Patent ID: 8199786

Claim:
A laser diode structure for generating a laser beam, preferably for application in gas detection, with a laser diode arranged in a closed housing, with the housing comprising a housing bottom, an exit window for the laser beam, electrical connections, a Peltier element as an active temperature control device for the laser diode, and an optical element for guiding and/or shaping the laser beam, with the Peltier element being arranged on the housing bottom and carrying the laser diode, and with the optical element positioned at a distance from the laser diode, wherein the laser diode structure comprises an electrically controllable power device that cyclically alters the position of the optical element relative to the laser diode by moving the optical element in and contrary to the propagation direction of the laser beam, thereby varying the distance in the propagation direction of the laser beam between the laser diode and the optical element, wherein the distance changes with periodic oscillation in a magnitude of the wavelength of the laser beam and therewith the optical path length between the laser diode and the optical element in an equal manner, and where the power device is arranged beside the Peltier element on the housing bottom.