A laser system includes a first laser source with a laser resonator for generating a first pulsed laser beam. The resonator has a back mirror, an outcoupling mirror and an active lasing medium in between. The system includes a second laser source for generating a second pulsed laser beam and an optical block. The optical block includes a coupling polarizer and a first polarization rotator. The optical block is movable back and forth between an active position and a passive position. In its active position the optical block is located between the outcoupling mirror and the active lasing medium such that the coupling polarizer couples the second beam into the laser resonator of the first laser source while the first rotator is positioned between the outcoupling mirror and the coupling polarizer. In the active position of the optical block a second polarization rotator is between it and the back mirror.

Methods and apparatus for measuring objects comprise a plurality of light sources to generate a plurality of light beams directed toward a spot generator array comprising a plurality of spot generating lenses. The plurality of light sources is separated from the spot generator array with a separation distance sufficient to overlap the plurality of light beams at each of the spot generating lenses. The overlap of each of the beams at each of the spot generating lenses provides smoothing of the energy profile of the light energy incident on the spot generating lenses. The spot generator array generates focused spots comprising overlapping focused beams. The overlapping beams may comprise overlapping beams of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array, and the overlapping focused beams can decrease optical artifacts.

In embodiments, a system for scanning an intraoral cavity comprises an intraoral scanner to generate intraoral scan data of the intraoral cavity and viewfinder images of the intraoral cavity, a display, and a processing unit operatively connected to the intraoral scanner and to the display. The processing unit is to: receive the intraoral scan data and the viewfinder images from the intraoral scanner; generate a three-dimensional (3D) digital model of the intraoral cavity using the intraoral scan data; output the 3D digital model to the display; output the viewfinder images to the display; determine which portions of the intraoral cavity have been scanned; determine a current field of view of the intraoral scanner; determine a visual indicator that provides guidance for positioning and orienting the field of view of the intraoral scanner; and output the visual indicator to the display.

The present invention relates to a laser system and a method of generating a defined spatial mode-shaped laser beam using an unstable laser resonator layout. The laser system for mode shaping of a laser beam within an unstable optical resonator layout comprising an active medium, characterized in that, the active media comprises a pumped area, wherein the gain distribution is generated by an optical pump beam's spatially intensity profile. In a preferred embodiment, the system may further comprise an end-pumped layout to deliver the spatially shaped optical pump beam to the active medium; and/or an active element and/or a passive element for modifying the resonator losses; and/or means of output coupling of a laser beam from said unstable resonator layout. The system according to the present invention is suitable to deliver a top-hat beam profile.

A light emitting device includes: one or more semiconductor laser elements, each configured to emit laser light; one or more light-reflecting parts, each having a light-reflecting surface configured to reflect the laser light emitted from a corresponding one of the one or more semiconductor laser elements; and a fluorescent part having a light-receiving surface configured to be irradiated with the laser light reflected at the light-reflecting surface of each of the one or more light-reflecting parts; wherein an irradiated region is formed on the light-reflecting surface when the light-reflecting surface is irradiated with the laser light, the irradiated region including a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and wherein the light-reflecting surface of each of the one or more light-reflecting parts is arranged such that a portion of the laser light reflected at at least a first end of the irradiated region and a portion of the laser light reflected at a location other than the first end of the irradiated region are overlapped with each other on the light-receiving surface.

A laser transmitter is provided that includes a seed signal generator, an amplitude modulator and a power amplifier. The seed signal generator is configured to generate a seed signal that has a continuous waveform. The amplitude modulator is configured to generate a flat-top pulse signal based on the seed signal. The power amplifier is configured to generate a laser output signal based on the flat-top pulse signal.

A laser system includes a first laser source with a laser resonator for generating a first pulsed laser beam. The resonator has a back mirror, an outcoupling mirror and an active lasing medium in between. The system includes a second laser source for generating a second pulsed laser beam and an optical block. The optical block includes a coupling polarizer and a first polarization rotator. The optical block is movable back and forth between an active position and a passive position. In its active position the optical block is located between the outcoupling mirror and the active lasing medium such that the coupling polarizer couples the second beam into the laser resonator of the first laser source while the first rotator is positioned between the outcoupling mirror and the coupling polarizer. In the active position of the optical block a second polarization rotator is between it and the back mirror.

Methods and apparatus for measuring objects comprise a plurality of light sources to generate a plurality of light beams directed toward a spot generator array comprising a plurality of spot generating lenses. The plurality of light sources is separated from the spot generator array with a separation distance sufficient to overlap the plurality of light beams at each of the spot generating lenses. The overlap of each of the beams at each of the spot generating lenses provides smoothing of the energy profile of the light energy incident on the spot generating lenses. The spot generator array generates focused spots comprising overlapping focused beams. The overlapping beams may comprise overlapping beams of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array, and the overlapping focused beams can decrease optical artifacts.

Described is an arrangement for the transformation of laser radiation. A projection system for generating spatially modulated laser radiation includes an optical arrangement for transforming laser radiation, a field lens, a spatial light modulator and a projection arrangement. By means of the optical arrangement, incidental laser radiation in a first direction (E) is reflected on an aspherically curved, reflective surface in a second direction (R), where in a plane perpendicular to the first direction (E) the laser radiation has an inhomogeneous beam profile (GB1, G2) with a first beam axis (A) and a second beams axis (B) perpendicular to the latter, and the aspherical curvature is designed, during the reflection on the reflective surface, to transform the inhomogeneous beam profile of the laser radiation for the first beam axis (A) and/or the second beam axis (B) respectively into a homogenous top-hat beam profile (H).

The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous VCSELs and VCSEL arrays. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous VCSELs and VCSEL arrays having, or patterned in, unique shapes, including rectangular shapes, linear shapes, shapes having two or more segments, and other non-circular shapes. Additionally, VCSELs and VCSEL arrays of the present disclosure may be combined with optical elements. In some embodiments, optical elements may be monolithically integrated on the VCSEL dies, or may be monolithically integrated on standoff pedestals arranged on the VCSEL dies.