Abstract: A mirror is used to form a beam of laser-radiation having a uniform intensity distribution from a beam of laser-radiation having a non-uniform intensity distribution. The mirror has a reflective surface that has a compound shape, which is two inclined surfaces joined by a rounded apex. The compound-mirror is achromatic and can form a uniform intensity distribution from a polychromatic beam of laser-radiation. The uniform intensity distribution may be an isotropic distribution or a flat-top distribution in a plane. The non-uniform intensity distribution may be a Gaussian distribution from a laser source.

Abstract: A mirror is used to form a beam of laser-radiation having a uniform intensity distribution from a beam of laser-radiation having a non-uniform intensity distribution. The mirror has a reflective surface that has a compound shape, which is two inclined surfaces joined by a rounded apex. The compound-mirror is achromatic and can form a uniform intensity distribution from a polychromatic beam of laser-radiation. The uniform intensity distribution may be an isotropic distribution or a flat-top distribution in a plane. The non-uniform intensity distribution may be a Gaussian distribution from a laser source.

Abstract: Diverging beams from three fiber-lasers are collimated by a three-segment composite lens. The collimated beams propagate parallel to each other to a single focusing lens that focuses the collimated beams into a transport fiber.

Abstract: A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber.

Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.

Abstract: A laser includes an optically pumped semiconductor OPS gain-structure. The apparatus has a laser-resonator which includes a mode-locking device for causing the laser to deliver mode-locked pulses. The resonator has a total length selected such that the mode-locked pulses are delivered at a pulse repetition frequency less than 150 MHz. An optical arrangement within the resonator provides that radiation circulating in the resonator makes a plurality of incidences on the OPS gain-structure with a time less than the excited-state lifetime of the gain-structure between successive incidences.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes a solid state gain-element. The gain-element is pumped by pump-radiation from a diode-laser bar. The diode-laser radiation is delivered from the diode-laser bar to the gain-element entirely via a tapered light-guide which guides the radiation only in a fast-axis direction of the diode laser bar. The tapering of the light-guide reduces fast-axis divergence of the pump-radiation by about a factor of ten. The pump-radiation is delivered to the gain-element as a line of radiation homogenized in the fast-axis direction.

Abstract: A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber.

Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.

Abstract: A diode-laser bar package includes a water cooled metal heat-sink. An electrical-insulator-plate is bonded to the heat-sink with a soft solder. A metal sub-mount and a first electrode are bonded, spaced apart, on the electrical-insulator-plate. A solder-bridge fills the space between the first electrode and the sub-mount. A diode-laser bar is bonded to the sub-mount. A second electrode is bonded to the first electrode with an electrically insulating bond. Electrical connection between the second electrode and the diode-laser bar is made by a plurality of wire-bond electrical leads.

Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.

Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.

Abstract: A laser includes an optically pumped semiconductor OPS gain-structure. The apparatus has a laser-resonator which includes a mode-locking device for causing the laser to deliver mode-locked pulses. The resonator has a total length selected such that the mode-locked pulses are delivered at a pulse repetition frequency less than 150 MHz. An optical arrangement within the resonator provides that radiation circulating in the resonator makes a plurality of incidences on the OPS gain-structure with a time less than the excited-state lifetime of the gain-structure between successive incidences.

Abstract: A laser includes an optically pumped semiconductor OPS gain-structure. The apparatus has a laser-resonator which includes a mode-locking device for causing the laser to deliver mode-locked pulses. The resonator has a total length selected such that the mode-locked pulses are delivered at a pulse repetition frequency of about 100 MHz. An optical arrangement within the resonator provides that radiation circulating in the resonator makes a plurality of incidences on the OPS gain-structure with a time less than the excited-state lifetime of the gain-structure between successive incidences.

Abstract: A hybrid CW MOPA includes an OPS-laser resonator delivering radiation in a plurality of longitudinal lasing-modes or wavelengths. The multiple longitudinal mode output is amplified in a fiber-amplifier. Amplified lasing-modes from the fiber-amplifier are frequency-converted by an optically nonlinear crystal in a ring-resonator having the same length as the laser resonator, such that the ring-resonator is resonant for all of the amplified lasing-modes.

Abstract: A gain-module for use in an OPS-laser includes a multilayer semiconductor gain-structure surmounting a multilayer compound mirror-structure. Within the multilayer compound mirror-structure is a relatively thick layer of diamond which serves as a heat-spreader.

Abstract: A laser printer arranged to print a pixellated image on laser sensitive tape includes a carriage on which are arranged two laser-beam sources delivering separately modulated laser-beams and optics for focusing the beams on the tape. The tape is mounted on a tape drive which drives the tape incrementally in one direction. The carriage is translated over the tape in a direction perpendicular to the tape-drive direction, while the modulated beams are focused. Two rows of the pixellated image are drawn across the tape in this manner. The tape is then incremented and a further two rows are drawn.

Abstract: A diode-laser bar package includes a diamond composite heat-sink on which is soft-solder bonded a copper-pad having an area much greater than that of the diode-laser bar. A constraining-block of a metal having a CTE matching that of the diode-laser bar is hard-solder bonded to the conductive pad. The constraining-block is configured such that the conductive pad in the region of the diode-laser bar has a CTE about equal to that of the constraining-block, and, accordingly, the diode-laser bar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for blocking the operation of selected USB devices at the hardware level, while allowing the operation of selected USB devices and external USB hubs to continue to operate normally. In particular, the method provides for the restricted operation of one or a plurality of USB devices by altering one or a plurality of data fields contained within a USB transaction. An apparatus for operation of the method is also provided. Control of the use of USB storage devices is provided.

Abstract: A laser includes an optically pumped semiconductor OPS gain-structure. The apparatus has a laser-resonator which includes a mode-locking device for causing the laser to deliver mode-locked pulses. The resonator has a total length selected such that the mode-locked pulses are delivered at a pulse repetition frequency of about 100 MHz. An optical arrangement within the resonator provides that radiation circulating in the resonator makes a plurality of incidences on the OPS gain-structure with a time less than the excited-state lifetime of the gain-structure between successive incidences.