The current invention describes the method of making symmetrical radiation
of extremely asymmetrical light sources, e.g. laser diode bars, using the
shaper of three optical elements that preserve the brightness of the
initial light source. The first element of the shaper-collimator of the
fast axis-images the light source in the direction of the fast axis
directly into the output plain of the shaper. The second and the third
element of the shaper are the multi-segment elements that separate and
optimally redistribute different beams and focus these in the direction
of the slow axis. The surfaces of the shaper optical elements are
described by the surfaces of the second and higher order, which enables
compensation of different distortions, for instance field curvature
aberration, distortion caused by the light source bending, etc. The
shaper offers optimal order of secondary beam redistribution that has the
least possible impact on the initial beam brightness. The device also
offers the method for "smile" distortion compensation and the means of
combining several light sources in the shaper using polarizing and
dichroic mirrors. In the case of laser diode stack it is proposed to
employ the same beam shaping principle with individual multi-edged prism
for each of the laser diode bars and one multi-segment element common for
all laser diode bars.