Method of monitoring an optical signal from a laser

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser. The method includes the steps of providing a planar substrate defined by opposing planar surfaces and a substrate edge that together define a substrate volume that is transparent to an optical signal from the solid state laser, disposing the solid state laser on one of the opposing planar surfaces the planar substrate such that a first portion of the optical signal travels directly through the planar substrate substantially orthogonal to the opposing planar surfaces and a second portion of the optical signal is reflected between the opposing planar surfaces of the planar substrate and passes out of the substrate through the substrate edge, and disposing an optical detector proximate the edge of the planar substrate to detect the second portion of the optical signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser, such method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a planar substrate defined by opposing planar surfaces and a substrate edge that together define a substrate volume that is transparent to an optical signal from the solid state laser;    disposing the solid state laser on one of the opposing planar surfaces of the planar substrate, such that a first portion of the optical signal travels directly through the planar substrate substantially orthogonal to the opposing planar surfaces and a second portion of the optical signal is reflected between the opposing planar surfaces of the planar substrate and passes out of the substrate through the substrate edge;    disposing an optical detector proximate the edge of the planar substrate to detect the second portion of the optical signal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 1  further comprising defining the substrate as an optically transparent substrate.  
     
     
         3 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 2  further comprising defining the solid state laser as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.  
     
     
         4 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 3  further comprising laser ablating a groove in the substrate.  
     
     
         5 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 3  further comprising mechanically scribing a groove in the substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 4  further comprising breaking the substrate along the groove into two planar sections.  
     
     
         7 . The method of monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 6  further comprising roughening the substrate edge such that light striking the roughened edge may pass out of the substrate.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser, such apparatus comprising: 
 a planar substrate defined by opposing planar surfaces and a substrate edge that together define a substrate volume that is transparent to an optical signal from the solid state laser;    the solid state laser disposed on one of the opposing planar surfaces of the planar substrate, such that a first portion of the optical signal travels directly through the planar substrate substantially orthogonal to the opposing planar surfaces and a second portion of the optical signal is reflected between the opposing planar surfaces of the planar substrate and passes out of the substrate through the substrate edge;    an optical detector disposed proximate the edge of the planar substrate to detect the second portion of the optical signal.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 8  wherein the substrate further comprises an optically transparent substrate.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 9  wherein the solid state laser further comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 10  further comprising a laser ablated groove disposed in the substrate.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 11  further comprising a mechanically scribed groove disposed in the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 12  further comprising a break in the substrate along the groove such that the substrate forms two planar sections.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for monitoring an optical signal from a solid state laser as in  claim 13  further comprising the substrate edge being roughened such that light striking the roughened edge may pass out of the substrate.