an angle of approximately 5° to approximately 30° relative to the bearing surface  22 , until the pivot bearing  17  abuts against the counter pivot bearing  24 . The central projection  18  thereby engages in the recess  29  of the carrier  20  on the pump module  10  without lateral play such that lateral (i.e., axial) displacement of the pump module  10  lying against the counter pivot bearing  24  is prevented. The pump module  10  is subsequently rotated and tightened about the pivot axis of the bearings  17  and  24  by the tension lever until the bearing surface  12  of the pump module  10  lying against the counter pivot bearing  24  lies parallel against the bearing surface  22  of the carrier  20  thereby forming a connection between the connections  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c , and  13   d  and the counter connections  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d , respectively.  
         [0022]     The counter pivot bearing  24  can be pre-adjusted to a predetermined position via the adjusting screws by means of a reference pump module, such that later adjustment is not required when a replacement module is inserted, so long as the main axes of the laser beam  16  of the pump module  10  to be fastened have the same orientation as the main axes of the reference pump module. The tension lever induces a force component in the direction of the outgoing laser beam  16  with which the pivot bearing  17  abuts against the counter pivot bearing  24 . The tension lever induces a further force component in the direction of the bearing surface  22  of the carrier  20  with which the bearing surface  12  abuts the bearing surface  22  of the carrier  20 .  
         [0023]     Thus, the counter pivot bearing  24  of the carrier  20  can be adjusted in the insertion direction  14  and/or in the distance from the bearing surface  22  of the carrier  20  and/or about an axis perpendicular to the bearing surface  22  of the carrier  20 , which permits adjustment of the counter pivot bearing  24  to a predetermined position using a reference pump module. The laser beam of the fastened pump module  10  should have an orientation that is spatially unambiguously defined relative to the mechanical stop of the carrier, i.e., to the counter pivot bearing  24 . Later adjustment of the pump module after insertion is not required if a pump module  10  with main axes having the same orientation as the reference pump module abuts against the counter pivot bearing  24 .  
         [0024]     The cooling connection between the carrier  20  and the module  10  required for operating the diode laser stack is realized via two supply lines. On the pump module side, these supply lines of the cooling connection  13   d  are formed with two undetachable seals that exert pressure on flat sealing surfaces of the counter connections  23   d  of the carrier  20  due to the pivot motion during insertion and locking of the pump module  10 . The required sealing pressure is provided by the tension lever. The sealing surfaces of the counter connections  23   d  are disposed on the carrier in a plane which is lower than the plane of the current supply and data connections to prevent cooling liquid from getting onto the electronics and/or optics during replacement of the pump module.  
         [0025]     The power supply connection between the carrier  20  and the module  10  required for operating the diode laser stack is realized on the pump module side by two flat contacts  13   b  that contact corresponding contact surfaces  23   b  on the carrier  20 . The force required for exerting pressure on the flat contacts  13   b  is also generated by the tension lever.  
         [0026]     The data exchange connection between the carrier  20  and the module  10  is realized by a plug whose plug parts  13   a  and  23   a  are provided on the pump module  10  and on the carrier  20 , respectively. The plug parts  13   a  and  23   a  are floatingly disposed such that the beam axis of the outgoing laser beam  16  is not pre-defined. In an alternative manner, the data connection could also be realized via flat contacts.  
         [0027]     The flowing air connection is realized by a connection opening  13   c  with a seal on the pump module side onto which pressure is exerted by a corresponding connection opening  23   c  of the carrier  20 . The mechanical and electrical design of the interfaces and their arrangement exclusively on the bearing side  11  of the pump module  10  permits replacement of the pump module  10  without further auxiliary tools.  
         [0028]     All connections and counter connections required for the supply of the pump module  10  can be provided on the bearing sides of the pump module  10  and of the carrier  20 , such that all interfaces can be connected or disconnected without auxiliary means when the pump module  20  is inserted on or removed from the carrier  20 . The current, coolant, flowing gas, and data connections are thereby designed such that they have no influence on the spatial alignment of the pump module  10 , since their joint faces are parallel to the bearing surface, i.e., the beam axis of the pump module is not pre-defined.  
         [0029]     The four bearing surfaces  22  of the carrier  20  are disposed along a circular arc in whose center optics  27  are provided that combine the laser beams  16  of all pump modules  10  into one common output laser beam  28  for pumping the high-performance solid state laser. Thus, the carrier  20  includes several bearing surfaces  22  that lie next to each other, in particular, like a fan, with counter connections and counter pivot bearings for receiving one pump module  10  each. These multiple bearing surfaces  22  may be disposed along a circular arc in whose center optics are provided which bundle the laser beams of all pump modules  10  fastened on the carrier  20  into one common laser beam  28 .  
         [0030]     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.