Patent ID: 7630425

Claim:
A system for generating light at a variety of wavelengths and directing the same along a common axis, comprising: a plurality of tunable lasers, each of the tunable lasers having a different base wavelength and being tunable therefrom, and each of the tunable lasers being spatially offset from one another; a grating for receiving the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers and directing the same along a common axis, wherein the grating is configured so that when each of the spatially offset tunable lasers is radiating light at its base wavelength, the grating redirects the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers along the common axis; a first thermo-optic prism positioned between the plurality of tunable lasers and the grating for steering the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers so that when the spatially offset tunable lasers are tuned so as to generate light at an adjusted wavelength which is different from its base wavelength, the first thermo-optic prism will direct the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers into the grating at an angle which compensates for the difference between the adjusted wavelength and the base wavelength so that the light from that laser will emerge from the grating along the common axis, wherein a thermistor is located on a top surface of the first thermo-optic prism for temperature monitoring; and a second prism positioned between the first thermo-optic prism and the grating, the second prism arranged to correct an aberration introduced by the first thermo-optic prism in order to restore the quality and shape of the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers; wherein the system is configured so that the light from each of the spatially offset tunable lasers is directed through the first thermo-optic prism, then through the second thermo-optic prism, and then into the grating for redirecting the light along the common axis; and wherein the first and second prism each include first and second faces that are angled with respect to one another, wherein the first face of the first prism is parallel the first face of the second prism and wherein the second face of the first prism is parallel to the second face of the second prism.