Mounting surface-emitting devices

An optical emitter assembly comprising:

• at least two surface-emitting optical devices each having an emission surface providing an optical output aperture;
• a carrier having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being a reference surface on which the optical devices are mounted by their respective emission surfaces and the second surface being a back surface, the carrier having an optical transmission path extending between the reference and back surfaces suitable for transmission of optical radiation from the optical devices;
• at least one additional optical element disposed on the back surface of the carrier, the optical devices being positioned on the reference surface such that their optical output apertures are in overlying relation with a respective additional optical element such that the respective additional optical element is in the optical paths of optical emissions from the optical devices.

A method of mounting a surface-emitting optical device onto a carrier, the optical device having an emission surface providing an optical output aperture, comprising the steps of:

• forming a carrier having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being a reference surface on which the optical device is to be mounted and the second surface being a back surface opposite thereto;
• forming a carrier aperture extending between the reference and back surfaces;
• bonding the optical device by its emission surface to the reference surface of the carrier such that its optical output aperture is in overlying relation with the carrier aperture to direct optical radiation therethrough.

A method of mounting surface-emitting optical devices onto a carrier, the optical devices each having an emission surface providing an optical output aperture and a back surface opposite to the emission surface, comprising the steps of:

• forming a carrier having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being a reference surface on which the optical devices are to be mounted and the second surface being a back surface, the carrier having an optical transmission path extending between the reference and back surfaces suitable for transmission of optical radiation from the optical devices and the carrier including an additional optical element for conditioning the output of the optical devices;
• bonding the optical devices by their respective emission surfaces to the reference surface of the carrier, the optical devices being positioned on the reference surface such that their optical output apertures are in overlying relation with a respective additional optical element such that the respective additional optical element is in the optical paths of optical emissions from the optical devices.

(canceled)