Abstract:
An improved, dual diode convergence module which focuses the light energy of at least two separate diode chip laser wavelengths of into a single beam and, thus, which derives the benefit of both wavelengths.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICRO-FICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to optically controlled integrated circuit lasers. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved, dual diode convergence module which focuses the light energy of at least two separate diode chip laser wavelengths of into a single beam and thus derive the benefits of both wavelengths. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    A search of the prior art located the following United States patents which are believed to be representative of the present state of the prior art: U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,791 B1, issued Dec. 4, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,120 B1, issued Oct. 1, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,998 B1, issued Apr. 10, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,563, issued Oct. 10, 2006; U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,141, issued Apr. 1, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,420, issued Mar. 4, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,096, issued Jan. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,436, issued Nov. 7, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,172, issued Apr. 19, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,350 B2, issued Apr. 25, 2006; U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,637 B1, issued Jun. 3, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,401 B1, issued Jun. 3, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,221 B1, issued Mar. 15, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,310 B1, issued Jul. 17, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,672 B2, issued Sep. 11, 2007; U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0259053 A1, published Dec. 23, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,977, issued Jul. 27, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,473 B2, issued Jun. 8, 2004; and International Patent Publication No. WO 01/10327 A1, published Feb. 15, 2001. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Semiconductor diode lasers have been in practice for nearly forty-five years. During this period considerable development has evolved in the testing and implementation of light emitting semiconductor diodes. 
         [0009]    Regular laser diodes produce only a single laser beam having a particular wavelength. They do not simultaneously emit two different wavelengths. Accordingly, the application of regular laser diodes is limited. 
         [0010]    Desirability of a multiple beam semiconductor laser has been recognized previously. However, do to resultant thermal crosstalk between closely spaced laser diodes, practical inter-laser spacings have generally been limited. 
         [0011]    Accordingly it would be useful to provide a converging module whereby the beams from at least two separate diode laser chips are converged into a single beam. 
         [0012]    It would be of further benefit to provide a converging module whereby to simultaneously derive the benefits of the wavelengths of at least two separate diode laser chips. 
         [0013]    Another desired aspect for a converging module whereby the beams from at least two separate diode laser chips are converged into a single beam would be to incorporate the technology into portable, hand-held devices for medical procedures. 
         [0014]    It would be of further use if the converging module whereby the beams from at least two separate diode laser chips are converged into a single beam focused the single beam into a detachable cylinder containing the fiber optic. 
         [0015]    Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a dual diode converging module  100  comprising in combination a base housing  110 , control elements  112 , diode laser chips  120  and  130 , laser mounting block  140 , focusing lens block  150 , aspheric lens  152 , and fiber optic housing unit  300 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dual diode converging module  100  depicting the base housing  110 , a diode laser chip  120 , focusing lens block  150 , and fiber optic housing unit  300 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a dual diode converging module  100  comprising in combination a base housing  110 , control elements  112 , diode laser chips  120  and  130 , laser mounting block  140 , focusing lens block  150 , aspheric lens  152 , calibration set screws  180 , and fiber optic housing unit  300 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a detail top view of an embodiment of a dual diode converging module  100  comprising in combination control elements  112 , diode laser chips  120  and  130 , laser mounting block  140 , aspheric lenses  152 , and fiber optic housing unit  300 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    With reference to drawing  FIGS. 1-4 , a dual diode chip laser converging module  100 , is presented. The dual diode chip laser converging module  100  comprises a base housing  110  containing control assembly  112  for at least two diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 , each laser emitting a diode chip laser output beam having a separate wavelength. Within the housing  110  and interposed between the diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 , is an assembly for spacing the diode laser chips and aligning each respective diode chip laser output beam. The housing  110  further provides a separate assembly for focusing each diode chip laser output beam, and an assembly for calibrating each diode chip laser output beam focusing assembly. 
         [0021]    An embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module  100  comprises in combination: 1) a base housing  110  containing control elements  112  for control of at least two diode chip lasers, 2) diode chip lasers  120  and  130  each emitting a diode chip laser output beam having a separate wavelength, 3) laser mounting block  140  for spacing the diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 , and aligning each respective diode chip laser output beam, 4) focusing lens block  150  comprising aspheric lens  152  for each diode chip laser output beam, and 5) calibration set screws  180 . 
         [0022]    An embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module  100  provides diode chip laser output beam infrared light at an optimal wavelength of 800 nm, and at most a wavelength of 980 nm. 
         [0023]    For an embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module  100 , the separate assembly for focusing each diode chip laser output beam comprises at least one aspheric lens housed within a lens housing assembly. The lens housing assembly  150  is housed within the base housing  110 . The lens housing assembly  150  and contained aspheric lenses  152  focus the infrared light energy to the end of an optical fiber  320  within the fiber optic housing unit  300 . 
         [0024]    In an embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module, the base housing  110  of further comprises a laser mounting block  140  having a centerline  142  and at least two side surfaces  144  and  146  of equal acute angle orientation to the mounting block centerline  142 . The mounting block is thus interposed between diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 , spacing the diode chip lasers and aligning the respective diode chip laser output beams towards a focal point  148  at the end of an optical fiber  320  within the fiber optic housing unit  300 . Heat sink paste is used to dissipate the heat between diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 . 
         [0025]    An embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module  100  provides an assembly for calibrating each diode chip laser output beam focusing assembly using at least one set screw  180  communicating with each diode chip laser,  120  and  130 , and the mounting block  140  for spacing the diode laser chips aligning the respective diode chip laser output beams towards a focal point  148  at the end of an optical fiber  320  within the fiber optic housing unit  300 . The assembly for each diode chip laser output beam focusing assembly further comprises at least one set screw  180  communicating with the lens housing assembly  150  and the base housing  110 . The assembly for calibrating each diode chip laser output beam focusing means further comprises at least one set screw  180  communicating with the laser mounting block  140  and base housing  110 . The apparatus  100  is tuned and calibrated by hand using a power meter. 
         [0026]    For an embodiment of the dual diode chip laser converging module  110 , at least one microprocessor controls the output of two diode chip lasers,  120  and  130 . 
         [0027]    For an embodiment of the apparatus  100 , at least one laser chip  120  generates an optimal output infrared light wavelength of 800, and at most 980 nm. 
         [0028]    For an embodiment of the apparatus  100 , at least one laser chip  130  generates an optimal output infrared light wavelength of 800, and at most 980 nm. 
         [0029]    For a preferred embodiment of the apparatus  100 , the base housing  110 , laser mounting block  140 , and focusing lens block are aluminum with standard heat sink paste dissipation material.