Methods for Aligning Wavelength Converted Light Sources

A method for aligning a semiconductor laser to a wavelength conversion device in a wavelength converted light source, the method comprising:

• positioning a beam spot of the semiconductor laser on an alignment initiation point on an input facet of the wavelength conversion device;
• performing a first alignment scan of the beam spot on the input facet by:
• stepping the beam spot in a first scanning direction by a first succession of steps;
• sweeping a wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser over an alignment signal range between individual steps of the first succession of steps;
• determining a peak output power of a wavelength converted output beam emitted from the wavelength conversion device while the wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser is swept between individual steps of the first succession of steps;
• comparing the peak output power of the wavelength converted output beam to a threshold output power, wherein the beam spot is aligned with a waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device when the peak output power is greater than the threshold output power;
• performing a second alignment scan of the beam spot on the input facet when the peak output power does not exceed the threshold output power during the first alignment scan by:
• stepping the beam spot away from an end point of the first alignment scan in an intermediate direction by at least one intermediate step;
• stepping the beam spot in a second scanning direction opposite the first scanning direction by a second succession of steps;
• sweeping the wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser over the alignment signal range between individual steps of the second succession of steps;
• determining the peak output power of the wavelength converted output beam emitted from the wavelength conversion device while the wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser is swept between individual steps of the second succession of steps;
• and
• comparing the peak output power of the wavelength converted output beam to the threshold output power, wherein the beam spot is aligned with the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device when the peak output power is greater than the threshold output power.