Vertically oriented, multiple laser diode based illumination device

A laser diode based illumination system comprising:

• a laser diode based illumination device comprising:
• an insulated metal substrate including a thermally conductive metal core layer, one or more patterned, electrically conductive metal layers disposed over a first side of the thermally conductive metal core layer, and one or more dielectric layers disposed between the one or more patterned, electrically conductive metal layers, disposed between the thermally conductive metal core layer and a patterned, electrically conductive metal layer of the one or more patterned, electrically conductive layers, or both, wherein the one or more dielectric layers are electrically insulative;
• a mounting structure having a first planar surface mechanically coupled to the first side of the thermally conductive metal core layer and one or more planar surfaces oriented perpendicular to the first planar surface;
• a plurality of laser diode emitters mechanically coupled to at least one of the one or more planar surfaces oriented perpendicular to the first planar surface, wherein a direction of light emitted from each of the plurality of laser diode emitters is perpendicular to the first planar surface of the mounting structure, wherein at least one of the plurality of laser diode emitters is electrically coupled to a first of the one or more patterned, electrically conductive metal layers disposed over the first side of the thermally conductive metal core layer;
• and
• an optics subsystem configured to direct light emitted from the laser diode based illumination device to a focal plane.