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. <EOS>