A laser diode module, comprising: a submount having a first top surface, a second top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces including a first side surface, a second side surface and a third side surface, wherein the first top surface overlays a first portion of the bottom surface and is offset from the bottom surface by a first thickness and wherein the second top surface overlays a second portion of the bottom surface and is offset from the bottom surface by a second thickness that is less than the first thickness; a first positive electrode plate mounted to a first portion of the first side surface, wherein the first side surface is substantially orthogonal to the top surfaces and the bottom surface; a second positive electrode plate mounted to the second side surface, wherein the second side surface is substantially orthogonal to the top surfaces, the bottom surface and the first side surface; a third positive electrode plate mounted to the first portion of the bottom surface, wherein the first positive electrode plate, the second positive electrode plate and the third positive electrode plate are interconnected electrically; a first negative electrode plate mounted to a second portion of the first side surface; a second negative electrode plate mounted to the second top surface; a third negative electrode plate mounted to the third side surface, wherein the third side surface is substantially parallel to first side surface; a fourth negative electrode plate mounted to the second portion of the bottom surface, wherein the first negative electrode plate, the second negative electrode plate, the third negative electrode plate and the fourth negative electrode plate are interconnected electrically; and a laser diode mounted to the first positive electrode plate on the first side surface and connected to the first negative electrode plate on the first side surface. a submount having a first top surface, a second top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces including a first side surface, a second side surface and a third side surface, wherein the first top surface overlays a first portion of the bottom surface and is offset from the bottom surface by a first thickness and wherein the second top surface overlays a second portion of the bottom surface and is offset from the bottom surface by a second thickness that is less than the first thickness; a first positive electrode plate mounted to a first portion of the first side surface, wherein the first side surface is substantially orthogonal to the top surfaces and the bottom surface; a second positive electrode plate mounted to the second side surface, wherein the second side surface is substantially orthogonal to the top surfaces, the bottom surface and the first side surface; a third positive electrode plate mounted to the first portion of the bottom surface, wherein the first positive electrode plate, the second positive electrode plate and the third positive electrode plate are interconnected electrically; a first negative electrode plate mounted to a second portion of the first side surface; a second negative electrode plate mounted to the second top surface; a third negative electrode plate mounted to the third side surface, wherein the third side surface is substantially parallel to first side surface; a fourth negative electrode plate mounted to the second portion of the bottom surface, wherein the first negative electrode plate, the second negative electrode plate, the third negative electrode plate and the fourth negative electrode plate are interconnected electrically; and a laser diode mounted to the first positive electrode plate on the first side surface and connected to the first negative electrode plate on the first side surface.