Patent ID: 8718105

Claim:
A laser source for emitting an output beam that consists of a plurality of output pulses of light, with at least some of the output pulses having a different center wavelength, the laser source comprising: a first gain medium having a first facet, the first gain medium generating a first beam that exits the first facet; wherein the first gain medium includes a second facet and the first beam exits the second facet; wherein the second facet is at least partly reflective; a second gain medium having a first facet, the second gain medium generating a second beam that exits the first facet; wherein the second gain medium includes a second facet and the second beam exits the second facet; wherein the second facet is at least partly reflective; a common feedback assembly positioned in the path of the first beam and the second beam, the common feedback assembly redirecting at least a portion of the first beam back to the first gain medium and at least a portion of the second beam back to the second gain medium; wherein the common feedback assembly includes a reflector assembly that redirects at least a portion of the first beam to the first gain medium and at least a portion of the second beam to the second gain medium; wherein for the first gain medium, the second facet defines a first end of a first external cavity and the common feedback assembly defines a second end of the first external cavity; wherein for the second gain medium, the second facet defines a first end of a second external cavity and the common feedback assembly defines a second end of the second external cavity; a feedback mover that rotates the reflector assembly to continuously adjusts an angle of incidence of the beams on at least a portion of the common feedback assembly to adjust each external cavity simultaneously; a position detector that generates a first position signal when the reflector assembly is at a first device position, and a second position signal when the reflector assembly is at a second device position; and a control system that selectively and individually directs power to the first gain medium and the second gain medium; wherein the control system directs a first pulse of power to the first gain medium upon receipt of the first position signal to generate a first pulse of light having a first center wavelength, and wherein the control system directs a second pulse of power to the second gain medium upon receipt of the second position signal to generate a second pulse of light having a second center wavelength that is different than the first center wavelength.