The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1992
Robert E Wallace, Garland, TX (US);
Varo Inc., Garland, TX (US);
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for improving power transfer or collection efficiency from a high aspect ratio linear junction laser diode to associated collimation optics in a weapon rangefinder, illuminator, laser spot projector, optical security system, or other optical device. A cylindrical or rod lens (16) is positioned adjacent to the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10), the longitudinal axis of the rod lens (16) being parallel to the emitting region (14). Preferably, the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10) is located at the bottom of a V-shaped surface (20) of the laser diode (10), for facilitating alignment of the rod lens (16) with the emitting region (14). The rod lens (16) may comprise a fiber optic strand of either glass or plastic material, and is small enough to be totally encapsulated within the window capped case (26) of the laser diode (10) o The cylindrical lens can be a gradient index type, holographic optical element, aspheric, or a combination of the aforementioned as well as circular cross-section rod lens. In an alternative embodiment, a rod lens (16) may be used to collect and collimate light emitted from a wire filament in a copier or page scanner, for example.