Replaceable laser and lens assembly

A replaceable assembly including a light-emitting device for an optical apparatus requiring a focussed light beam at a predetermined distance from a reference plane, said assembly comprising:

• a light-emitting device for emitting light in a forwardly direction parallel with an axis, said light emitting device requiring cooling during normal operation;
• a lens to focus said light;
• a heat pump including a cold surface and a hot surface;
• first mechanical and thermal coupling means coupled to said light-emitting device, to said lens, and at a heat transfer surface to said cold surface of said heat pump, for forming a mechanical combination, said first mechanical and thermal coupling means being arranged for holding said lens in a selectable position before said light-emitting device, said first mechanical and thermal coupling means being constructed from a material dimensioned and thermally isolated from adjacent structures such that, in operation, said lens and said light emitting device are at least thermally cantilevered from said cold surface of said heat pump, and a substantially uniform temperature is maintained over the entirety of said first mechanical and thermal coupling means,
• second mechanical and thermal coupling means, said second mechanical and thermal coupling means being at least thermally coupled at a heat transfer surface to said hot surface of said heat pump and mechanically coupled to at least said first mechanical and thermal coupling means for holding said mechanical combination of said light emitting device, said lens, said first mechanical and thermal coupling means, and said heat pump in a position with said axis substantially orthogonal relative to a reference plane, said second mechanical and thermal coupling means being thermally coupled for sinking heat transferred thereto by said hot surface of said heat pump;
• and
• wherein said selectable position of said lens relative to said light-emitting device is selected at normal operating temperature and condition of said lens, light-emitting device, heat pump, and first and second mechanical and thermal coupling means to produce focus at said predetermined distance from said reference plane, whereby the positions of said lens and said light emitting device relative to said reference plane are repeatable at said operating temperature and condition, and said assembly may be freely substituted for another like assembly for producing focussed light at said predetermined distance from any reference plane.