Patent ID: 8711894

Claim:
A laser diode module centered along an optical axis comprising: a plurality of spaced individual laser diodes arranged in respective two rows which are spaced laterally equidistantly from the optical axis in opposite directions and extend parallel thereto, the laser diodes emitting respective parallel light beams propagating along respective light paths transversely to the optical axis and without overlapping one another; a plurality of beam collimating assemblies each aligned with the laser diode and configured with consecutive fast- and slow-axis collimators, respectively which make the beam incident thereupon parallel along respective fast and slow axes; a plurality of consecutive deflecting mirrors located along the optical axis and each aligned with the laser diode downstream from the collimating assembly so that the light parallel beams reflect from respective deflecting mirrors to propagate parallel to one another and the optical axis and together define an output parallel light beam with a first diameter; and a telescope centered on the optical axis and configured to intercept and compress the output parallel light beam so as to output a compressed parallel light beam with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, wherein the laser diodes of the two rows alternate with one another along the optical axis.