IP Library › Granted Patent US 12706442
Granted Patent B2
US 12706442 · App. 18/019,722 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Freeform collimator lens for angled facet laser devices

Inventors: Guthrie Partridge (Santa Clara, CA); Joao Mendes-Lopes (Lisbon, PT)
Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
H01S5/147H01S5/02253H01S5/5027H01S5/5045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12706442
App. No.
18/019,722
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus having a waveguide and a freeform collimating lens. The waveguide is characterized by a waveguide axis and a planar end having a normal axis that is inclined at an end angle that is greater than 0 degrees with respect to the waveguide axis. The freeform collimating lens collimates light leaving the planar end of the waveguide into a collimated light beam characterized by a beam direction that is parallel to the waveguide axis. The apparatus inhibits reflections from the planar end of the waveguide from propagating back down the waveguide while providing a collimated light beam having a direction parallel to the axis of the waveguide.

Claims (14)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a waveguide characterized by a waveguide axis and a planar end having a normal axis that is inclined at an end angle that is greater than 0 degrees with respect to said waveguide axis; and

a freeform collimating lens that collimates light leaving said planar end of said waveguide into a collimated light beam characterized by a beam direction that is parallel to said waveguide axis,

wherein said freeform collimating lens comprises a freeform concave surface proximate to said planar end, said freeform concave surface having a shape that is computed to collimate said light leaving said planar end having said normal axis that is inclined at said angle that is greater than 0 degrees with respect to said waveguide axis.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end angle is greater than 7 degrees.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an optical amplifier that amplifies light that is reflected from said planar end, said end angle preventing lasing in a system incorporating said apparatus.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said optical amplifier comprises a quantum cascade gain chip.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said optical amplifier comprises a doped optical fiber.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an external cavity reflector that returns a collimated beam of light to said freeform collimating lens, said returned light travelling in a direction parallel to said waveguide axis.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 comprises a cavity that is external to said quantum cascade gain chip, wherein said cavity comprises a wavelength selective filter.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wavelength selective filter comprises a diffraction grating.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said freeform collimating lens comprises a spherical convex surface distal to said planar end.

10 . The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a lens mount that positions said freeform collimating lens relative to said quantum cascade gain chip to maintain said beam direction parallel to said waveguide axis.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said light leaving said planar end is refracted light.