A laser welder includes at least one laser. The laser is adapted to generate a laser beam that creates a weld when directed to a workpiece. The workpiece includes a first material in contact with a second material at an interface. The laser welder also includes a controller connected to the laser, where the controller controls at least one of a power of the laser beam and a pulse frequency of the laser beam. The pulse frequency of the laser beam is 20 kHz -350 kHz ± 10%.
An optical fiber includes a doped core doped with thulium and a doped cladding surrounding the doped core. The doped cladding is doped with a second dopant. The doped cladding has a thickness between about 45 µm – 650 µm. The doped core and the doped cladding establish a numerical aperture within a range of about 0.04 - 0.20.
A 3D printer includes a print bed adapted to receive a layer of print medium, a recoater adapted to distribute the print medium onto the print bed, a laser source adapted to generate a non-interactive laser beam and an interactive laser beam, a controller connected to the laser source to direct the interactive laser beam to the at least one predetermined location, a plurality of fiducial features associated with the recoater, wherein the plurality of fiducial features are presented by the recoater while the recoater distributes the print medium on the print bed to form a layer, and a scanner connected to the controller to detect, via the non-interactive laser beam, the plurality of fiducial features and provide location information for locations of individual ones of the plurality of fiducial features. The controller performs a calibration to adjust where the interactive laser beam is directed to the print medium.
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additiveLeurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 50/02 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p. ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
4.
FIBER CONNECTOR BULKHEAD ADAPTER WITH SHROUD FOR PROTECTING HIGH-POWER FIBER
A fiber connector bulkhead adapter for coupling a fiber connector to bulkhead optics is configured to inhibit back reflections from damaging a laser system. The adapter includes a bore sized to receive a fiber ferrule of a fiber connector, a mounting base having a centrally located shroud, and an aperture between the end of the bore and the shroud.
A fused fiber combiner combines outputs from multiple, separately controllable input fibers. At least one of the input fibers includes a portion to vary a transverse spatial intensity distribution in response to controllable perturbation, a portion to convert position to angle, and a portion to preserve the divergence distribution. An output of the combiner is coupled to a divergence-preserving fiber, which preserves a combined divergence distribution guided by the divergence-preserving fiber. An output GRIN lens maps the combined divergence distribution to an output transverse spatial intensity distribution defining a composite beam shape of an output beam, the output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing a superposition of individual channel output beams.
A laser processing system has a laser source and a divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner configured to, in response to a control input, repetitively change a variable divergence laser beam between a first divergence and a second divergence that is different from the first divergence. The system also includes a process head having a collimating lens and a focusing lens. And the system includes a delivery fiber coupled to the divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner for guiding the variable divergence laser beam and launching it to the process head. The collimating lens is configured to receive the variable divergence laser beam and direct it as an intermediate beam to the focusing lens to focus the intermediate beam toward the workpiece at a first depth corresponding to the first divergence and at a second depth corresponding to the second divergence.
B23K 26/06 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
Fiber assemblies include a first lens, a divergence-preserving fiber having a mode-distribution homogenization portion, and a second lens. The fiber assembly is configured to generate a flat-top divergence distribution. All embodiments can include a splice within the divergence-preserving fiber to provide manufacturing, serviceability, and/or performance advantages; one or both the core diameter and cladding diameter can be stepped up or down at this splice. In some embodiments, the structure is all-fiber (no free-space optics). In other embodiments, a fiber-to-fiber coupler or switch is employed.
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
An optical beam delivery system for image relaying has a source fiber configured to provide an input beam, the input beam defined by a beam parameter product (BPP) and an input transverse spatial intensity distribution that is azimuthally symmetric; a first GRIN lens configured to convert the input transverse spatial intensity distribution to an intermediate beam having a divergence distribution, the first GRIN lens having a first effective focal length; and a second GRIN lens, coupled to the first GRIN lens, configured to receive the intermediate beam from the first GRIN lens, map the divergence distribution to an output beam having an output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing an image of the input beam, and maintain the BPP for the output beam, the second GRIN lens having a second effective focal length that is different from the first effective focal length.
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
9.
SYNCHRONIZERS TO REDUCE JITTER AND RELATED APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS
Synchronizers to reduce jitter and related apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed. An apparatus includes a processing circuitry to generate a first pulse train signal and a second pulse train signal responsive to a timing signal. The apparatus also includes a first synchronizer and a second synchronizer. The first synchronizer and the second synchronizer are to generate first and second reduced-jitter pulse train signals by locking trigger edges of the first and second pulse-train signals to edges of the timing signal.
Methods for producing a low-noise, multi-image sensor imaging system by generating a correlated measurement by sampling corresponding pixel values of first and second regions of, respectively, first and second image sensors (504, 508) during an active alignment process of the first and second regions; determining, based on the correlated measurement changing to a minimum or maximum value during the active alignment process, that the first and second regions are pixel aligned; and mounting the first and second image sensors (504, 508) so as to maintain alignment of the first and second regions. First and second image sensors (504, 508) may be mounted to first and second sides of a beamsplitter (502), respectively. Shot noise is noise that occurs when a photon field (512) is quantized on a sensor array. A photon would be detected on one or the other sensor creating a noise that is proportional to the square root of the number of the incoming photons. If the sensors (504, 508) are pixel aligned, shot noise becomes correlated. Alignment based on correlation can eliminate some of this shot noise and improve the measured signal noise. Each imager may include a focal plane array, FPA, of light-sensing pixels at a focal plane of a lens of optical system (500). Because imagers (504, 508) are coarsely aligned, light captured at central pixel N (526) is not entirely correlated with light arriving at central pixel M (524) with some light directed to peripheral pixel P (520).
An optical system for generating a three dimensional, digital representation of a scene includes a nonvisible illumination source, a first camera to receive light from the scene and generate a first digital map therefrom, and a second camera to receive the nonvisible light from the scene, the nonvisible light having been generated by the illumination source, and to generate a second digital map therefrom. The first digital map concerns color and the second digital map concerns depth. The system also includes a processor that receives the first and second digital maps and generates a three dimensional, digital representation of a scene. The three dimensional, digital representation of the scene satisfies the following: (1) an image resolution with an image pixel count greater than or equal to 0.9 M (megapixels), (2) an image latency of 10 ms – 30 sec, and (3) a distance of 10 cm – 200 m.
H04N 23/20 - Caméras ou modules de caméras comprenant des capteurs d'images électroniquesLeur commande pour générer des signaux d'image uniquement à partir d'un rayonnement infrarouge
H04N 23/90 - Agencement de caméras ou de modules de caméras, p. ex. de plusieurs caméras dans des studios de télévision ou des stades de sport
H04N 23/60 - Commande des caméras ou des modules de caméras
12.
OPTICAL COMBINER FOR DISTRIBUTING LASER LIGHT/POWER TO A MULTL-CORE OUTPUT FIBER AND LASER SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE OPTICAL COMBINER
An optical combiner includes a fiber bundle with a plurality of input fibers, an output fiber with an inner core surrounded by an outer core, a splice fusing the fiber bundle to the output fiber, at least a first input fiber from the plurality of input fibers being aligned in register with the inner core, and at least a second input fiber from the plurality of input fibers being aligned in register with the outer core. A laser system combines the optical combiner with a plurality of lasers generating laser light.
G02B 6/28 - Moyens de couplage optique ayant des bus de données, c.-à-d. plusieurs guides d'ondes interconnectés et assurant un système bidirectionnel par nature en mélangeant et divisant les signaux
Some embodiments may include a power monitor to measure power of laser light propagating in a core of an optical fiber; the power monitor to generate a sensor signal using an optical sensor having a light sensitive section with no line of sight to part of the optical fiber; wherein the sensor signal is derived from light emerging laterally from the part of the optical fiber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
F21V 8/00 - Utilisation de guides de lumière, p. ex. dispositifs à fibres optiques, dans les dispositifs ou systèmes d'éclairage
G02B 6/42 - Couplage de guides de lumière avec des éléments opto-électroniques
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, c.-à-d. dispositifs utilisant l'émission stimulée de rayonnement électromagnétique dans la gamme de l’infrarouge, du visible ou de l’ultraviolet
Various embodiments provide apparatuses, systems, and methods related to a heat sink with one or more removable inserts. Respective inserts may include one or more fins that define one or more channels for flow of cooling fluid. The fins may be formed of a composite material that is different than a material of the heat sink body. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
In an example, a tandem pumped fiber amplifier may include a seed laser, a first section coupled to an output of the seed laser, and a second section coupled to an output of the first section. The first section may operate as an oscillator, and may receive pump light from one or more diode pumps, and may the first section may be arranged to convert the one or more diode pumps into a tandem pump. The second section may operate as a power amplifier, and may include a length of a single or plural active core fiber. The tandem pumped fiber amplifier may be arranged to mitigate spectral broadening related to four-wave mixing.
H01S 3/094 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente
H01S 3/0941 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente produite par un laser à semi-conducteur, p. ex. par une diode laser
16.
ALL-FIBER LASER BEAM TUNING BY ADJUSTMENT OF ANGULAR INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION
Disclosed are optical beam delivery devices and methods to modify an angular intensity distribution of an input beam so that it is converted to an output beam having an adjustable near-field transverse spatial intensity distribution. In some embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular offset in response to controllable perturbation. In some other embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular width (divergence) in response to controllable perturbation.
Disclosed are optical beam delivery devices and methods to produce, from a singlemode input beam having a fundamental mode and an M2 beam quality of about 1.5 or less, an output beam having an adjustable spatial intensity distribution that is adjustable between near Gaussian and ring-shaped profiles, the near Gaussian profile corresponding to an M2 beam quality of about 1.5 or less. A first length of optical fiber is for adjusting the singlemode input beam to generate an adjustable beam based on controllable perturbation applied to the first length of optical fiber. A second length of optical fiber is for coupling the adjustable beam into one or both a central core confinement region and an annular higherindex confinement region. The second length of optical fiber is configured to provide at its output the output beam having the adjustable spatial intensity distribution.
Some embodiments may include an imaging optic having a first end to receive laser light, an exterior, and a second end; an acoustic transmitter acoustically coupled to a first side of the exterior of the imaging optic; an acoustic absorber acoustically coupled to a second opposite side of the exterior of the imaging optic; a waveguide having a first end to receive an output from the second end of the imaging optic, a first core section, a second section, and a second end, wherein acoustic waves output from the acoustic transmitter are arranged to diffract a first order beam from the laser light in the imaging optic; wherein the first order light is selectively output from the second end of the imaging optic into one of the sections of the waveguide. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
G02F 1/11 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de l'intensité, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la couleur basés sur des éléments acousto-optiques, p. ex. en utilisant la diffraction variable par des ondes sonores ou des vibrations mécaniques analogues
An apparatus may steer an optical beam provided by a collimating optical module to a selected one of receiving optical modules. The apparatus may comprise an optical component to receive the optical beam provided by the collimating optical module; and a motorized rotation stage including a base and a rotating section, wherein the rotating section is restricted to rotation, relative to the base, about a single axis; wherein the optical component is mounted to the rotating section, and the apparatus further includes circuitry to control the motorized rotation stage to rotate the platform or stage amongst different rotational positions that correspond to the receiving optical modules, respectively; and wherein the optical component guides (by reflection, refraction, or the like, or combinations thereof) the optical beam to the selected one of the receiving optical modules based on a current rotational position of the rotating section. Other embodiments may be disclosed/claimed.
G02B 6/35 - Moyens de couplage optique comportant des moyens de commutation
G02B 26/08 - Dispositifs ou dispositions optiques pour la commande de la lumière utilisant des éléments optiques mobiles ou déformables pour commander la direction de la lumière
G02B 6/42 - Couplage de guides de lumière avec des éléments opto-électroniques
20.
SUPPRESSION OF UNDESIRED WAVELENGTHS IN LASER LIGHT
Some embodiments may include an apparatus usable in a laser system. The apparatus may include at least one optical filter to receive a laser beam or laser light along a first axis, the laser beam or laser light generated by the laser system, wherein the at least one optical filter is configured to reflect one of light having a selected wavelength or a remainder of the laser light along a second axis that is non-parallel with the first axis and pass the other of the light having the selected wavelength or the remainder along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include an optical assembly usable to process light output from a laser source. The apparatus may include a housing to receive a distal end of an optical fiber that outputs the laser light; one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps contained within the housing or coupled to the housing; and one or more optical apertures located inside the housing, at least one of the optical apertures to define a numerical aperture (NA) of a first portion of the laser light based on a radial dimension of the at least one optical aperture, the at least one optical aperture arranged to pass the first portion of the light and redirect a second different portion of the laser light to the one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser having an input end to receive source light from a light source and an output end including: a feeding optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein the interior emits a beam at an end of the feeding optic and the cladding layer receives process light at the end of the feeding optic, the process light generated by processing of a workpiece by the beam; and a notch or other discontinuity in an outer surface of a side of the cladding layer, the surface discontinuity to release a portion of the process light, the apparatus further comprising: a collection optic fiber having a first end to capture a sample of the released process light and a second end to provide the captured sample to a sensor. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a semiconductor laser device comprising: an active layer to generate light; a front facet positioned at a first end of said active layer, with an AR coating or PR coating; a rear facet positioned on a second opposite end of said active layer thereby forming a resonator between said front facet and said rear facet; and a first order diffraction grating positioned within said resonator along only a portion of the length of said active layer, wherein the semiconductor laser device is arranged to emit light from both ends, and the diffraction grating has two non-contiguous segments each extending to one of the facets; or a single end, wherein the rear facet is a rear light reflecting facet with an HR-coating. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 5/12 - Structure ou forme du résonateur optique le résonateur ayant une structure périodique, p. ex. dans des lasers à rétroaction répartie [lasers DFB]
Some embodiments may include an optical component having bottom part located in an opening defined by a surface, wherein a distance between a sidewall of the bottom part of the optical component and a sidewall of the opening is non-uniform in which a width of a first section of the opening or a first section of the bottom part of the optical component is narrower than a width of a second lower section of the opening or a width of a second lower section of the bottom part of the optical component; and an adhesive located in the opening between sidewalls Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments of optical fiber structures for generating a single mode, saddle shaped output beam. The embodiments include first and second lengths of fiber. The first length of fiber has a first input end configured to receive a single mode gaussian beam. The second length of fiber has a second input end coupled to an output end of the first length of fiber. The second length of fiber includes a centrally located anti-guiding core and an annular guiding region coaxially encompassing the centrally located anti-guiding core.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
Some embodiments may include a mounting surface defining a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel; an optic fiber affixed to the mounting surface, the optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein part of the optic fiber is suspended over the main channel; and a clad light stripper including one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light; wherein the one or more sub-channels include a first sub -channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments of a capillary combiner housing for an optical fiber combiner having an inner combiner casing supporting optical fibers. A capillary combiner housing includes a non-metallic body defining a lumen between an input side and an output side, the lumen sized to receive the inner combiner casing, the non-metallic body having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matching that of the inner combiner casing; a first aperture in the input side, the first aperture having a first inside diameter sized to receive multiple input optical fibers; and a second aperture in the output side, the second aperture having a second inside diameter sized to receive an output fiber.
Some embodiments may include an optical fiber assembly including an optical fiber having a first end, a second end, and a length, wherein light is released from part of a length of the optical fiber, the optical fiber assembly comprising: a heat sink; a housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the housing is thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein part of the second side of the housing defines a bottom or sides of a chamber, and wherein said part of the length of the optical fiber assembly is positioned in the chamber; and a cover thermally coupled to the second side of the housing, wherein part of an underside of the cover defines a top of the chamber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser including two or more input fibers and an output fiber to deliver a beam to a workpiece, the fiber laser comprising. The fiber laser may include a combiner having ends and a length, wherein the combiner is arranged to release, from its length, a portion of back-reflected light received from the output fiber at an output end of the ends from the combiner, the combiner including: a capillary tube to enclose part of the two or more input fibers at an input end of the ends of the combiner, the capillary tube having ends and a length located between the ends of the capillary tube; and a cladding light stripper (CLS) defined by part of the length of the capillary tube, wherein the CLS provides the release of the portion of the back-reflected light. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments for multi-band pumping of a doped fiber source. The doped fiber source has a first absorption band and a second absorption band that is different from the first absorption band. In some embodiments, a first laser pump generates a first pump power in a first pump band corresponding to the first absorption band that is generated. A second laser pump generates a second pump power in a second pump band corresponding to the second absorption band. The second pump band is different from the first pump band. The first and second pump power is simultaneously applied to the doped fiber source.
Disclosed is an optical fiber-based divergence-limiting device for limiting divergence from a first maximum divergence of input light to a second maximum divergence of output light, in which the second maximum divergence is less than the first maximum divergence.
A heat source package, comprising a housing having a metal base portion with one or more channels formed therein, the one or more channels having an inner surface, a coating of an anti-corrosive material adhered to a portion of the inner surface of the one or more channels wherein the anti-corrosive material is selected to have a thermal conductivity within a threshold range such that the coating changes the thermal resistance of a coated portion of the channel less than 25% with respect to an uncoated portion of the metal base portion. In examples, a heat source may be thermally coupled to the inner surface of the channels and the channels may be formed to conduct a liquid coolant from a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet to dissipate heat away from the heat source.
C22C 21/02 - Alliages à base d'aluminium avec le silicium comme second constituant majeur
C23C 14/06 - Revêtement par évaporation sous vide, pulvérisation cathodique ou implantation d'ions du matériau composant le revêtement caractérisé par le matériau de revêtement
Angularly homogenizing gradient index optical fiber having a refractive index profile that is non-quadratic to a degree sufficient to enhance precession of light as it is propagated through the fiber. Deviation from the quadratic may be limited to avoid profoundly changing the radial boundary within the fiber. Beam asymmetry, for example, associated with small aperture sources launched into a fiber off axis, may be made more symmetric as the beam is propagated through the homogenizing gradient index optical fiber. A refractive index profile may be manufactured to avoid a pure quadratic profile, or a fiber having a refractive index profile that is quadratic in only some orientations about the fiber axis may be twisted during draw to induce a refractive index profile path that enhances propagation precession.
Some embodiments may include a laser diode having a strain-engineered cladding layer for optimized active region strain and improved laser diode performance. In one embodiment, the laser diode may include a semiconductor substrate having a material composition with a first lattice constant; and a plurality of epitaxy layers form on the semiconductor substrate, with plurality of epitaxy layers including a waveguide layer and cladding layers, wherein the waveguide layer includes an active region having a material composition associated with a target optical wavelength, wherein a second lattice constant of the material composition of the active region is different than the first lattice constant; wherein a material composition and/or thickness of an individual cladding layer of the cladding layers is/are arranged to impart a target stress field on the active region to optimize active region strain. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a packaged laser diode assembly, comprising: a length of optical fiber having a core and a polymer buffer in direct contact with the core, the length of optical fiber having a first section and a second section, the first section of the length of optical fiber including a tip of an input end of the optical fiber, wherein the polymer buffer covers only the second section of the first and second sections; one or more laser diodes to generate laser light, means for directing a beam derived from the laser light into the input end of the length of optical fiber, a light stripper attached to the core in the first section of the length of optical fiber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a packaged laser diode assembly, comprising: a length of optical fiber having a core and a cladding layer, the length of optical fiber having a first section and a second section, the first section of the length of optical fiber including a tip of an input end of the optical fiber; one or more laser diodes to generate laser light; one or more optical components to direct a beam derived from the laser light into the input end of the length of optical fiber; a clad light stripper on the second section of the length of optical fiber; wherein, in the first section of the length of optical fiber, the cladding layer includes: a light scattering feature at the tip of the input end of the optical fiber and/or a void along a length of the optical fiber.
A laser diode, comprising a transverse waveguide that is orthogonal to the lateral waveguide comprising an active layer between an n-type waveguide layer and a p-type waveguide layer, wherein the transverse waveguide is bounded by an n-type cladding layer on an n-side and p-type cladding layer on a p-side and a lateral waveguide bounded in a longitudinal direction at a first end by a high reflector (HR) coated facet and at a second end by a partial reflector (PR) coated facet, the lateral waveguide further comprising a buried higher order mode suppression layer (HOMSL) disposed beneath the p -cladding within the lateral waveguide or on one or both sides of the lateral waveguide or a combination thereof, wherein the HOMSL extends in a longitudinal direction from the HR facet a length less than the distance between the HR facet and the PR facet.
Apparatus include a plurality of laser diodes configured to emit respective laser diode beams having perpendicular fast and slow beam divergence axes mutually perpendicular to respective beam axes, and beam shaping optics configured to receive the laser diode beams and to circularize an ensemble image space and NA space of the laser diode beams at an ensemble coupling plane. In selected examples, beam shaping optics include variable fast axis telescopes configured to provide variable fast axis magnification and beam displacement.
Apparatus include a transmissive optical substrate configured to receive a plurality of laser beams propagating along respective parallel beam axes at respective initial beam displacements with respect to an optical axis of the transmissive optical substrate, and configured to produce laser output beams having reduced displacements, wherein the transmissive optical substrate includes first and second surfaces with respective first and second curvatures defined to increase an output beam magnification and to nonlinearly increase an output beam displacement from the optical axis for a linearly increasing input beam displacement from the optical axis.
Systems and methods for temporal amplitude modulation of an optical beam. An exemplary system may include a birefringent fiber positioned between two polarizers, or between a polarized input light source and an output polarizer. Light may enter the birefringent fiber as linearly polarized. Depending on birefringence and orientation of the birefringent fiber, the polarization state changes as the light propagates through the birefringent fiber. This changed polarization state then enters the output polarizer, for which transmission is a function of the polarization state and the relative orientation of the polarization axis. The polarization state emerging from the birefringent fiber may be changed by modulating the fiber birefringence, for example through application of an external stress. Net transmittance of the system may be varied according to a magnitude of an external force (e.g., pressure) to some or all of the birefringent fiber.
An optical fiber system, such as a reversed pumped fiber laser, including a pair of fiber pump combiners. A cladding light stripper that reduces an amount of the pump light coupled between the active fiber segments may join two active fiber segments between the pump combiners. The cladding light stripper may remove pump energy before it is back propagated into an output of the combiners to reduce a heat load upon the pump combiners.
Disclosed are techniques for generating a laser output beam having a functionally homogenized intensity distribution. According to some embodiments, a population of few modes in a multi-mode confinement core is excited by application of a low-moded source beam to the multi-mode confinement core, such that the population exhibit an unstable intensity distribution. The unstable intensity distribution is functionally homogenized by providing one or both of modulation of phase displacement in the multi-mode confinement core and variation of launch conditions of the low-moded source beam into the multi-mode confinement core.
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
G02B 6/00 - Guides de lumièreDétails de structure de dispositions comprenant des guides de lumière et d'autres éléments optiques, p. ex. des moyens de couplage
In an example, the disclosed technology includes a laser source, comprising a plurality of pump elements configured to generate laser light, a controller coupled to the plurality of pump elements, configured to select individual drive current levels to be provided to respective ones of the plurality of pump elements responsive to a request for a laser power level and at least one power supply coupled to one or more of the plurality of pump elements for driving individual pump elements at selected drive currents.
H01S 3/102 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation par commande du milieu actif, p. ex. par commande des procédés ou des appareils pour l'excitation
H01S 3/094 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente
A laser assembly comprising a multi-clad fiber optically coupled to a light source configured to emit optical radiation at a first wavelength and a protective element disposed between the light source and the multi-clad fiber so as to prevent a portion of backward- propagating optical radiation at a second wavelength from coupling into the light source.
H01S 3/0933 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière incohérente produite par un semi-conducteur, p. ex. une diode émettrice de lumière
45.
A GALVANOMETRIC LASER SYSTEM WITH A CALIBRATION TEST PIECE
A galvanometric laser system, comprising: a laser device to generate a laser beam; an X-Y scan head module to position the laser beam on a work piece, the X-Y scan head module including a laser ingress to receive the laser beam and a laser egress to output the laser beam; a support platen located below the laser egress; an in-machine imaging system integrated with the galvanometric laser, wherein a camera of the in-machine imaging system is arranged to view a surface of an object located on the support platen using one or more optical components of the X-Y scan head module to generate assessment data associated with a calibration of the X-Y scan head module by imaging the surface of the object, wherein a calibration fiducial is located on the surface of the object.
Apparatus include a first optical fiber including a core situated to propagate a signal beam at a signal wavelength and an unwanted stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) beam at an SRS wavelength associated with the signal wavelength, and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) situated in a core of a second optical fiber optically coupled to the core of the first optical fiber, the FBG having a selected grating reflectivity associated with the SRS wavelength and being situated to reflect the SRS beam back along the core of the second optical fiber and to reduce a damage associated with propagation of the SRS beam to power sensitive laser system components optically coupled to the second optical fiber. Methods are also disclosed.
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, c.-à-d. dispositifs utilisant l'émission stimulée de rayonnement électromagnétique dans la gamme de l’infrarouge, du visible ou de l’ultraviolet utilisant des effets de diffusion, p. ex. l'effet Brillouin ou Raman stimulé
47.
INTEGRATED THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF FIBER COUPLED DIODE LASER PACKAGING
A laser diode package, comprising a housing having a metal base portion, an integrated heat spreader formed within the base, the integrated heat spreader comprising a first phase-change material (PCM) and configured to dissipate heat via phase-change cooling. A heat source may be disposed on a top surface of the base, the heat source may be thermally coupled to the integrated heat spreader so as to dissipate heat away from the heat source via phase-change cooling.
A laser diode, comprising a transverse waveguide comprising an active layer between an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer wherein the transverse waveguide is bounded by a lower index n-cladding layer on an n-side of the transverse waveguide and a lower index p-cladding layer on a p-side of the transverse waveguide a cavity that is orthogonal to the transverse waveguide, wherein the cavity is bounded in a longitudinal direction at a first end by a high reflector (HR) facet and at a second end by a partial reflector (PR) facet, and a first contact layer electrically coupled to the waveguide and configured to vary an amount of current injected into the waveguide in the longitudinal direction so as to inject more current near the HR facet than at the PR facet.
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for separating Raman spectrum from signal spectrum. Once separated, the Raman spectrum may be suppressed (e.g., as a result of a reduction in gain from the signal spectrum, and/or through dissipation of the Raman spectrum energy), while the signal spectrum may be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. In some embodiments, a fiber system may include a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) or a long period fiber grating (LPFG), each configured to couple a core propagation mode into a cladding propagation mode with an efficiency that is higher for Raman spectrum than for signal spectrum. A fiber system further may include a cladding light stripper (CLS) configured to preferentially remove cladding modes containing the Raman component.
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for separating Raman spectrum from signal spectrum. Raman spectrum may be suppressed as a result of a reduction in gain and/or through dissipation while the signal spectrum may be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. A fiber system may include a propagation mode coupler to couple a first guided mode into a second guided mode with an efficiency that varies as a function of wavelength of the propagated light. Mode coupling efficiency may be higher for Raman spectrum, and lower for signal spectrum so that Raman spectrum associated with a fundamental mode is preferentially coupled into a higher-order mode. A fiber system may include a mode filter operable to discriminate between first and second guided modes. Within the filter, guiding of the first mode may be superior to that of the second mode with Raman spectrum preferentially rejected.
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for coupling Raman spectrum out of an optical fiber selectively over a signal spectrum, which may be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. A fiber system may include a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) or a long period fiber grating (LPFG), each to unguide Raman light propagating in a core propagation mode of a fiber completely out of the fiber (through any surrounding cladding layer(s)) selectively over signal spectrum which is to remain in a guided mode of the fiber.
Signal combined optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for reducing signal spectrum pumping of Raman spectrum. Power of a Raman component in an output of a signal combined fiber laser system may be reduced by diversifying peak signal wavelengths across a plurality of signal generation and/or amplification modules that are input into a signal combiner. In some examples, fiber laser oscillators that are to have their output signals combined to reach a desired cumulative system output power are tuned to output signal bands of sufficiently different wavelengths that signal from separate ones of the oscillators do not collectively pump a single Raman band. With the combined signal component comprising different peak signal wavelengths, the Raman component of combined output may have multiple peak wavelengths and significantly lower power than in systems where signals of substantially the same signal peak wavelength are combined.
Fiber laser devices, systems, and methods for reducing Raman spectrum in emissions from a resonant cavity. A fiber laser oscillator that is to generate an optical beam may include a Raman reflecting output coupler that strongly reflects a Raman component pumped within the resonant cavity, and partially reflects a signal component to sustain the oscillator and emit a signal that has a reduced Raman component. A Raman filtering output coupler may comprise a superstructure fiber grating, and such a grating may be chirped or otherwise designed to have a desired bandwidth.
In an example, a tandem pumped fiber amplifier may include a seed laser, one or more diode pumps, and a single or plural active core fiber. The single or plural active core fiber may include a first section to operate as an oscillator and a second different section to operate as a power amplifier. The one or more diode pumps may be optically coupled to the first section of the single or plural active core fiber, and the seed laser may be optically coupled to the single active core or an innermost core of the plural active core fiber.
H01S 3/094 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, c.-à-d. dispositifs utilisant l'émission stimulée de rayonnement électromagnétique dans la gamme de l’infrarouge, du visible ou de l’ultraviolet
H01S 3/0941 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente produite par un laser à semi-conducteur, p. ex. par une diode laser
A high-power laser diode assembly uses a greater number of emitters in a laser diode package or uses larger, wider laser diode emitters to produce higher-power laser output. Each assembly design option includes a meniscus slow axis collimator lens having a light entrance surface imparting strong negative lens surface power to diverge an incident beam outwards and a light exit surface imparting even stronger positive lens surface power to collimate the rapidly diverging beam. In one example, a 5 mm focal length meniscus collimator lens, as compared to a standard 12 mm focal length collimator lens, can reduce by 7 mm the physical path from the collimator lens to the laser diode. In another example, a 15 mm focal length meniscus collimator lens with the same back focal length as that of a standard 12 mm collimator facilitates increasing chip-on-submount width from 200 µm to 250 µm.
Multi-clad optical fiber cladding light stripper (CLS) comprising an inner cladding with one or more recessed surface regions to remove light propagating within the inner cladding. A CLS may comprise such recessed surface regions along two or more azimuthal angles about the fiber axis, for example to improve stripping efficiency. One or more dimensions, or spatial distribution, of the recessed surface regions may be randomized, for example to improve stripping uniformity across a multiplicity of modes propagating within a cladding. Adjacent recessed surface regions may abut, for example, end-to-end, as segments of a recess that occupies a majority, or even an entirety, of the length of a fiber surrounded by a heat sink. One or more dimensions, or angular position, of individual ones of the abutted recessed surface regions may vary, according to a regular or irregular pattern.
Spliced multi-clad optical fibers with a cladding light stripper (CLS) encapsulating the splice. The splice may facilitate conversion between two optical fibers having different architectures, such as different core and/or cladding dimensions. The CLS may comprise a first length of fiber on a first side of the splice, and a second length of fiber on a second side of the splice, encapsulating the splice within the lengths of the CLS. The splice may abut one or more of the lengths of the CLS, or may be separated from one or more lengths of the CLS by an intermediate length of a first and/or second fiber joined by the splice.
Some embodiments may include a fiber management cartridge, comprising: a plurality of sheets of material arranged in a stack, each sheet including: a first section to fasten to a surface; and a second section to make movement relative to the surface when the first section is fastened to the surface, the second section to hold one or more loops of one or more optical fibers, respectively, of a fiber laser. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Laser diodes are configured to suppress lasing of a first and higher order modes along a fast axis of an optical beam emitted by the laser diode. An optical cavity is defined by a p-side of the laser diode, an n-side of the laser diode, and an active region located between the p- and n-sides. The n-side has an n-waveguide layer forming at least a portion of a waveguide having a quantum well offset towards the p-side. According to some embodiments, double cladding layers out-couple higher order modes. According to other embodiments, double waveguides (e.g., symmetric and asymmetric) reduce gain applied to higher order modes.
H01S 5/32 - Structure ou forme de la région activeMatériaux pour la région active comprenant des jonctions PN, p. ex. hétérostructures ou doubles hétérostructures
H01S 5/20 - Structure ou forme du corps semi-conducteur pour guider l'onde optique
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser, comprising: a variably wound optical fiber, wherein the variably wound optical fiber includes: a first length arranged in a plurality of first loops with a first separation distance between successive ones of the first loops; and a second length arranged in a plurality of second loops with a second separation distance between successive ones of the second loops; wherein the first separation distance between successive ones of the first loops is greater than the second separation distance between successive ones of the second loops; and packaging to remove heat generated by the optical fiber of the fiber laser during operation of the fiber laser, wherein the variably wound optical fiber is fixably mounted to a surface of a heat conductor of the packaging.
H01S 3/042 - Dispositions pour la gestion thermique pour des lasers à l'état solide
H01S 3/04 - Dispositions pour la gestion thermique
B23K 26/00 - Travail par rayon laser, p. ex. soudage, découpage ou perçage
G02B 6/44 - Structures mécaniques pour assurer la résistance à la traction et la protection externe des fibres, p. ex. câbles de transmission optique
H01S 3/0941 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente produite par un laser à semi-conducteur, p. ex. par une diode laser
G02B 6/42 - Couplage de guides de lumière avec des éléments opto-électroniques
61.
DIODE LASER APPARATUS WITH FAC LENS OUT-OF-PLANE BEAM STEERING
Apparatus include a first laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet along an optical axis, the beam as emitted having perpendicular fast and slow axes perpendicular to the optical axis, a first fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the first laser diode, a second laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet of the second laser diode along an optical axis parallel to the optical axis of the first laser diode and with a slow axis in a common plane with the slow axis of the first laser diode, and a second fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet of the second laser diode and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the second laser diode.
H01S 5/40 - Agencement de plusieurs lasers à semi-conducteurs, non prévu dans les groupes
G02F 1/29 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion
G02B 27/48 - Systèmes optiques utilisant la granulation produite par laser
Apparatus comprise a semiconductor waveguide extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section, wherein a lateral refractive index difference defining the semiconductor waveguide is larger for the first waveguide section than for the second waveguide section, and an output facet situated on the longitudinal axis of the semiconductor waveguide so as to emit a laser beam propagating in the semiconductor waveguide, wherein the first waveguide section is situated between the second waveguide section and the output facet and wherein the lateral refractive index difference suppresses emission of higher order transverse modes in the laser beam emitted by the output facet.
The present application relates to a method of forming an article includes the step (2901) of forming a melt pool; the step (2903) of exposing the melt poof to an optical beam having at least one beam characteristic, the step (2905) of forming a keyhole cavity in the melt pool, the keyhole cavity having at least one keyhole cavity property; and the step (2906) of modifying the at least one beam characteristic in response to a change in the keyhole cavity property.
B23K 26/03 - Observation, p. ex. surveillance de la pièce à travailler
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
An apparatus for heat deposition in additive manufacturing may include: a first optical beam source configured to generate a first optical beam; a second optical beam source configured to generate a second optical beam; and/or an optical system. The optical system may be configured to move the generated first optical beam over a target area. The optical system may be further configured to move the generated second optical beam over the target area so that a path of the second optical beam moving over the target area is dithered about a path of the first optical beam moving over the target area. The optical system may be configured to focus the generated first optical beam at a plane of a target area. The optical system may be further configured to focus the generated second optical beam at the plane of the target area.
Methods, apparatus, and systems for active saturable absorbance of an optical beam. An active saturable absorber may comprise an optical input to receive an optical beam, and one or more lengths of fiber between the optical input and an optical output. At least one of the lengths of fiber comprises a confinement region that is optically coupled to the output. The active saturable absorber may further comprise an optical detector to sense a characteristic of the optical beam, such as power. The active saturable absorber may further comprise a perturbation device to modulate, through action upon the one or more lengths of fiber, a transmittance of the beam through a fiber confinement region from a lower transmittance level to a higher transmittance level based on an indication of the characteristic sensed while the transmittance level is low.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
66.
SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
An apparatus for temperature control in additive manufacturing may include: an optical beam source configured to generate one or more optical beams; a homogenizer configured to flatten an irradiance profile of the generated one or more optical beams; and/or an optical system configured to form the generated one or more optical beams so as to match a portion of a shape of a powder bed. The apparatus may include optical beam sources configured to generate two or more optical beams; and/or an optical system configured to form the generated two or more optical beams to match the portion of the shape of the powder bed. The apparatus, using the formed one or more optical beams with the flattened irradiance profile or using the formed two or more optical beams, may be configured to pre-heat the powder bed prior to fusing and/or to post-heat the fused powder bed.
An optical beam delivery device formed of optical fibers that are configured to produce an output exhibiting an intensity distribution profile having non-zero ellipticity includes a first length of fiber through which an incident optical beam having beam characteristics propagates and which has a first refractive index profile (RIP). The first RIP enables, in response to an applied perturbation, modification of the beam characteristics of the optical beam to form an adjusted beam having modified beam characteristics relative to the beam characteristics of the optical beam. A second length of fiber is coupled to the first length of fiber and formed with a set of one or more confinement regions that define a second RIP and confine at least a portion of the adjusted beam to generate, at an output of the second length of fiber, an intensity distribution profile having non-zero ellipticity.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
68.
OPTICAL BEAM DELIVERY DEVICE FORMED OF OPTICAL FIBERS CONFIGURED FOR BEAM DIVERGENCE OR MODE COUPLING CONTROL
An optical beam delivery device is formed of optical fibers configured for beam divergence or mode coupling control. An incident optical beam propagates through a first length of fiber, which is coupled to a second length of fiber and has a first refractive index profile (RIP). The first RIP enables, in response to an applied perturbation, modification of the beam characteristics of the incident optical beam to form an adjusted optical beam having modified beam characteristics relative to beam characteristics of the incident optical beam. The second length of fiber is formed with one or more confinement regions defining a second RIP and arranged to confine at least a portion of the adjusted optical beam. The second and first lengths of fiber are tapered in the direction of light beam propagation to control output beam divergence or susceptibility to beam mode coupling in the first length of fiber, respectively.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.
G02B 6/028 - Fibres optiques avec revêtement le noyau ou le revêtement ayant un indice de réfraction progressif
G02B 6/293 - Moyens de couplage optique ayant des bus de données, c.-à-d. plusieurs guides d'ondes interconnectés et assurant un système bidirectionnel par nature en mélangeant et divisant les signaux avec des moyens de sélection de la longueur d'onde
70.
BEAM MODIFICATION STRUCTURES AND METHODS OF MODIFYING OPTICAL BEAM CHARACTERISTICS USING THE BEAM MODIFICATION STRUCTURES
An optical beam delivery device. The device comprises a first length of fiber comprising a first RIP formed to enable the adjusting of one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam by a perturbation device. The optical beam delivery device further comprises a second length of fiber having a proximal end for receiving the optical beam from the first length of fiber and a distal end. The proximal end is coupled to the first length of fiber. The second length of fiber comprises a second RIP formed to confine at least a portion of the optical beam within one or more confinement regions. A beam modification structure is disposed at, or a distance from, the distal end of the second length of fiber. The beam modification structure is configured to modify at least one property of the optical beam chosen from beam divergence properties, beam spatial properties and beam directional characteristics.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
71.
FIBER-COUPLE DEVICE FOR VARYING BEAM CHARACTERISTICS
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for providing an optical beam delivery system, comprising an optical fiber including a first length of fiber comprising a first RIP formed to enable, at least in part, modification of one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam by a perturbation assembly arranged to modify the one or more beam characteristics, the perturbation assembly coupled to the first length of fiber or integral with the first length of fiber, or a combination thereof and a second length of fiber coupled to the first length of fiber and having a second RIP formed to preserve at least a portion of the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam modified by the perturbation assembly within one or more first confinement regions. The optical beam delivery system may include an optical system coupled to the second length of fiber including one or more free-space optics configured to receive and transmit an optical beam comprising the modified one or more beam characteristics.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
72.
OPTICAL POWER DENSITY CONTROL IN FIBER-COUPLED LASER
An optical power control system includes a laser source to provide an optical beam, a variable beam characteristics (VBC) fiber, and a controller operatively coupled to the VBC fiber and configured to control, in response to information indicating change in optical power of the optical beam, different states of perturbation so as to control optical power density.
An optical beam delivery device is configured to generate, from an optical beam, selectable intensity profiles. The device has a first length of fiber having a first refractive index profile (RIP), and a second length of fiber having second RIP that is different from the first RIP. The second length of fiber includes coaxial confinement regions arranged to confine at least a portion of an adjusted optical beam. The confined portion corresponds to an intensity distribution of different intensity distributions. The intensity distribution is established by a corresponding state of different states of perturbation that is applied to the device such that the confined portion is configured to provide, at an output of the second length of fiber, a selected intensity profile of the selectable intensity profiles.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
Additive manufacturing systems and methods for fabricating an article are provided. The additive manufacturing system may include a substrate and a layering device configured to fabricate a first layer of the article on the substrate. The layering device may include an optical beam source configured to generate an optical beam and a variable beam characteristics (VBC) fiber operably coupled with the optical beam source and configured to modify one or more beam characteristics, such as a wavelength, of the optical beam.
Disclosed are an optical beam delivery device, systems, and methods for sequentially adjusting, with respect to members of a set of confinement regions, a propagation path for establishing a controllable, temporally apparent intensity distribution. The disclosed techniques entail applying to a variable beam characteristics (VBC) fiber different states perturbation to change the propagation path and the members of the set of confinement regions through which a confined portion of an adjusted optical beam propagates, thereby establishing at an output end of the VBC fiber the controllable, temporally apparent intensity distribution.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
76.
FIBER-COUPLED LASER WITH TIME VARYING BEAM CHARACTERISTICS
Methods, apparatus, and systems comprising a fiber-coupled laser and time-varying beam characteristics. A laser may generate an optical beam that is launched into one or more lengths of fiber, at least one of which comprises a confinement region that is optically coupled to an output. A perturbation device may modulate, through action upon the one or more lengths of fiber, a beam characteristic over a time period during which the laser is energized. A controller may cause the perturbation device to act upon the one or more lengths of fiber to impart a time-averaged beam characteristic and/or to induce a continuous variation in one or more beam characteristics during system use. A process monitor may sense a metric external to the optical system, and a feedback signal from the process monitor may be coupled into the controller. Dynamic beam characteristics may be modulated based on the feedback signal.
Systems and methods for modifying an optical beam and adjusting one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam are provided. The system may include a first length of fiber operably coupled with an optical beam source and configured to receive an optical beam therefrom. The system may also include a perturbation device operably coupled with the first length of fiber and configured to modify the optical beam traversing therethrough, and a second length of fiber operably coupled with the first length of fiber and configured to receive the modified optical beam therefrom. The system may further include a beam shaping assembly configured to receive the modified optical beam from the second length of fiber, adjust one or more beam characteristics of the modified optical beam, and direct the adjusted optical beam to a downstream process.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
G02B 26/00 - Dispositifs ou dispositions optiques pour la commande de la lumière utilisant des éléments optiques mobiles ou déformables
78.
FREQUENCY-CONVERTED OPTICAL BEAMS HAVING ADJUSTABLE BEAM CHARACTERISTICS
An optical beam delivery system, includes: an optical beam source; a fiber assembly situated to receive and modify one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam; and a nonlinear frequency-conversion stage in optical communication with the fiber assembly and situated to receive and frequency-convert an optical beam from a first wavelength to one or more second wavelengths. The fiber assembly includes: a first length of fiber comprising a first RIP formed to enable modification of the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam by a perturbation device, and a second length of fiber having a second RIP coupled to the first length of fiber, the second RIP formed to confine at least a portion of modified beam characteristics of the optical beam within one or more confinement regions. The first RIP and the second RIP are different.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
An optical beam delivery device includes: a first length of fiber having a first refractive index profile (RIP) to enable modification of one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam having a first beam shape; an a second length of fiber having at least one beam-shaping confinement region and situated to receive the optical beam from the first length of fiber, wherein the at least one beam shape-modifying confinement region has a quadrilateral cross- section.
G02B 6/43 - Dispositions comprenant une série d'éléments opto-électroniques et d'interconnexions optiques associées
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
80.
METHOD OF FORMING PORES IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS
A method of making a porous three-dimensional object. The method comprises: a) positioning a first layer of particles on a build plate; b) heating the first layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a first build layer having a first porosity; c) exposing the first build layer to a laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed first build layer having a first modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from an optical fiber; d) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam prior to or during the exposing of the first build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; e) positioning an additional layer of particles on the exposed first build layer; f) heating the additional layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a second build layer having a second porosity; g) exposing the second build layer to the laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed second build layer having a second modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; h) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam after fusing the particles to form the second build layer and prior to or during the exposing of the second build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber, and i) repeating e), f), optionally g) and optionally h) to form a three-dimensional object.
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additiveLeurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 50/02 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B33Y 40/00 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires, p. ex. pour la manipulation de matériau
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p. ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B29C 64/282 - Agencements pour irradiation utilisant des moyens de rayonnement multiples, p. ex. des micro-miroirs ou des diodes électroluminescentes multiples [LED] du même type, p. ex. utilisant des niveaux d’énergie différents
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
A method of making a three-dimensional object. The method comprises: a) positioning a layer of particles over a build plate; b) exposing the layer of particles to a first laser beam having a first set of beam characteristics, thereby heating the layer sufficiently to fuse at least a portion of the particles together to form a build layer; c) exposing a first region of one of i) the layer of particles or ii) the build layer to a second laser beam having a second set of beam characteristics to provide a first temperature profile for the first region; and d) exposing a second region of one of i) the layer of particles or ii) the build layer to a third laser beam having a third set of beam characteristics to provide a second temperature profile for the second region, the second temperature profile being different than the first temperature profile, wherein both the first region and the second region are in the layer of particles or both the first region and the second region are in the build layer.
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additiveLeurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 50/02 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B33Y 40/00 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires, p. ex. pour la manipulation de matériau
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p. ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B29C 64/282 - Agencements pour irradiation utilisant des moyens de rayonnement multiples, p. ex. des micro-miroirs ou des diodes électroluminescentes multiples [LED] du même type, p. ex. utilisant des niveaux d’énergie différents
A method of processing by controlling one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam may include the step (2902) of launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP), the step (2906) of coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP and one or more confinement regions, the step (2908) of modifying the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber, the step (2910) of confining the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam within the one or more confinement regions of the second length of fiber, and the step (2912) of generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP may differ from the second RIP.
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
B22F 3/105 - Frittage seul en utilisant un courant électrique, un rayonnement laser ou un plasma
B22F 3/11 - Fabrication de pièces ou d'objets poreux
B22F 3/24 - Traitement ultérieur des pièces ou objets
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
83.
METHOD OF FORMING AN ARTICLE, OPTICAL BEAM SYSTEM WITH USE OF VARIABLE BEAM PARAMETERS TO CONTROL SOLIDIFICATION OF A MATERIAL
A method of forming an article includes the step (2901) of providing a material having a first material property; the step (2903) of forming a melt poof by exposing the material to an optics beam having at least one beam characteristic, wherein the melt pool has at least one melt pool property determinative of a second material property of the material; and the step (2905) of modifying the at least one beam characteristic in response to a change in the melt pool property.
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
B22F 3/105 - Frittage seul en utilisant un courant électrique, un rayonnement laser ou un plasma
B22F 3/11 - Fabrication de pièces ou d'objets poreux
B22F 3/24 - Traitement ultérieur des pièces ou objets
G02B 27/09 - Mise en forme du faisceau, p. ex. changement de la section transversale, non prévue ailleurs
Methods, apparatus, and systems for modulation of a laser beam. An optical modulator may comprise an optical input to receive an optical beam, and one or more lengths of fiber between the optical input and an optical output. At least one of the lengths of fiber comprises a confinement region that is optically coupled to the output. The optical modulator may further comprise a perturbation device to modulate, through action upon the one or more lengths of fiber, a transmittance of the beam through the confinement region from a first transmittance level at a first time instance to a second transmittance level at a second time instance. The optical modulator may further comprise a controller input coupled to the perturbation device, wherein the perturbation device is to act upon the one or more lengths of fiber in response to a control signal received through the controller input.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
G02F 1/295 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire pour la commande de la position ou de la direction des rayons lumineux, c.-à-d. déflexion dans une structure de guide d'ondes optique
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for a multi-operation optical beam delivery device having a laser source to generate the optical beam. A beam characteristic conditioner that, in response to a control input indicating a change between the different laser process operations, controllably modifies the beam characteristics for a corresponding laser process operation of the different laser process operations. A delivery fiber has an input end coupled to the beam characteristic conditioner and an output end coupled to a process head for performing the corresponding laser process operation.
An optical beam delivery device establishes, from an optical beam, an optical trap that is moveable to different optical trap locations. The device has a first length of fiber through which the optical beam propagates along a propagation path and which has a first refractive index profile (RIP) enabling modification of the propagation path to form an adjusted optical beam movable to propagate along different propagation paths in response to different states of applied perturbation. The device also has a second length of fiber coupled to the first length of fiber and having confinement cores defining a second RIP. The confinement cores occupy different positions in, and correspond to the different optical trap locations at an output of, the second length of fiber.
A method of tailoring beam characteristics of a laser beam during fabrication of an electronic device. The method includes: providing a substrate comprising one or more layers; adjusting one or more characteristics of a laser beam; and impinging the laser beam having the adjusted beam characteristics on the substrate to carry out at least one process step for fabricating the electronic device. The adjusting of the laser beam comprises: perturbing the laser beam propagating within a first length of fiber to adjust the one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam in the first length of fiber or a second length of fiber or a combination thereof, the second length of fiber having two or more confinement regions; coupling the perturbed laser beam into the second length of fiber; and emitting the laser beam having the adjusted beam characteristics from the second length of fiber.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
An all-fiber optical beam switch mechanism includes a first length of fiber through which an incident optical beam having beam characteristics propagates along a first propagation path and which has a first refractive index profile (RIP). The first RIP enables, in response to an applied perturbation, modification of the optical beam to form an adjusted optical beam that is movable to propagate along a second propagation path. A second length of fiber is coupled to the first length of fiber and formed with multiple spaced-apart, non-coaxial confinement cores. A selected state of applied perturbation moves the second propagation path of the adjusted optical beam to a position of a selected corresponding one of the multiple confinement cores to confine and thereby direct the adjusted optical beam to a corresponding beam output location at the output of the second length of fiber.
G02B 6/35 - Moyens de couplage optique comportant des moyens de commutation
G02B 6/28 - Moyens de couplage optique ayant des bus de données, c.-à-d. plusieurs guides d'ondes interconnectés et assurant un système bidirectionnel par nature en mélangeant et divisant les signaux
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for perturbing a laser beam propagating within a first length of fiber to adjust one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam in the first length of fiber or a second length of fiber or a combination thereof, coupling the perturbed laser beam into a second length of fiber and maintaining at least a portion of one or more adjusted beam characteristics within a second length of fiber having.
B23K 26/38 - Enlèvement de matière par perçage ou découpage
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
G02B 6/10 - Guides de lumièreDétails de structure de dispositions comprenant des guides de lumière et d'autres éléments optiques, p. ex. des moyens de couplage du type guide d'ondes optiques
90.
METHODS OF AND SYSTEMS FOR MATERIALS PROCESSING USING OPTICAL BEAMS
A method of materials processing using an optical beam includes: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP; modifying one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP can be the same as or differ from the second RIP. The modifying of the one or more beam characteristics can include changing the one or more beam characteristics from a first state to a second state. The first state can differ from the second state.
B23K 26/38 - Enlèvement de matière par perçage ou découpage
B23K 26/064 - Mise en forme du faisceau laser, p. ex. à l’aide de masques ou de foyers multiples au moyen d'éléments optiques, p. ex. lentilles, miroirs ou prismes
G02B 6/10 - Guides de lumièreDétails de structure de dispositions comprenant des guides de lumière et d'autres éléments optiques, p. ex. des moyens de couplage du type guide d'ondes optiques
An optical beam delivery device, such as an optical fiber, includes: a first length of fiber having a first refractive index profile (RIP) to enable modification of one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam having a first wavelength; and a second length of fiber having at least one wavelength-modifying confinement region and situated to receive the optical beam from the first length of fiber.
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
A61B 5/06 - Dispositifs autres que ceux à radiation, pour détecter ou localiser les corps étrangers
Apparatus include a conductive block including a base surface and a plurality of parallel stepped surfaces opposite the base surface and defining respective mounting surfaces situated to receive respective laser diodes having respective thermal paths defining a common thermal path distance from the mounting surfaces to the base surface, and a two-phase cooling unit including a coupling surface attached to the base surface of the conductive block and wherein the two-phase cooling unit is situated to conduct heat generated through the emission of laser beams from the laser diodes along the thermal paths.
Disclosed herein are Low Size Weight and Power efficient Laser Diode pump modules and High Power Fiber Amplifiers incorporating such pump modules for amplifying laser light produced by a seed laser. The pump modules are configured for forced fluid coolant, and are provided with cooling channels that allow for varying combinations of a coolant mass flow rate F of the coolant, a pressure drop P of the coolant, and a steady state temperature T of the laser diodes in the pump modules, uniquely and significantly, and thereby allowing for optimizing such variables for a particular application.
In an example, an apparatus to tandem pump a fiber laser or fiber amplifier may include a combiner; a power amplifier or a power oscillator, or a combination thereof, coupled to an output of the combiner; a seed laser to output light to the power amplifier or the power oscillator, or the combination thereof, via the combiner; and a tandem pump to generate light of a pump source signal, wherein the light of the pump source signal is output to the combiner to cladding pump the power amplifier or the power oscillator, or the combination thereof. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 3/094 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, c.-à-d. dispositifs utilisant l'émission stimulée de rayonnement électromagnétique dans la gamme de l’infrarouge, du visible ou de l’ultraviolet
H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
H01S 3/0941 - Procédés ou appareils pour l'excitation, p. ex. pompage utilisant le pompage optique par de la lumière cohérente produite par un laser à semi-conducteur, p. ex. par une diode laser
95.
OPTICAL FIDUCIAL GENERATION FOR GALVANOMETRIC SCANNER CALIBRATION
An apparatus includes an optical source situated to produce a fiducial source beam, and an optical fiducial pattern generator situated to produce with the fiducial source beam at least one transient optical fiducial on a laser processing target that is in a field of view of a laser scanner situated to scan a laser processing beam across the laser processing target, so that a positioning of the laser processing beam on the laser processing target becomes adjustable relative to the at least one transient optical fiducial.
G02B 27/32 - Repères fiduciels ou échelles de mesure à l'intérieur du système optique
B22F 3/105 - Frittage seul en utilisant un courant électrique, un rayonnement laser ou un plasma
G01B 11/00 - Dispositions pour la mesure caractérisées par l'utilisation de techniques optiques
G01B 11/25 - Dispositions pour la mesure caractérisées par l'utilisation de techniques optiques pour mesurer des contours ou des courbes en projetant un motif, p. ex. des franges de moiré, sur l'objet
B23Q 17/24 - Agencements sur les machines-outils pour indiquer ou mesurer utilisant des moyens optiques
96.
BEAM OFFSET PLATE FOR OPTICALLY OFFSETTING ONE OR MORE LASER BEAMS
A laser diode assembly, comprising a plurality of laser diodes each configured to emit respective ones of a plurality of laser beams along parallel and nonoverlapping optical axes and a first beam offset plate (BOP) configured to receive a first of the laser beams on a first input surface, the first laser beam having a first input optical axis, the first BOP configured to transmit a first output laser beam that has a first vertical offset from the first input optical axis.
A number of beams that can be coupled into an optical fiber can be increased using emitted beams having greater divergence, thus providing increased beam power. Alternatively, with a fixed number of emitters, total optical power can be maintained with fewer beams in an output beam with a smaller numerical aperture.
Laser diode packages include a rigid thermally conductive base member that includes a base member surface situated to support at least one laser diode assembly, at least one electrode standoff secured to the base member surface that has at least one electrical lead having a first end and a second end with the first end secured to a lead surface of the electrode standoff, and a lid member that includes a lid portion and a plurality of side portions extending from the lid portion and situated to be secured to the base member so as to define sides of the laser diode package, wherein at least one of the side portions includes a lead aperture situated to receive the second end of the secured electrical lead that is insertable through the lead aperture so that the lid member extends over the base member to enclose the laser diode package.
A packaged laser fiber includes a fiber wounded in a spiral including a metal ribbon having ends, surfaces, and edges; a laser fiber connected to a first one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon; and a metal sheet coupled to a first one of the edges of the metal ribbon or a second one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon and including a cooling plate coupled to a second one of the edges of the metal ribbon or the second surface of the metal ribbon, the cooling plate including: a casing including a cover, a bottom, and an outer sidewall; flow channels formed inside the casing, the flow channels defined by inner sidewalls of the cooling plate, wherein the cover is coupled to a top of the inner sidewalls to enclose the flow channel; an inlet to deliver coolant to the flow channels; and an oulet exiting said coolant.
A laser diode vertical epitaxial structure, comprising a transverse waveguide comprising an active layer between an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer wherein the transverse waveguide is bounded by a lower index n-cladding layer on an n-side of the transverse waveguide and a lower index p-cladding layer on a p-side of the transverse waveguide, a lateral waveguide that is orthogonal to the transverse waveguide, wherein the lateral waveguide is bounded in a longitudinal direction at a first end by a facet coated with a high reflector (HR) coating and at a second end by a facet coated with a partial reflector (PR) coating and a higher order mode suppression layer (HOMSL) disposed adjacent to at least one lateral side of the lateral waveguide and that extends in a longitudinal direction.
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