A mode selection device for fiber lasers

Abstract

The application provides a fiber laser mode selection device, and belongs to the technical field of fiber lasers.The device comprises a fiber channel, a fiber, a fiber channel adjusting assembly and a mounting frame.The fiber is located in a fiber groove of the fiber channel.The fiber channel adjusting assembly is fixed on the mounting frame and comprises locking nails, slides, sliding blocks and fixing blocks.The sliding blocks are connected with the fiber channel.The arrangement shape and the bending radius of the fiber channel and the fiber can be adjusted arbitrarily through the plurality of fiber channel adjusting assemblies and the plurality of sliding blocks in each assembly, so that the mode can be selected quickly and accurately.The loss of high-order mode laser can be adjusted, the nonlinear and mode instability effects can be inhibited, the adjustment and optimization of the fiber laser beam quality can be realized, the structure is simple, the operability is high, the device can be recycled and reused, the test cost is saved, and the device is suitable for filtering high-order modes of fiber lasers of various power levels, outputting fiber lasers with high beam quality and improving the laser output efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fiber laser technology, and specifically relates to a fiber laser mode selection device. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber lasers possess advantages such as high conversion efficiency and excellent beam quality, leading to their wide application in industrial processing, scientific research, and military fields. However, in fiber lasers, excessively small fiber coil diameter results in additional macro-bending loss, leading to power loss and increased heat generation. Conversely, excessively large fiber coil diameter reduces pump efficiency and lowers the quality of the output fiber laser beam.

[0003] Currently, mode selection for fiber lasers is mainly achieved through theoretical calculations of the bending radius of the fiber channel or by directly fabricating the fiber channel on a liquid-cooled plate for testing. However, theoretical calculations for mode selection are limited by significant variations in fiber performance parameters between different batches, meaning the calculated results can only serve as a reference for mode selection design and require multiple iterative verifications, resulting in low feasibility. Directly fabricating the fiber channel on a liquid-cooled plate for testing is also problematic because both the liquid-cooled plate and the fiber channel can only be used once, leading to high processing cycles and operating costs.

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention provides an optical fiber channel mode selection device. By adjusting the optical fiber channel through an optical fiber channel adjustment component, the bending radius and coiling form of the optical fiber channel are changed, thereby filtering out higher-order modes of the optical fiber laser, achieving high-beam-quality optical fiber laser output, and improving laser output efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a mode selection device for fiber lasers.

[0006] The objective of this invention is specifically achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A fiber laser mode selection device includes a fiber optic channel, an optical fiber, fiber optic channel adjustment components, and a mounting frame. The fiber optic channel has a fiber optic slot, and the optical fiber is located inside the fiber optic slot. Multiple fiber optic channel adjustment components are mounted on the mounting frame, and the fiber optic channel is mounted on and connected to the fiber optic channel adjustment components.

[0008] Furthermore, the fiber optic channel adjustment assembly includes a fixing block, a locking pin one, a locking pin two, a slide rail, and a slider. Multiple sliders are installed on the slide rail and are locked in place by the locking pin one. The fixing block connects the fiber optic channel adjustment assembly to the mounting frame and is fixed by the locking pin two. The sliders are connected to the fiber optic channel.

[0009] Furthermore, the slide is provided with scale lines.

[0010] Furthermore, the slider is provided with a groove, and the optical fiber channel is placed in the groove.

[0011] Furthermore, the fixing block and the slider are respectively provided with limiting bosses or limiting grooves, and the mounting bracket and the slide rail are respectively provided with corresponding limiting grooves or limiting bosses, and the limiting bosses are engaged with the limiting grooves.

[0012] Furthermore, the optical fiber channel is made of a malleable and flexible metal.

[0013] Furthermore, the optical fiber channel is provided with a cavity.

[0014] Furthermore, the optical fiber channel cavity is filled with phase change material or circulated with water.

[0015] Furthermore, the optical fiber is fixed inside the optical fiber groove using optical fiber encapsulating adhesive.

[0016] Furthermore, the mounting bracket is equipped with support feet.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0018] This invention provides a fiber laser mode selection device, in which the shape and bending radius of the fiber channel can be arbitrarily adjusted to achieve rapid and accurate mode selection; it can adjust the loss of higher-order mode lasers, suppress nonlinearity and mode instability effects, and optimize the fiber laser beam quality. Furthermore, it has a simple structure, is highly operable, and can be reused repeatedly, saving experimental costs; it is suitable for filtering higher-order modes in fiber lasers of various power levels, outputting high-beam-quality fiber lasers and improving laser output efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0020] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fiber optic channel adjustment assembly structure;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the optical fiber channel and the cross-section of the optical fiber.

[0027] In the diagram: 1-Fiber optic channel, 2-Fiber optic cable, 3-Fiber optic channel adjustment assembly, 4-Mounting bracket, 51-Locking pin one, 52-Locking pin two, 6-Slide rail, 7-Slider, 8-Fixing block, 9-Limiting groove, 10-Limiting boss, 11-Fiber optic channel cavity, 12-Support foot, 13-Fiber optic channel. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure and to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] This invention provides a mode selection device for a fiber laser, including a fiber optic channel 1, an optical fiber 2, a fiber optic channel adjustment assembly 3, and a mounting bracket 4. The fiber optic channel 1 is made of flexible metal material, with an internal cavity 11 and an upper fiber optic slot 13 for placing the optical fiber 2.

[0030] The fiber optic channel adjustment assembly 3 consists of locking pin 51, locking pin 52, slide rail 6, slider 7, and fixing block 8. Multiple sliders 7 are mounted on slide rail 6 and secured by locking pin 51. Each slider 7 has a groove into which the fiber optic channel 1 is placed. Scale lines are marked on slide rail 6 to indicate the positional distribution of the multiple sliders 7 on the same slide rail 6. The fiber optic channel adjustment assembly 3 is mounted on mounting bracket 4 and secured by fixing block 8 and locking pin 52.

[0031] The limiting boss 10 on the fixed block 8 cooperates with the limiting groove 9 on the mounting bracket 4 to limit the movement and prevent the fiber optic channel adjustment assembly 3 from rotating; the limiting boss 10 on the slider 7 cooperates with the limiting groove 9 on the slide rail 6 to prevent the slider 7 from rotating. The arrangement positions of the limiting boss 10 and the limiting groove 9 can be interchanged.

[0032] The mounting bracket 4 has multiple support feet 12 for supporting and fixing the mode selection device. The mounting bracket 4 can be circular, rectangular, or polygonal. Multiple fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are slidably distributed on the mounting bracket 4, and multiple sliders 7 are slidably distributed on the slide rail 6. The sliders 7, in conjunction with the scale lines on the slide rail 6, can be used to adjust the spacing between adjacent fiber optic channels 1, and further adjust the shape, number of arcs, and radius of curvature of the fiber optic channel 1.

[0033] To increase the stability of optical fiber 2 and optical fiber channel 1 during the change process, optical fiber 2 can be fixed in the optical fiber slot 13 of optical fiber channel 1 with optical fiber potting adhesive, so that it changes accordingly with the shape of optical fiber channel 2.

[0034] The hollow cavity 11 inside the optical fiber channel 1 is filled with a phase change material for heat dissipation of the optical fiber, or water is circulated in the cavity 11 of the optical fiber channel 1 for heat dissipation. To further improve the heat dissipation effect, the optical fiber channel 1 and the optical fiber 2 can be immersed in water for heat dissipation.

[0035] The fiber laser mode selection device disclosed in this invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] In the technical solution provided in Embodiment 1, the mounting frame 4 is circular, and four fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are installed on the mounting frame 4. The angle between two adjacent fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 and the center of the mounting frame 4 is 90°. The opposing fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are set as a group. In each group of fiber optic channel adjustment components 3, the slider 7 is in the same position corresponding to the scale line. In one group, the slider 7 is placed in the middle position of the fiber optic channel adjustment component 3, and in the other group, the slider 7 is placed at the far end position close to the center of the mounting frame 4, so that the fiber optic channels 1 are arranged in a racetrack shape. The cavity 11 of the fiber optic channel 1 is filled with phase change material for heat dissipation of the fiber 2. Four support feet 12 are provided on the mounting frame 4.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] In the technical solution provided in Embodiment 2, the mounting frame 4 is set as a square, and four fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are installed on the mounting frame 4. Each fiber optic channel adjustment component 3 is located in the middle of the side of the mounting frame 4. Opposite fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are set as a group. In each group of components, the slider 7 is in the same position corresponding to the scale line. In one group, the slider 7 is placed in the middle of the fiber optic channel adjustment component 3, and in the other group, the slider 7 is placed at the far end near the center of the mounting frame 4, so that the fiber optic channels 1 are arranged in a racetrack shape. Water flows into the cavity 11 of the fiber optic channel 1 for heat dissipation of the fiber optic 2. Four support feet 12 are provided on the mounting frame 4.

[0040] Example 3

[0041] In the technical solution provided in Embodiment 3, the mounting frame 4 is circular, and four fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are installed on the mounting frame 4. The angle between two adjacent fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 and the center of the mounting frame 4 is 90°. The slider 7 on each fiber optic channel adjustment component 3 is in the same position as the scale line, so that the fiber optic channels 1 are arranged in a circular pattern. The fiber optic channels 1 and the fiber optic cable 2 are completely immersed in water to improve the heat dissipation effect. Four support feet 12 are provided on the mounting frame 4.

[0042] Example 4

[0043] In the technical solution provided in Embodiment 4, the mounting frame 4 is circular, and eight fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are installed on the mounting frame 4. The angle between two adjacent fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 and the center of the mounting frame 4 is 45°. The alternating fiber optic channel adjustment components 3 are set as a group. In each group of components, the slider 7 is in the same position corresponding to the scale line. In one group, the slider 7 is placed near the near end of the mounting frame 4, and in the other group, the slider 7 is placed near the far end of the mounting frame 4, so that the fiber optic channel 1 is arranged in a symmetrical multi-segment arc shape. The cavity 11 of the fiber optic channel 1 is filled with phase change material for heat dissipation of the fiber 2. Four support feet 12 are provided on the mounting frame 4.

[0044] This invention provides a fiber laser mode selection device, in which the shape and bending radius of the fiber channel can be arbitrarily adjusted to achieve rapid and accurate mode selection; it can adjust the loss of higher-order mode lasers, suppress nonlinearity and mode instability effects, and optimize the fiber laser beam quality. Furthermore, it has a simple structure, is highly operable, and can be reused repeatedly, saving experimental costs; it is suitable for filtering higher-order modes in fiber lasers of various power levels, outputting high-beam-quality fiber lasers and improving laser output efficiency.

[0045] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0046] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", etc., which indicate directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is only for the convenience of description and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0047] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A mode selection device for a fiber laser, characterized in that, The device includes an optical fiber channel, an optical fiber, an optical fiber channel adjustment assembly, and a mounting bracket. The optical fiber channel has an optical fiber slot, and the optical fiber is located inside the optical fiber slot. Multiple optical fiber channel adjustment assemblies are mounted on the mounting bracket, and the optical fiber channel is mounted on and connected to the optical fiber channel adjustment assembly. The fiber optic channel adjustment assembly includes a fixing block, a first locking pin, a second locking pin, a slide rail, and a slider. Multiple sliders are mounted on the slide rail and are locked in place by the first locking pin. The fixing block connects the fiber optic channel adjustment assembly to the mounting frame and is secured by the second locking pin. The sliders are connected to the fiber optic channel. The fiber optic channel has a cavity filled with phase change material or through which water flows. The slider has a groove, and the fiber optic channel is placed within the groove.

2. The fiber laser mode selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide is equipped with graduation lines.

3. The fiber laser mode selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed block and the mounting bracket, as well as the slider and the slide rail, are slidably connected by limiting bosses and mutually cooperating limiting grooves.

4. The fiber laser mode selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical fiber channel is made of a malleable, flexible metal.

5. The fiber laser mode selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical fiber is fixed inside the optical fiber slot using optical fiber encapsulating adhesive.

6. A fiber laser mode selection device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The mounting bracket is equipped with support feet.

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