Laser apparatus and methods for assembling and installing the same

A method for assembling a laser apparatus having,

• one or more semiconductor lasers which emit one or more laser beams,
• an optical fiber,
• an optical condensing system which condenses said one or more laser beams emitted from said one or more semiconductor lasers, and makes the one or more laser beams enter said optical fiber from a light-entrance end of the optical fiber,
• a package which contains said optical condensing system and said one or more semiconductor lasers, and fixedly holds said optical fiber in such a manner that said light-entrance end faces said optical condensing system, and
• a fixing structure which is arranged between said optical condensing system and said package for fixing the whole or a part of the optical condensing system to the package through the fixing structure, has at least one guide surface extending in at least one of first and second directions respectively parallel and perpendicular to a core axis of the optical fiber at said light-entrance end, and allows movement of the whole or said part of the optical condensing system along the at least one guide surface before fixing the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to the package,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) fixing said optical fiber to said package;
• (b) adjusting the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to a predetermined position with respect to said core axis by moving the whole or said part of the optical condensing system along said at least one guide surface of said fixing structure;
• and
• (c) fixing the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to said fixing structure at said predetermined position.

A method for assembling a laser apparatus having,

• one or more semiconductor lasers which emit one or more laser beams,
• an optical fiber,
• an optical condensing system which condenses said one or more laser beams emitted from said one or more semiconductor lasers, and makes the one or more laser beams enter said optical fiber from a light-entrance end of the optical fiber,
• a package which contains said optical condensing system and said one or more semiconductor lasers, and fixedly holds said optical fiber in such a manner that said light-entrance end faces said optical condensing system, and
• a fixing structure including,
• a mount which has a holder-attachment surface perpendicular to said core axis, and is fixed to said package, and
• a holder which has an optical-system mounting surface arranged parallel to said core axis for mounting the whole or a part of the optical condensing system, and is fixed to said holder-attachment surface,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) fixing said optical fiber to said package;
• (b) adjusting said holder to a first predetermined position in a first direction perpendicular to said core axis by moving the holder on said holder-attachment surface of said mount fixed to said package;
• (c) fixing said holder to said holder-attachment surface at said first predetermined position;
• (d) adjusting the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to a second predetermined position in a second direction parallel to said core axis by moving the whole or said part of the optical condensing system on said optical-system mounting surface of said holder fixed to said mount;
• and
• (e) fixing the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to said optical-system mounting surface at said second predetermined position.

An installation structure for installing a laser apparatus having a package, in a system using the laser apparatus and having a main body, comprising:

• a package-mounting member having a mounting surface on which said package is placed, and being directly or indirectly fixed to said main body;
• and
• an elastic member elastically pressing said package against the mounting surface;
• wherein said laser apparatus includes,
• one or more semiconductor lasers which emit one or more laser beams,
• an optical fiber,
• an optical condensing system which condenses said one or more laser beams emitted from said one or more semiconductor lasers, and makes the one or more laser beams enter said optical fiber from a light-entrance end of the optical fiber,
• said package which contains said optical condensing system and said one or more semiconductor lasers, and fixedly holds said optical fiber in such a manner that said light-entrance end faces said optical condensing system, and
• a fixing structure which is arranged between said optical condensing system and said package for fixing the whole or a part of the optical condensing system to the package through the fixing structure, has at least one guide surface extending in at least one of first and second directions respectively parallel and perpendicular to a core axis of the optical fiber at said light-entrance end, and allows movement of the whole or said part of the optical condensing system along the at least one guide surface before fixing the whole or said part of the optical condensing system to the package.