Apparatus for enhancing collimation and improving collection efficiency from high aspect ratio linear energy sources
US5426533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/4043
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for improving power transfer or collection efficiency from a high aspect ratio linear junction laser diode to associated collimation optics in a weapon rangefinder, illuminator, laser spot projector, optical security system, or other optical device. A cylindrical or rod lens (16) is positioned adjacent to the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10), the longitudinal axis of the rod lens (16) being parallel to the emitting region (14). Preferably, the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10) is located at the bottom of a V-shaped surface (20) of the laser diode (10), for facilitating alignment of the rod lens (16) with the emitting region (14). The rod lens (16) may comprise a fiber optic strand of either glass or plastic material, and is small enough to be totally encapsulated within the window capped case (26) of the laser diode (10) o The cylindrical lens can be a gradient index type, holographic optical element, aspheric, or a combination of the aforementioned as well as circular cross-section rod lens. In an alternative embodiment, a rod lens (16) may be used to collect and collimate light emitted from a wire filament in a copier or page …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.