Laser combiner

Abstract

A laser system. The laser system includes a first laser device configured to emit a first laser beam, a second laser device configured to emit a second laser beam, and a third laser device configured to emit a third laser beam. The laser system also includes a laser combiner configured to receive the first, second, and third laser beams and output the first, second, and third laser beams with less separation downstream of the laser combiner than upstream of the laser combiner.

1 . A laser system, comprising: 
 a first laser device configured to emit a first laser beam;    a second laser device configured to emit a second laser beam;    a third laser device configured to emit a third laser beam; and    a laser combiner configured to receive the first, second, and third laser beams and output the first, second, and third laser beams with less separation downstream of the laser combiner than upstream of the laser combiner.    
   
   
       2 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is configured to output the first, second, and third laser beams with substantially parallel exit paths.  
   
   
       3 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is configured to output the first, second, and third laser beams with substantially overlapping exit paths.  
   
   
       4 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is made from a substantially homogeneous plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is made from a substantially homogeneous glass.  
   
   
       6 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is characterized by an octagonal cross section.  
   
   
       7 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is characterized by a hexagonal cross section.  
   
   
       8 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner is characterized by a cross section having a substantially planar input face and a substantially planar output face substantially perpendicular to the input face.  
   
   
       9 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser combiner includes: 
 a first external face configured to receive the first laser beam;    a second external face configured to receive the second laser beam;    a third external face configured to receive the third laser beam;    a first internal face configured to reflect the first laser beam;    a second internal face configured to reflect the second laser beam; and    a third internal face configured to reflect the third laser beam.    
   
   
       10 . The laser system of  claim 9 , wherein the first internal surface, the second internal surface, and the third internal surface are respectively configured to reflect the first laser beam, the second laser beam, and the third laser beam via total internal reflection.  
   
   
       11 . A laser combiner for directing at least first and second laser beams originating an input distance apart from one another, the laser combiner comprising: 
 a first external face configured to receive the first laser beam;    a second external face configured to receive the second laser beam;    a first internal face configured to reflect the first laser beam; and    a second internal face configured to reflect the second laser beam;    wherein the first external face, the second external face, the first internal face, and the second internal face are orientated with a reflection geometry that causes the first laser beam and the second laser beam to exit the laser combiner with substantially parallel exit paths having less separation than the input distance.    
   
   
       12 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first internal face and the second internal face are respectively configured to reflect the first laser beam and the second laser beam via total internal reflection.  
   
   
       13 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the second internal face is the back side of the first external face.  
   
   
       14 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the laser combiner is made from a substantially homogeneous plastic.  
   
   
       15 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the laser combiner is made from a substantially homogeneous glass.  
   
   
       16 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , further comprising a holding portion.  
   
   
       17 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first external face and the second external face are respectively orientated to receive the first laser beam and the second laser beam when an input path of the first laser beam is substantially perpendicular to an input path of the second laser beam.  
   
   
       18 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first external face and the second external face are respectively orientated to receive the first laser beam and the second laser beam when an input path of the first laser beam is substantially opposite to an input path of the second laser beam.  
   
   
       19 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first external face and the second external face are respectively orientated to receive the first laser beam and the second laser beam when an input path of the first laser beam is substantially parallel to an input path of the second laser beam.  
   
   
       20 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second external faces are different sides of a prism.  
   
   
       21 . The laser combiner of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second external faces are different sides of a pyramidal prism.  
   
   
       22 . A projection device, comprising: 
 a first laser device configured to emit a first laser beam;    a second laser device configured to emit a second laser beam;    a third laser device configured to emit a third laser beam;    a laser combiner configured to receive the first, second, and third laser beams and output the first, second, and third laser beams with less separation downstream of the laser combiner than upstream of the laser combiner; and    an image engine configured to modulate the first, second, and third laser beams downstream of the laser combiner and to output a video image.