Patent ID: 7593440

Claim:
A method of generating optical pulses, comprising the steps of: generating output pulses having a first fundamental wavelength from a first laser; generating output pulses having a second fundamental wavelength from a second laser; frequency-multiplying said first fundamental wavelength output pulses to provide pulses having a wavelength which is a harmonic wavelength of said first fundamental wavelength; frequency-multiplying said second fundamental wavelength output pulses to provide pulses having a wavelength which a harmonic wavelength of said second fundamental wavelength; sum-frequency mixing said harmonic-wavelength pulses to provide frequency-converted pulses having a first frequency-converted wavelength that is less than either of said harmonic wavelengths; and sum-frequency mixing said frequency-converted-wavelength pulses with fundamental-wavelength pulses from one of said first and second lasers to provide frequency-converted pulses having a second frequency-converted wavelength, said second frequency-converted wavelength being less than said first frequency-converted wavelength.