Abstract: Devices and methods for optical-fiber processing for connector applications are disclosed, wherein the devices and methods utilize a quantum cascade laser operated under select processing parameters to carry out end face polishing. The method includes supporting the optical fiber in a ferrule so that a bare end section of the fiber protrudes from an end of the ferrule by a protrusion distance. The method then includes irradiating the end face with light from the quantum cascade laser to polish the end face. The quantum cascade laser can also be used to form a bump in a central portion of the end face, wherein the bump facilitates physical contact between respective end faces of connected optical fibers.

Abstract: A lighting device is provided that includes a light source package including a diode disposed in a first housing having a first opening, the diode emitting light at an emission point within the first housing. The lighting device also has a lens disposed on the first housing proximate the first opening and optically aligned with the emission point and a second housing substantially enclosing the first housing and the lens, the second housing having a second opening. The lighting device also includes an optical fiber extending through the second opening in the second housing and having a terminal end optically aligned with the lens and diode. The lens is disposed between the terminal end of the fiber and the diode, and the terminal end of the fiber is within a distance of less than 2.5 millimeters from the emission point, and the fiber emits light via a light diffusing fiber.

Abstract: A lighting device is provided that includes a light source package including a diode disposed in a housing and emitting light at an emission point within the housing. The lighting device also has an optical fiber extending through an opening in the housing and having a terminal end optically aligned on an optical axis with the diode to within a distance of less than 1.0 millimeter from the emission point, wherein the fiber emits light via a light diffusing fiber.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system and method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object (e.g., scene of interest). The hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a scannable slit mechanism, a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. The scannable slit mechanism can be a micro-electromechanical system spatial light modulator (MEMS SLM), a diffractive Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) spatial light modulator (SLM), a digital light processing (DLP) system, a liquid crystal display, a rotating drum with at least one slit formed therein, or a rotating disk with at least one slit formed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing pump light of a first wavelength ?1 to a laser that emits a second wavelength ?2 has first and second lasers of the wavelength ?1 to direct light along first and second axes in a first direction. The first and second axes define a first plane P1. To form a composite light beam of wavelength ?1, a filter apparatus has a first filter on a first surface at an oblique angle to the first and second axes and that transmits ?1 and reflects ?2. A second filter on a second surface parallel to the first surface, reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. A third filter formed on the first surface coplanar with the first filter reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. The filter apparatus re-aligns the first and second axes along a second plane P2, orthogonal to P1 and parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system and method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object (e.g., scene of interest). The hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a scannable slit mechanism, a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. The scannable slit mechanism can be a micro-electromechanical system spatial light modulator (MEMS SLM), a diffractive Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) spatial light modulator (SLM), a digital light processing (DLP) system, a liquid crystal display, a rotating drum with at least one slit formed therein, or a rotating disk with at least one slit formed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing pump light of a first wavelength ?1 to a laser that emits a second wavelength ?2 has first and second lasers of the wavelength ?1 to direct light along first and second axes in a first direction. The first and second axes define a first plane P1. To form a composite light beam of wavelength ?1, a filter apparatus has a first filter on a first surface at an oblique angle to the first and second axes and that transmits ?1 and reflects ?2. A second filter on a second surface parallel to the first surface, reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. A third filter formed on the first surface coplanar with the first filter reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. The filter apparatus re-aligns the first and second axes along a second plane P2, orthogonal to P1 and parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: Methods of optimizing optical alignment in an optical package are provided. In one embodiment, the optical package includes a laser diode, a wavelength conversion device, coupling optics positioned along an optical path extending from the laser diode to the wavelength conversion device, and one or more adaptive actuators. The method involves adjusting the optical alignment of the wavelength conversion device in a non-adaptive degree of freedom by referring to a thermally-dependent output intensity profile of the laser diode and a thermally-dependent coupling efficiency profile of the optical package.

Abstract: A method for operating a frequency converted light source includes sweeping a wavelength control signal of a semiconductor laser over an initial signal range and measuring an optical power of an output beam emitted from a wavelength conversion device coupled to the semiconductor laser. The wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser may then be swept over at least one truncated signal range and the optical power of the resulting output beam is measured. The at least one truncated signal range may be centered on a point corresponding to a maximum power of the output beam of the sweep of the wavelength control signal over the preceding signal range. An operational signal range for the wavelength control signal is determined such that a midpoint of the operational signal range corresponds to the maximum optical power of the resulting output beam of the sweep over the preceding signal range.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor lasers and laser projection systems. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating a laser projection system is provided. According to the method, the laser projection system is utilized to display a sequence of pixelized image frames comprising an alternating sequence of relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF. A complementary control signal transitions between an active state QON during the relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and an inactive state QOFF during the relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF.

Abstract: A method for aligning a semiconductor laser to a wavelength conversion device in a wavelength converted light source includes positioning a beam spot of the semiconductor laser on an input facet of the wavelength conversion device. The beam spot is stepped in a scanning direction by a succession of steps. A wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser is swept over an alignment signal range at the end point of individual steps of the succession of steps. The peak output power of a wavelength converted output beam emitted from the wavelength conversion device during the sweep is determined at the end point of individual steps of the succession of steps. The peak output power is compared to a threshold output power to determine if the beam spot is aligned with the waveguide of the wavelength conversion device.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a laser light source; an output member for receiving and transmitting a laser light flux generated by the laser light flux, and outputting a laser light flux; an optical aligning member for positioning the laser light flux generated by the laser light source to the output member; a drive for driving the optical aligning member; a drive controller; an output detector for outputting a detected output representing an intensity of a laser light flux outputted from the output member; and an output controller. The drive controller controls the drive to drive the optical aligning member and the output controller changes a power of the laser light flux generated by the light source, based on the detected output.

Abstract: A method for aligning an optical package includes applying a dither waveform and an advancement waveform to a drive mechanism. The optical package includes a semiconductor laser operable to emit an output beam with a first wavelength, a wavelength conversion device operable to convert the output beam to a second wavelength, adaptive optics configured to optically couple the output beam into a waveguide portion of an input facet of the wavelength conversion device, and a drive mechanism coupled to the adaptive optics and configured to adjust a position of the output beam. The dither waveform oscillates the adaptive optics back and forth in first and second directions to oscillate the output beam on the input facet. The advancement waveform advances the adaptive optics in an adjustment direction. Rising and falling edge times of the dither waveform are greater than rising and falling edge times of the advancement waveform.

Abstract: A method for operating a frequency converted light source includes sweeping a wavelength control signal of a semiconductor laser over an initial signal range and measuring an optical power of an output beam emitted from a wavelength conversion device coupled to the semiconductor laser. The wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser may then be swept over at least one truncated signal range and the optical power of the resulting output beam is measured. The at least one truncated signal range may be centered on a point corresponding to a maximum power of the output beam of the sweep of the wavelength control signal over the preceding signal range. An operational signal range for the wavelength control signal is determined such that a midpoint of the operational signal range corresponds to the maximum optical power of the resulting output beam of the sweep over the preceding signal range.

Abstract: Methods of controlling semiconductor lasers are provided where the semiconductor laser generates a wavelength-modulated output beam ?MOD that is directed towards the input face of a wavelength conversion device. The intensity of a wavelength-converted output ?CONV of the device is monitored as the output beam of the laser is modulated and as the position of the modulated output beam ?MOD on the input face of the wavelength conversion device is varied. A maximum value of the monitored intensity is correlated with optimum coordinates representing the position of the modulated output beam ?MOD on the input face of the wavelength conversion device. The optical package is operated in the data projection mode by directing an intensity-modulated laser beam from the semiconductor laser to the wavelength conversion device using the optimum positional coordinates. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. Laser controllers and projections systems are also provided.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a laser light source; an output member for receiving and transmitting a laser light flux generated by the laser light flux, and outputting a laser light flux; an optical aligning member for positioning the laser light flux generated by the laser light source to the output member; a drive for driving the optical aligning member; a drive controller; an output detector for outputting a detected output representing an intensity of a laser light flux outputted from the output member; and an output controller. The drive controller controls the drive to drive the optical aligning member and the output controller changes a power of the laser light flux generated by the light source, based on the detected output.

Abstract: Methods of optimizing optical alignment in an optical package are provided. In one embodiment, the optical package includes a laser diode, a wavelength conversion device, coupling optics positioned along an optical path extending from the laser diode to the wavelength conversion device, and one or more adaptive actuators. The method involves adjusting the optical alignment of the wavelength conversion device in a non-adaptive degree of freedom by referring to a thermally-dependent output intensity profile of the laser diode and a thermally-dependent coupling efficiency profile of the optical package.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor lasers and laser projection systems. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating a laser projection system is provided. According to the method, the laser projection system is utilized to display a sequence of pixelized image frames comprising an alternating sequence of relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF. A complementary control signal transitions between an active state QON during the relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and an inactive state QOFF during the relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF.

Abstract: Methods of controlling semiconductor lasers are provided where the semiconductor laser generates an output beam that is directed towards the input face of a wavelength conversion device. Particular aspects of the present invention relate to alignment and/or intentional misalignment of a beam spot of an output beam on an input face of a wavelength conversion device. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods of controlling semiconductor lasers are provided where the semiconductor laser generates an output beam that is directed towards the input face of a wavelength conversion device. Particular aspects of the present invention relate to alignment and/or intentional misalignment of a beam spot of an output beam on an input face of a wavelength conversion device. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.