Nonmonolithic array structure of multiple beam diode lasers

Claim 2

A multiple beam diode laser array comprising: a first semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a first predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the first semiconductor diode laser; a second semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a second predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the second semiconductor diode laser; and an insulator located between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers, the insulator providing electrical insulation and spacing between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers.

Claim 3

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 4

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined wavelengths are the same.

Claim 5

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers have orthogonally polarized laser beams.

Claim 6

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have separate active regions that emit orthogonally polarized laser beams and the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 7

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have four active regions that emit laser beams having a substantially identical wavelength.

Claim 8

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the centers of the active regions are separated by a distance ranging between 10 and 50 micrometers.

Claim 9

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the insulator is polyimide.

Claim 10

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the insulator determines the separation of the first and second semiconductor diode lasers.

Claim 11

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a first heatsink substrate and the second semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a second heatsink substrate.

Claim 12

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 10, wherein the heatsink substrates are silicon and provide a ground connection for the semiconductor diode lasers.

Claim 13

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser has a width larger than the width of the second semiconductor diode laser, and the second semiconductor diode laser has a length longer than the length of the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 14

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 12, wherein wire connections to the lasing elements of the first semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near each end of the width, and wire connections to the lasing elements of the second semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near an end of the length.

Claim 15

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 12, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is 500 microns wide and 250 microns long, and the second semiconductor diode laser is 250 microns wide and 500 microns long.

Claim 16

The multiple beam diode laser array of claim 1, wherein the facet emission points of the first and second semiconductor diode lasers are on edges that are aligned substantially flush.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a first heatsink after the first selection step, and the second semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a second heatsink after the second selection step.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16, wherein the second semiconductor diode laser is selected to have orthogonally polarized laser beams relative to the laser beams of the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16, wherein the second semiconductor diode laser is selected to have substantially the same predetermined wavelength as the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16, wherein the second semiconductor diode laser is selected to have a different predetermined wavelength as the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers are each selected to have separate active regions that emit orthogonally polarized laser beams and the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 24

The method of claim 16, wherein the centers of the active regions are separated by a distance ranging between 10 and 50 micrometers.

Claim 25

The method of claim 16, wherein the insulator is polyimide.

Claim 26

The method of claim 16, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser has a width larger than the width of the second semiconductor diode laser and the second semiconductor diode laser has a length longer than the length of the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 27

The method of claim 24, wherein wire connections to the lasing elements of the first semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near each end of the width, and wire connections to the lasing elements of the second semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near an end of the length.

Claim 28

The method of claim 16, wherein the facet emission points of the first and second semiconductor diode lasers are on edges that are aligned substantially flush.

Claim 29

A laser printer comprising: photoreceptor means for retaining a charge; a multiple beam diode laser array comprising: a first semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a first predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the first semiconductor diode laser; a second semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a second predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the second semiconductor diode laser; and an insulator located between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers, the insulator providing electrical insulation and spacing between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; scanning means for sweeping the laser beams across the photoreceptor in a fast-scan direction; a beam separator for separating the laser beams of the first semiconductor diode laser from the laser beams of the second semiconductor diode laser; a plurality of mirrors for directing the separated laser beams to the appropriate regions of the photoreceptor means; and developing means for developing the electrical charges on the photoreceptor means.

Claim 30

A laser printer comprising: photoreceptor means for retaining a charge; a multiple beam diode laser array comprising: a first semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a first predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the first semiconductor diode laser; a second semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a second predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the second semiconductor diode laser; and an insulator located between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers, the insulator providing electrical insulation and spacing between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; scanning means for sweeping the laser beams across the photoreceptor in a fast-scan direction; a beam separator for separating the laser beams of the first semiconductor diode laser from the laser beams of the second semiconductor diode laser; a plurality of mirrors for directing the separated laser beams to the appropriate regions of the photoreceptor means; and developing means for developing the electrical charges on the photoreceptor means.

Claim 31

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 32

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first and second predetermined wavelengths are substantially identical.

Claim 33

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers have orthogonally polarized laser beams.

Claim 34

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have separate active regions that emit orthogonally polarized laser beams and the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 35

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the centers of the active regions are separated by a distance ranging between 10 and 50 micrometers.

Claim 36

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the insulator is polyimide.

Claim 37

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a first heatsink substrate and the second semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a second heatsink substrate.

Claim 38

The laser printer of claim 34, wherein the heatsink substrates are silicon and provide a ground connection for the semiconductor diode lasers.

Claim 39

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser has a width larger than the width of the second semiconductor diode laser and the second semiconductor diode laser has a length longer than the length of the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 40

The laser printer of claim 36, wherein wire connections to the lasing elements of the first semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near each end of the width, and wire connections to the lasing elements of the second semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near an end of the length.

Claim 41

The laser printer of claim 36, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is 500 microns wide and 250 microns long, and the second semiconductor diode laser is 250 microns wide and 500 microns long.

Claim 42

The laser printer of claim 27, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have four facet emission points and all of the facet emission points are on edges that are aligned substantially flush.

Claim 43

A laser printer comprising: photoreceptor means for retaining a charge; a multiple beam diode laser array comprising: a first semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a first predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the first semiconductor diode laser; a second semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a second predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the second semiconductor diode laser; and an insulator located between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers, the insulator providing electrical insulation and spacing between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; scanning means for sweeping the laser beams across the photoreceptor in a fast-scan direction; a polarized beam separator for separating the laser beams from the first and second semiconductor diode lasers into a first set and a second set, the first set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser and at least one laser beam from the second semiconductor diode laser, and the second set containing remaining ones from the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; a first dichroic beam separator for further separating the laser beams of the first set into a third set and a fourth set, the third set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser, and the fourth set containing remaining ones of the first set; a second dichroic beam separator for further separating the laser beams of the second set into a fifth set and a sixth set, the fifth set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser, and the sixth set containing remaining ones of the second set; a plurality of mirrors for directing the separated laser beams to the appropriate regions of the photoreceptor means; and developing means for developing the electrical charges on the photoreceptor means.

Claim 44

A laser printer comprising: photoreceptor means for retaining a charge; a multiple beam diode laser array comprising: a first semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a first predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the first semiconductor diode laser; a second semiconductor diode laser having a plurality of active regions each emitting a laser beam, the laser beam of each active region having a second predetermined wavelength, and each active region having an electrical connection near an edge of the surface of the second semiconductor diode laser; and an insulator located between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers, the insulator providing electrical insulation and spacing between the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; scanning means for sweeping the laser beams across the photoreceptor in a fast-scan direction; a polarized beam separator for separating the laser beams from the first and second semiconductor diode lasers into a first set and a second set, the first set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser and at least one laser beam from the second semiconductor diode laser, and the second set containing remaining ones from the first and second semiconductor diode lasers; a first dichroic beam separator for further separating the laser beams of the first set into a third set and a fourth set, the third set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser, and the fourth set containing remaining ones of the first set; a second dichroic beam separator for further separating the laser beams of the second set into a fifth set and a sixth set, the fifth set containing at least one laser beam from the first semiconductor diode laser, and the sixth set containing remaining ones of the second set; a plurality of mirrors for directing the separated laser beams to the appropriate regions of the photoreceptor means; and developing means for developing the electrical charges on the photoreceptor means.

Claim 45

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 46

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers have orthogonally polarized laser beams.

Claim 47

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have separate active regions that emit orthogonally polarized laser beams and the first and second predetermined wavelengths are different.

Claim 48

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the centers of the active regions are separated by a distance ranging between 10 and 50 micrometers.

Claim 49

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the insulator is polyimide.

Claim 50

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a first heatsink substrate and the second semiconductor diode laser is mounted on a second heatsink substrate.

Claim 51

The laser printer of claim 46, wherein the heatsink substrates are silicon and provide a ground connection for the semiconductor diode lasers.

Claim 52

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser has a width larger than the width of the second semiconductor diode laser and the second semiconductor diode laser has a length longer than the length of the first semiconductor diode laser.

Claim 53

The laser printer of claim 48, wherein wire connections to the lasing elements of the first semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near each end of the width, and wire connections to the lasing elements of the second semiconductor diode laser are located at a top surface near an end of the length.

Claim 54

The laser printer of claim 49, wherein the first semiconductor diode laser is 500 microns wide and 250 microns long, and the second semiconductor diode laser is 250 microns wide and 500 microns long.

Claim 55

The laser printer of claim 40, wherein the first and second semiconductor diode lasers each have eight facet emission points and all of the facet emission points are on edges that are aligned substantially flush.