Dodging optical fiber and laser

Abstract

The invention discloses a dodging optical fiber and a laser. Wherein the dodging optical fiber comprises a fiber core and a wrapping layer, and the wrapping layer wraps the outer side of the fiber core; the fiber core comprises a first fiber core section, a second fiber core section and a third fiber core section which are connected in sequence; the radial cross sections of the first fiber core section and the third fiber core section are circular, the radial cross section of the second fiber core section is polygonal, and the end surfaces of the first fiber core section and the second fiber core section and the end surfaces of the second fiber core section and the third fiber core section are connected in a centering manner. The dodging optical fiber can homogenize the light beam, so that the output light beam is a light beam which is relatively uniform in light intensity distribution and is approximately flat-topped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of optical fibers, and in particular relates to a light-homogenizing optical fiber and a laser. Background Art

[0002] Fiber-coupled semiconductor laser single-tube arrays have the advantages of high electro-optical efficiency and high stability, and are widely used in industrial processing, communications, biomedicine, national defense and military, scientific research, medical and industrial manufacturing. However, since the output of fiber-coupled semiconductor laser single-tube arrays is not a flat-top beam with uniform light intensity distribution, its use in some processing fields, such as welding, additive manufacturing, and cleaning, is limited. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the above problems, the present invention discloses a light-homogenizing optical fiber and a laser to overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention discloses a light-homogenizing optical fiber, comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the cladding is wrapped around the outside of the core;

[0006] The fiber core includes a first fiber core segment, a second fiber core segment and a third fiber core segment which are connected in sequence; the radial cross-sections of the first fiber core segment and the third fiber core segment are both circular, the radial cross-section of the second fiber core segment is polygonal, and the end faces of the first fiber core segment and the second fiber core segment, as well as the end faces of the second fiber core segment and the third fiber core segment are connected toward the center.

[0007] Furthermore, the length of the second core segment is 2m to 10m.

[0008] Furthermore, the polygon is a regular polygon.

[0009] Furthermore, the regular polygon is one of a regular quadrilateral, a regular hexagon, a regular octagon and a regular dodecagon.

[0010] Furthermore, the diameter of the inscribed circle of the polygon is not less than the radial cross-sectional diameters of the first core segment and the third core segment.

[0011] Furthermore, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon is smaller than the radial cross-sectional diameter of the cladding.

[0012] Further, it also includes a coating layer;

[0013] The coating layer is wrapped around the outer side of the cladding layer.

[0014] Furthermore, the first core segment and the second core segment, and the second core segment and the third core segment are fusion-connected.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention discloses a laser, comprising a coupling lens, the above-mentioned light homogenizing optical fiber and a plurality of laser single tube units;

[0016] The coupling lens is arranged between the laser single tube unit and the light homogenizing optical fiber, and is used to couple the light beam output by each laser single tube unit into the light homogenizing optical fiber;

[0017] Each of the laser single tube units includes a semiconductor laser single tube, a fast axis collimating lens, a slow axis collimating lens and a small reflecting mirror; the fast axis collimating lens and the slow axis collimating lens are sequentially arranged on the optical path between the semiconductor laser single tube and the small reflecting mirror, and the small reflecting mirror is used to reflect the light beam emitted by the slow axis collimating lens to the coupling lens.

[0018] Furthermore, the plurality of semiconductor laser tubes and the plurality of small reflectors are arranged in a stepped manner in a direction perpendicular to the output light beam of the semiconductor laser tube.

[0019] The advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0020] In the light-homogenizing optical fiber of the present invention, by arranging the core into three sections, and the radial cross-sections of the first core section and the second core section are both circular, and the radial cross-section of the second core section is polygonal, the light-homogenizing optical fiber can homogenize the light beam, thereby making the output light beam an approximately flat-top light beam with relatively uniform light intensity distribution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. Moreover, the same reference symbols are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components. In the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a fiber core in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a fiber core in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a laser in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a laser in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] In the figure: 1. first fiber core segment; 2. second fiber core segment; 3. third fiber core segment; 4. coupling lens; 5. light homogenizing fiber; 6. semiconductor laser single tube; 7. fast axis collimating lens; 8. slow axis collimating lens; 9. small reflector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the specific embodiments of the present invention and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] The technical solutions provided by various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, a light-homogenizing optical fiber is provided, the light-homogenizing optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the cladding is wrapped around the outside of the core, wherein the refractive index of the core is greater than the refractive index of the cladding.

[0030] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the fiber core includes a first fiber core segment 1, a second fiber core segment 2 and a third fiber core segment 3 connected in sequence; the radial cross-sections of the first fiber core segment 1 and the third fiber core segment 3 are both circular, and the radial cross-section of the second fiber core segment 2 is polygonal. The second fiber core segment 2 can homogenize the light beam in the homogenizing optical fiber, and the end faces of the first fiber core segment 1 and the second fiber core segment 2, as well as the end faces of the second fiber core segment 2 and the third fiber core segment 3 are centrally connected, that is, the centers of the inscribed circles of the polygonal radial cross-sections at the two ends of the second fiber core segment 2 are aligned with the centers of the circular cross-sections at the ends of the first fiber core segment 1 and the third fiber core segment 3, respectively.

[0031] In summary, in the light-uniform optical fiber of the present embodiment, by setting the core into three sections, and the radial cross-sections of the first core section and the second core section are both circular, and the radial cross-section of the second core section is polygonal, the light-uniform optical fiber can homogenize the light beam, and thus make the output light beam an approximately flat-top light beam with a relatively uniform light intensity distribution.

[0032] In this embodiment, the length of the second core segment is 2 m to 10 m. The second core segment within this length range achieves the best light beam homogenization effect without making the light homogenizing optical fiber too long.

[0033] In addition, the polygon is a regular polygon, which makes the light-homogenizing optical fiber more regular and symmetrical, and also facilitates its processing.

[0034] Among them, Figure 1As shown in FIG. 1 , the regular polygon is a regular hexagon, that is, the radial cross section of the second core segment is a regular hexagon. Of course, in other embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the regular polygon may also be a regular octagon, that is, the radial cross section of the second core segment is a regular octagon; or, the regular polygon may be a regular quadrilateral or a regular dodecagon.

[0035] In this embodiment, the diameter of the inscribed circle of the polygon of the radial cross section of the second core segment is not less than the diameter of the radial cross section of the first core segment and the third core segment. In addition, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon of the radial cross section of the second core segment is less than the diameter of the radial cross section of the cladding (i.e., the outer diameter of the cladding). In this way, when the light beam passes through the uniform light fiber, the light loss can be reduced.

[0036] In addition, the light-homogenizing optical fiber also includes a coating layer.

[0037] The coating layer is wrapped around the outside of the cladding to protect the outer cladding and prevent it from being damaged, thereby affecting the quality of the output light beam of the uniform light fiber.

[0038] Furthermore, the first fiber core segment and the second fiber core segment, as well as the second fiber core segment and the third fiber core segment are fusion-connected, that is, the first fiber core segment, the second fiber core segment and the third fiber core are processed separately and then connected by fusion. Of course, the first fiber core segment, the second fiber core segment and the third fiber core can also be processed and formed as one piece.

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, a laser is provided, such as Figure 3 As shown, the laser comprises a coupling lens 4, a light-homogenizing optical fiber 5 in the above-mentioned embodiment, and a plurality of laser single-tube units; wherein the radial cross-section of the second core segment in the light-homogenizing optical fiber 5 is a regular hexagon, the radial cross-section diameter of the first core segment is 100 μm, the inscribed circle diameter of the polygon of the radial cross-section of the second core segment is 100 μm, and the circumscribed circle diameter of the polygon of the radial cross-section of the second core segment is

[0040] Specifically, the coupling lens 4 is disposed between the laser single tube unit and the light homogenizing optical fiber 5 , and is used to couple the light beams output by each laser single tube unit into the light homogenizing optical fiber 5 .

[0041] In addition, each laser single tube unit includes a semiconductor laser single tube 6, a fast axis collimating lens 7, a slow axis collimating lens 8 and a small reflector 9; the fast axis collimating lens 7 and the slow axis collimating lens 8 are sequentially arranged on the optical path between the semiconductor laser single tube 6 and the small reflector 9, and the small reflector 9 is used to reflect the light beam emitted by the slow axis collimating lens 8 to the coupling lens 4.

[0042] The laser can output a nearly flat-top beam with relatively uniform light intensity distribution and can be applied in more fields.

[0043] In addition, a plurality of semiconductor laser tubes 6 and a plurality of small reflectors 9 are arranged in a stepped manner in a direction perpendicular to the output light beam of the semiconductor laser tube 6. In this way, the light beam output by each semiconductor laser tube 6 can be reflected by the corresponding small reflector 9 to the coupling lens 4, effectively preventing the light beam output by the semiconductor laser tube 6 from being blocked.

[0044] In other embodiments of the present invention, Figure 4 As shown, the radial cross section of the second core segment in the uniform light optical fiber 5 used by the laser can also be a regular octagon, the radial cross section diameter of the first core segment is 100 μm, the inscribed circle diameter of the polygon of the radial cross section of the second core segment is 100 μm, and the circumscribed circle diameter of the polygon of the radial cross section of the second core segment is

[0045] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention. Under the above teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make other improvements or modifications on the basis of the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above specific description is only to better explain the purpose of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A light-homogenizing optical fiber, characterized in that: The fiber comprises a core and a cladding, wherein the cladding is wrapped around the outer side of the core; The fiber core includes a first fiber core segment, a second fiber core segment and a third fiber core segment which are connected in sequence; the radial cross-sections of the first fiber core segment and the third fiber core segment are both circular, the radial cross-section of the second fiber core segment is polygonal, and the end faces of the first fiber core segment and the second fiber core segment, as well as the end faces of the second fiber core segment and the third fiber core segment are connected toward the center.

2. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the second core segment is 2m to 10m.

3. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The polygon is a regular polygon.

4. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 3, characterized in that: The regular polygon is one of a regular quadrilateral, a regular hexagon, a regular octagon and a regular dodecagon.

5. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the inscribed circle of the polygon is not less than the radial cross-sectional diameters of the first core segment and the third core segment.

6. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon is smaller than the radial cross-sectional diameter of the cladding.

7. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes a coating layer; The coating layer is wrapped around the outer side of the cladding layer.

8. The light-homogenizing optical fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The first core segment and the second core segment, and the second core segment and the third core segment are fusion-connected.

9. A laser, characterized in that: It comprises a coupling lens, a light homogenizing optical fiber as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and a plurality of laser single tube units; The coupling lens is arranged between the laser single tube unit and the light homogenizing optical fiber, and is used to couple the light beam output by each laser single tube unit into the light homogenizing optical fiber; Each of the laser single tube units includes a semiconductor laser single tube, a fast axis collimating lens, a slow axis collimating lens and a small reflecting mirror; the fast axis collimating lens and the slow axis collimating lens are sequentially arranged on the optical path between the semiconductor laser single tube and the small reflecting mirror, and the small reflecting mirror is used to reflect the light beam emitted by the slow axis collimating lens to the coupling lens.

10. The laser according to claim 9, characterized in that The plurality of semiconductor laser tubes and the plurality of small reflectors are arranged in a stepped manner in a direction perpendicular to the output light beam of the semiconductor laser tube.

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