US 12,756,161 B2Granted

Slow axis, or slow axis and fast axis, wavelength beam combining for laser minibars

AssigneeLumentum Operations LLC

InventorJohn G. Bai

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Abstract

An optical module includes a stepped structure; a plurality of laser minibars; a plurality of FACs; a plurality of SACs; a plurality of gratings; and an OC. At least one laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, is disposed on each step of the plurality of steps of the stepped structure. The plurality of laser minibars are configured to emit a plurality of laser beams. The plurality of gratings are configured to receive the plurality of laser beams via the plurality of FACs and the plurality of SACs, to combine the plurality of laser beams into a plurality of single laser beams, and to direct the plurality of single laser beams to the OC. The OC is configured to receive the plurality of single laser beams from the plurality of gratings, and to direct a portion of the plurality of single laser beams out of the optical module.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical module, comprising:

a stepped structure that includes a plurality of steps;
a plurality of laser minibars,
wherein each laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, comprises a plurality of laser emitters, and
wherein each laser emitter, of the plurality of laser emitters, is configured to emit a laser beam that is associated with a particular wavelength that is different than respective wavelengths of laser beams emitted by other laser emitters of the plurality of laser emitters;
a plurality of fast axis collimators (FACs);
a plurality of slow axis collimators (SACs);
a plurality of gratings;
and
an output coupler (OC), wherein:
each step, of the plurality of steps of the stepped structure, is associated with a particular distance, in a lateral direction, from the OC that is different than respective distances of other steps of the plurality of steps,
each laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, is disposed on a particular step, of the plurality of steps, that is different than the other steps of the stepped structure on which other laser minibars are disposed,
each FAC, of the plurality of FACs, corresponds to a laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, and is disposed between the laser minibar and a SAC, of the plurality of SACs, that corresponds to the laser minibar,
each SAC, of the plurality of SACs, corresponds to a laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, and is disposed between a FAC, of the plurality of FACs, that corresponds to the laser minibar and a grating, of the plurality of gratings, that corresponds to the laser minibar, and
each grating, of the plurality of gratings, corresponds to a laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, and is disposed between a SAC, of the plurality of SACs, that corresponds to the laser minibar and the OC,
wherein the plurality of gratings are configured to:
receive the plurality of laser beams via the plurality of FACs and the plurality of SACs,
provide spatial beam combination (SBC) and wavelength beam combination (WBC) of the plurality of laser beams to form a plurality of single laser beams, and
direct the plurality of single laser beams to the OC.

15 more elements

An optical module, comprising:

a stepped structure that includes a plurality of steps;
a plurality of laser minibars;
a plurality of fast axis collimators (FACs);
a plurality of slow axis collimators (SACs);
a plurality of gratings;
an output coupler (OC), wherein:
at least one laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, is disposed on each step of the plurality of steps of the stepped structure,
the plurality of laser minibars are configured to emit a plurality of laser beams;
the plurality of gratings are configured to receive the plurality of laser beams via the plurality of FACs and the plurality of SACs, to combine the plurality of laser beams into a plurality of single laser beams, and to direct the plurality of single laser beams to the OC;
and
the OC is configured to receive the plurality of single laser beams from the plurality of gratings, and to direct a portion of the plurality of single laser beams out of the optical module;
a common grating;
a transform lens, wherein:
the transform lens is configured to converge the plurality of single laser beams on the common grating, and
the common grating is configured to direct the plurality of single laser beams as combined single laser beams to the OC;
and
a pair of lenses, wherein:
a first lens, of the pair of lenses, is configured to collimate the combined single laser beams prior to the combined single laser beams propagating to the OC;
and
a second lens, of the pair of lenses, is configured to collimate the combined single laser beams after a portion of the combined single laser beams propagate from the OC.

17 more elements

An optical module, comprising:

a stepped structure that includes a plurality of steps;
a plurality of laser minibars;
a plurality of slow axis collimators (SACs);
and
a plurality of gratings, wherein:
a particular laser minibar, of the plurality of laser minibars, is disposed on a particular step, of the plurality of steps, that is different than other steps of the stepped structure on which other laser minibars are disposed,
a particular SAC, of the plurality of SACs, corresponds to the particular laser minibar,
a particular grating, of the plurality of gratings, corresponds to the particular laser minibar,
the particular SAC is positioned between the particular laser minibar and the particular grating,
the particular SAC is a first distance from the particular laser minibar that is equal to a focal length of the particular SAC;
and
the particular SAC is positioned at a second distance from the particular grating that is equal to the focal length.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/335,811Filed 15 Jun 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 17 Jun 2022
Published: US 2023/0411934 A121 Dec 2023
Granted: 6 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H01S 5/4012
Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30: beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres,…
H01S 5/005
Semiconductor lasers: optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams…
H01S 5/02253
Out-coupling of light: using lenses
H01S 5/02315
Mount members, e.g. sub-mount members: support members, e.g. bases or carriers