Abstract: A laser system that allows transverse arrangement of laser emitters around a laser medium. The system includes a laser medium with a coolant source and electrical controls. A pump layer has a mounting surface, an opposite bottom surface and a center aperture through which the laser medium is inserted. Laser diode emitters are disposed on the mounting surface circumferentially around the laser medium. An intermediate layer has at least one radial channel in fluid communication with the coolant conduit. The intermediate layer is in contact with the bottom surface. A middle layer has micro-channels formed therethrough and a center aperture. The micro-channels are radially arranged around the center aperture and the middle layer is in contact with the intermediate layer. The coolant source is fluidly coupled to the micro-channels to allow coolant to be directed through the microchannels and the radial channel to impinge on the bottom surface.

Abstract: A system for generating a shaped optical pulse is disclosed. The system includes a master oscillator for generating an initial optical pulse, which is then directed to a semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify a portion of the initial optical pulse. The amplified pulse is reflected from a fiber Bragg grating to spectrally clean the amplified pulse and the reflected portion is returned back through the semiconductor optical amplifier. The semiconductor optical amplifier is activated a second time to amplify the reflected portion of the pulse. The time delay between the two activations of the semiconductor optical amplifier is selected to generate an output pulse with desired duration and/or amplitude profile over time.

Abstract: A system for generating a shaped optical pulse is disclosed. The system includes a master oscillator for generating an initial optical pulse, which is then directed to a semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify a portion of the initial optical pulse. The amplified pulse is reflected from a fiber Bragg grating to spectrally clean the amplified pulse and the reflected portion is returned back through the semiconductor optical amplifier. The semiconductor optical amplifier is activated a second time to amplify the reflected portion of the pulse. The time delay between the two activations of the semiconductor optical amplifier is selected to generate an output pulse with desired duration and/or amplitude profile over time.

Abstract: A system for generating a shaped optical pulse is disclosed. The system includes a master oscillator for generating an initial optical pulse, which is then directed to a semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify a portion of the initial optical pulse. The amplified pulse is reflected from a fiber Bragg grating to spectrally clean the amplified pulse and the reflected portion is returned back through the semiconductor optical amplifier. The semiconductor optical amplifier is activated a second time to amplify the reflected portion of the pulse. The time delay between the two activations of the semiconductor optical amplifier is selected to generate an output pulse with desired duration and/or amplitude profile over time.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a high-density laser diode stack is disclosed. The laser diode bars each have an emitter surface and opposing surfaces on either side of the emitter surface. Each laser diode bar has metallization layers on the opposing surfaces and a solder layer on at least one of the metallization layers. The solder layer is applied to a semiconductor wafer prior to cleaving the wafer to create the laser diode bars. The laser diode bars are arranged in a stack such that the emitter surfaces of the bars are facing the same direction. The stack of laser diode bars is placed in a vacuum chamber. An anti-reflection coating is deposited on the emitter surfaces of the laser diode bars in the chamber. The laser diode bars are joined by applying a temperature sufficient to reflow the solder layers in the chamber.

Abstract: A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and control circuitry, such as an integrated circuit. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets. The ceramic sheets are fused together. The ceramic sheets include traces or vias that provide electrically conductive paths to the integrated circuit. The control circuitry controls the output of the laser diode, e.g. the output at each of the laser diode's emitters. Multiple laser diode packages are placed together to form an array.

Abstract: A laser system that allows transverse arrangement of laser emitters around a laser medium. The system includes a laser medium with a coolant source such as a pump and electrical controls. A pump layer has a mounting surface, an opposite bottom surface and a center aperture through which the laser medium is inserted. A plurality of laser diode emitters are disposed on the mounting surface of the pump layer circumferentially around the laser medium. An intermediate layer has at least one radial channel in fluid communication with the coolant conduit of the pump layer. The intermediate layer is in contact with the bottom surface of the pump layer. A middle layer has a plurality of micro-channels formed therethrough and a center aperture. The micro-channels are radially arranged around the center aperture and the middle layer in contact with the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method and system for converting mail between trays in a multiple pass mail sorting system using a plurality of different tray types. Mail from a first type of tray is unloaded and stacked along with mail from other trays to form a large stack. The large stack of mail is then broken down into smaller stacks which are transferred to one of several outputs where the mail is loaded into different types of trays.

Abstract: A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and control circuitry, such as an integrated circuit. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets. The ceramic sheets are fused together. The ceramic sheets include traces or vias that provide electrically conductive paths to the integrated circuit. The control circuitry controls the output of the laser diode, e.g. the output at each of the laser diode's emitters. Multiple laser diode packages are placed together to form an array.

Abstract: A method for compensating a steering system exhibiting dead-zone characteristics estimates the dead-zone parameters of the steering system and establishes a dead-zone inverse function utilizing the estimated parameters. The dead-zone inverse is utilized to transform steering orders in the dead-zone. Parameters of the dead-zone inverse are continuously up-dated with the utilization of the transformed steering order, the existing dead-zone parameters, and the present heading.