Patent ID: 8126025

Claim:
A laser light source apparatus comprising: a first laser array light source that emits a first-wavelength light; a first package that houses the first laser array light source; a second laser array light source that emits a second-wavelength light, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength; and a second package that houses the second laser array light source, wherein the first laser array light source includes a first fundamental wave laser array that produces a first fundamental wave light having a first original wavelength, and a first wavelength conversion element that wavelength-converts the first fundamental wave light into the first-wavelength light having a color, and the second laser array light source includes a second fundamental wave laser array that produces a second fundamental wave light having a second original wavelength different from the first original wavelength, and a second wavelength conversion element that wavelength-converts the second fundamental wave light into the second-wavelength light having a same color as the first-wavelength light, the first package and the second package are disposed adjacent to each other, each of the first and second fundamental wave laser arrays includes first and second mirrors that reflect light having the first and second original wavelengths and hence form a cavity, and a wavelength selection element and a gain medium provided between the first and second mirrors, the wavelength selection element selectively transmitting light having a specific wavelength, the gain medium having a gain band for a specific wavelength range, the wavelength selection elements in the first and second fundamental wave laser arrays are of the same type, the wavelength selection element in the first fundamental wave laser array transmits the light having the first original wavelength, the gain band of the gain medium in the first fundamental wave laser array is set in such a way that laser oscillation occurs in the gain medium at the first original wavelength, the wavelength selection element in the second fundamental wave laser array transmits the light having the second original wavelength, the gain band of the gain medium in the second fundamental wave laser array is set in such a way that laser oscillation occurs in the gain medium at the second original wavelength, the wavelength selection elements in the first and second fundamental wave laser arrays have the same transmission characteristic in which the selectively transmitted wavelength changes according to the angle at which the incident light impinges on the wavelength selection element, and the wavelength selection elements in the first and second fundamental wave laser arrays are disposed in such a way that the inclination angle of the wavelength selection element to the resonance direction of the cavity in the first fundamental wave laser array differs from the inclination angle of the wavelength selection element to the resonance direction of the cavity in the second fundamental wave laser array.