Abstract: A miniaturized multi-functional laser resonator (10). The novel invention includes a mobile optical bench (100), a predetermined number of laser sources (34, 50, 54, 58) mounted to the optical bench (100), and a plurality of optical elements (80) for combining laser beams output from the laser sources such that the beams converge on a small area, such as a telescope (20). The invention further includes a mechanism (102) for aligning the laser beams. In the illustrative embodiment, the mechanism for aligning the beams includes v-grooved mounting surfaces (102) formed in the optical bench (100). The optical elements (80) are mounted in the v-grooved surfaces (102) of the optical bench (100) such that the laser beams are aligned. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention includes four laser diodes generating 1053 nM, 905 nM, 850 nM, and 650 nM laser beams.

Abstract: An unproved optical bench for use in an optical system, such as a miniaturized laser transmitter, or the like. The optical bench has a housing with a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed therein. Optical elements of the optical system in which the optical bench is used are secured, such as by bonding, in the plurality of V-shaped grooves. The optical bench thus rigidly mounts the optical elements of the optical system to produce a compact and lightweight structure that is relatively insensitive to environmental extremes.

Abstract: A single aperture opto-mechanical system for transmitting two small-aperture laser beams and single received laser beam. The two pencil-thin transmitted beams are co-aligned within 150 micro-radians in the same direction but have optical axes that are displaced laterally. An in-coming beam is received along a path that is essentially parallel with the path of the transmitted beams within 500 micro-radians. The small-aperture transmitted beams each pass through a hole in a metal mirror beamsplitter that is positioned to reflect the received light energy at a 90 E angle through a narrow band-pass filter and focused by an aspheric glass lens that directs the received beam energy onto a receiver detector. The beamsplitter has indexing features that provide self-alignment of the beamsplitter to the laser mount.

Abstract: A system and a method of designing and mechanical packaging of pumped laser resonator elements to minimize their size. All the elements of the compact pumped laser resonator assembly are placed on a monolithic block mount, which substitutes and functions as a laser diode heatsink, a laser resonator cavity mount, and an optical bench. The laser optical cavity has a plurality of bends, in order to decrease the size of the assembly, and the laser resonator optical elements include fold prisms, a reflector, a retroreflector and an intracavity optical Q-switch. A miniaturized diode array pumped laser resonator assembly using a miniature monolithic block mount may have a volume of less than one cubic inch and dimensions less than or equal to about 30 mm.times.25 mm.times.13 mm in metric units, and may weigh less than two ounces or 56 g, while providing a laser power of more than 1 mJ, thereby creating a very small but highly powerful pumped laser resonator assembly.