Compact mid-IR laser
AssigneeDaylight Solutions, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Day, David F. Arnone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact mid-IR laser device utilizes a quantum cascade laser to provide mid-IR frequencies suitable for use in molecular detection by signature absorption spectra. The compact nature of the device is obtained owing to an efficient heat transfer structure, the use of a small diameter aspheric lens and a monolithic assembly structure to hold the optical elements in a fixed position relative to one another. The compact housing size may be approximately 20 cm×20 cm×20 cm or less. Efficient heat transfer is achieved using a thermoelectric cooler TEC combined with a high thermal conductivity heat spreader onto which the quantum cascade laser is thermally coupled.
Claims14
A mid-IR (MIR) laser device comprising:
- a housing;
- a thermo electric cooling (TEC) device contained within the housing;
- a heat spreader coupled to the TEC within the housing;
- a quantum cascade laser contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the quantum cascade laser generating light output;
- and
- an optical lens contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the optical lens collimating the light output from the quantum cascade laser, wherein the optical lens has numerical aperture that is greater than approximately 0.6, a diameter of less than approximately 5 millimeters, and a focal length of less than approximately 5 millimeters, the optical lens being made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ge, ZnSe, ZnS Si, CaF, BaF, and chalcogenide glass;
- wherein the heat spreader serves to distribute heat to the TEC and also serves as an optical platform to fixedly position the quantum cascade laser and the optical lens relative to one another.
A mid-IR (MIR) laser device comprising:
- a housing having dimensions of less than approximately 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters;
- a thermo electric cooling (TEC) device contained within the housing;
- a monolithic heat spreader coupled to the TEC within the housing, the heat spreader having a thermal conductivity approximately 150-400 W/mK;
- a quantum cascade laser contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the quantum cascade laser generating light output;
- and
- an optical lens contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the optical lens collimating the light output from the quantum cascade laser, wherein the optical lens has numerical aperture that is greater than approximately 0.6, a diameter of less than approximately 5 millimeters, and a focal length of less than approximately 5 millimeters, the optical lens being made of germanium;
- wherein the heat spreader serves to distribute heat to the TEC and also serves as a monolithic optical platform to fixedly position the quantum cascade laser and the optical lens relative to one another.
A mid-IR (MIR) laser device comprising:
- a housing having dimensions of less than approximately 3 centimeters by 4 centimeters by 6 centimeters;
- a thermo electric cooling (TEC) device contained within the housing;
- a monolithic heat spreader coupled to the TEC within the housing, the heat spreader having a thermal conductivity approximately 150-400 W/mK;
- a quantum cascade laser contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the quantum cascade laser generating light output;
- a high thermal conductivity sub-mount positioned between the quantum cascade laser and the heat spreader, the sub-mount having a thermal conductivity of approximately 500-2000 W/mK;
- and
- an optical lens contained within the housing and fixedly coupled to the heat spreader, the optical lens collimating the light output from the quantum cascade laser, wherein the optical lens has numerical aperture that is greater than approximately 0.6, a diameter of less than approximately 5 millimeters, and a focal length of less than approximately 5 millimeters, the optical lens being made of germanium;
- wherein the heat spreader serves to distribute heat to the TEC and also serves as a monolithic optical platform to fixedly position the quantum cascade laser and the optical lens relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.