Patent ID: 7751458

Claim:
A high power laser diode array, comprising: at least one high power laser diode comprising a plurality of laser light emitters for emitting output laser beams, each defining, in a direction perpendicular to a direction of propagation of an output laser beam, a fast axis and a slow axis; fast axis collimating means for collimating said output laser beams in fast axis direction to provide fast axis collimated output laser beams; and slow axis beam shaping means for collimating or focussing said output laser beams in slow axis direction, said slow axis beam shaping means being disposed external to said at least one high power laser diode; wherein said laser light emitters are displaced relative to each other in fast axis direction or in fast and slow axis direction by equidistant spacings, respectively; and an optical means is provided for forming an output laser beam profile in the far field of all laser light emitters consisting of said plurality of fast and slow axis collimated or focussed output laser beams arranged adjacent to each in a seamless manner in one dimension or in two dimensions with an optical fill factor of 100% or close to 100%; and wherein said slow axis beam shaping means is comprised by or formed by said optical means.