A spatial laser beam combiner and laser

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of laser beam combining, and discloses a spatial laser beam combiner and a laser device, the spatial laser beam combiner comprising a first laser light source, a second laser light source and a beam combining lens, the beam combining lens comprising a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the refractive index of the beam combining lens being greater than the refractive index of air, a first laser beam being incident on the beam combining lens from the first surface, the incidence angle of the first laser beam on the second surface being greater than the critical angle of total reflection so that the first laser beam is totally reflected to the third surface, there being a deviation angle between the third surface and the second surface so that the incidence angle of the first laser beam on the third surface is less than the critical angle of total reflection, the first laser beam being refracted from the third surface to the outside of the beam combining lens, and a second laser beam being incident on the beam combining lens from the second surface, the second laser beam being refracted from the third surface to the outside of the beam combining lens and coinciding with the first laser beam. The beam combining lens of the present application can realize laser beam combining without the need for a reflective film, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the spatial laser beam combiner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser beam combining technology, and more particularly to a space laser beam combiner and a laser. Background Technology

[0002] Laser beam combining is a technique that combines the output beams of multiple laser sources into a single beam to achieve high power and high brightness output. This technology has broad application prospects in many fields, including scientific research, industrial processing, and medical surgery.

[0003] Beam combining technology can be divided into two types: spectral beam combining and spatial beam combining. Current spatial beam combining methods include... Figure 1 As shown, it typically includes a first laser module 101, a second laser module 102, and a beam combiner 103. The first laser module 101 and the second laser module 102 are used to generate a first laser l1 and a second laser l2, respectively. The beam combiner 103 then combines the first laser l1 and the second laser l2 into a new hybrid laser l to increase the laser power.

[0004] In the aforementioned spatial laser beam combining method, a reflective film must be deposited on the beam combining mirror when combining lasers from sources of different wavelengths. When the first laser module 101 and the second laser module 102 generate lasers of different wavelengths, such as the first laser module 101 generating a 1064nm first laser l1 and the second laser module 102 generating a 532nm second laser l2, beam combining can be achieved by depositing a 1064nm reflective film and a 532nm transmission film on the beam combining mirror 103. The need to deposit a reflective film on the beam combining mirror 103 increases the cost of the spatial laser beam combiner. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a space laser beam combiner and a laser to solve or partially solve the technical problem that the existing space laser beam combiners require a reflective coating, which leads to increased costs.

[0006] The technical solution proposed in this invention is as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a space laser beam combiner, comprising: a first laser source for outputting a first laser beam; a second laser source for outputting a second laser beam; and a beam combiner lens, including a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface; wherein the refractive index of the beam combiner lens is greater than the refractive index of air; after the first laser beam is incident on the beam combiner lens from the first surface, the incident angle at the second surface is greater than the critical angle for total internal reflection, resulting in total internal reflection onto the third surface; a deflection angle exists between the third surface and the second surface such that the incident angle of the first laser beam at the third surface is less than the critical angle for total internal reflection; the first laser beam is refracted from the third surface to the outside of the beam combiner lens; after the second laser beam is incident on the beam combiner lens from the second surface, it is refracted from the third surface to the outside of the beam combiner lens and coincides with the first laser beam.

[0008] The space laser beam combiner of this invention utilizes the principle of total internal reflection when a light beam travels from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium. It employs a beam combiner lens with a refractive index greater than that of air, and sets the angles of its first, second, and third surfaces. A deflection angle exists between the third and second surfaces, ensuring that the incident angle of the first laser beam on the third surface is less than the critical angle for total internal reflection. This allows the first laser beam, after entering the beam combiner lens from the first surface, to be refracted from the third surface to the outside of the beam combiner lens. Simultaneously, by adjusting the exit angles of the first and second laser sources, the second laser beam, after entering the beam combiner lens from the second surface, is also refracted from the same position on the third surface to the outside of the beam combiner lens, coinciding with the first laser beam. This achieves beam combining of the first and second laser beams, resulting in composite laser output. The beam combiner lens does not require a reflective coating to achieve laser beam combining, reducing the manufacturing cost of the space laser beam combiner.

[0009] Optionally, the wavelength of the first laser beam is shorter than the wavelength of the second laser beam.

[0010] In this method, composite output of lasers of different wavelengths can be achieved, and because the wavelength of the first laser beam is smaller, total internal reflection is more likely to occur.

[0011] Optionally, the wavelength of the first laser beam is 500nm to 600nm, and the wavelength of the second laser beam is 1000nm to 1100nm.

[0012] This method can output a composite laser of green and infrared light, which can meet the needs of many current industrial processing applications.

[0013] Optionally, the refractive index of the combining lens is 1.5 to 2.0.

[0014] In this method, by selecting a high refractive index material with a refractive index of 1.5 to 2.0 as the manufacturing material for the beam combiner lens, it is possible to make the second surface more prone to total internal reflection.

[0015] Optionally, the deflection angle between the third surface and the second surface is 15° to 45°.

[0016] In this method, when the deflection angle is between 15° and 45°, a larger proportion of the laser beam can be refracted to the outside on the third surface while the first laser beam undergoes total internal reflection on the second surface.

[0017] Optionally, the space laser beam combiner further includes a first collimating lens, which is disposed between the first laser source and the first surface, and is used to collimate the first laser beam emitted from the first laser source and output it to the first surface.

[0018] In this method, the collimation of the first laser beam is improved and the divergence of the first laser beam during propagation is reduced, thereby improving the beam quality after beam combining.

[0019] Optionally, the space laser beam combiner further includes a second collimating lens, which is disposed between the second laser source and the second surface, and is used to collimate the second laser beam emitted from the second laser source and output it to the second surface.

[0020] In this method, the collimation of the second laser beam is improved and the divergence of the second laser beam during propagation is reduced, thereby improving the beam quality after beam combining.

[0021] Optionally, the space laser beam combiner further includes a focusing lens, which is disposed on the beam combining path after the first laser beam and the second laser beam are refracted by the third surface, and is used to focus the first laser beam and the second laser beam after being refracted by the third surface.

[0022] In this method, the focusing characteristics of the combined beam are adjusted by a focusing lens to adapt to different laser processing application requirements, such as achieving more precise operations in laser processing.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a laser, including a space laser beam combiner as described in the first aspect of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a space laser beam combiner in the prior art;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a space laser beam combiner in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another space laser beam combiner in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another space laser beam combiner in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure label:

[0030] 101-First laser module; 102-Second laser module; 103-Beam combiner; l1-First laser; l2-Second laser; l-Mixed laser; 21-First laser source; 22-Second laser source; 23-Beam combiner lens; 231-First surface; 232-Second surface; 233-Third surface; L-Beam combiner laser; L1-First laser beam; L2-Second laser beam; 24-First collimating lens; 25-Second collimating lens; 26-Focusing lens. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" 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 mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can also refer to the internal connection of two components; and they can refer to a wireless connection or a wired connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0035] In today's rapidly developing technological landscape, laser technology has become an indispensable tool in fields such as industrial manufacturing, medical surgery, and scientific research. The high energy, high collimation, and high focusing capabilities of lasers give them unique advantages in numerous applications. However, a single laser source often cannot meet the demands of complex application scenarios. Therefore, spatial laser beam combiners have emerged, capable of combining laser beams of different wavelengths and characteristics into one, achieving composite laser output to adapt to a wider range of application needs.

[0036] To address the issue that existing space laser beam combiners require coatings on lenses to reflect the wavelength of the combined beam, this invention provides a space laser beam combiner that eliminates the need for such coatings, thereby reducing beam combiner costs.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the spatial laser beam combiner of this embodiment includes: a first laser source 21 for outputting a first laser beam L1; a second laser source 22 for outputting a second laser beam L2; and a beam combiner lens 23, including a first surface 231, a second surface 232, and a third surface 233. The refractive index of the beam combiner lens 23 is greater than the refractive index of air. After the first laser beam L1 is incident on the beam combiner lens 23 from the first surface 231, its incident angle on the second surface 232 is greater than the critical angle for total internal reflection, resulting in total internal reflection onto the third surface 233. A deflection angle exists between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232, causing the incident angle of the first laser beam L1 on the third surface 233 to be less than the critical angle for total internal reflection. The first laser beam L1 is refracted from the third surface 233 to the outside of the beam combiner lens 23. After the second laser beam L2 is incident on the beam combiner lens 23 from the second surface 232, it is refracted from the third surface 233 to the outside of the beam combiner lens 23 and coincides with the first laser beam L1.

[0038] Specifically, the first laser source 21 and the second laser source 22 can be laser sources such as solid-state laser sources, gas laser sources, fiber laser sources and semiconductor laser sources.

[0039] The first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 generated by the first laser source 21 and the second laser source 22 are used as beams to be combined, and are incident on the beam combining lens 23 from the first surface 231 and the second surface 232 of the beam combining lens 23, respectively.

[0040] It should be understood that the refractive index of air is 1, and total internal reflection is a special phenomenon of light waves at the interface between an optically denser medium and an optically less dense medium. When light is incident from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium, and the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle for total internal reflection, the light will be completely reflected back into the optically denser medium and will not penetrate into the optically less dense medium. In order for total internal reflection to occur within the beam combiner 23, the refractive index of the beam combiner 23 should be greater than the refractive index of air. That is, the beam combiner 23 needs to be made of a material with a refractive index greater than 1, such as DAP material (refractive index 1.56), PC material (refractive index 1.59), and acrylic material (refractive index 1.60), etc.

[0041] It should be understood that the number of surfaces of the combining lens 23 is not less than three, and the number of surfaces can be three, four, or five, etc. Among them, the orientations of the first surface 231, the second surface 232, and the third surface 233 of the combining lens 23 are different.

[0042] The second surface 232 and the third surface 233 of the beam combining lens 23 are not parallel and there is a deflection angle between them, so as to avoid the first laser beam L1 being totally reflected on the third surface 233 when it is totally reflected on the second surface 232.

[0043] The working principle of the space laser beam combiner in this embodiment of the invention is as follows:

[0044] When the laser beam is generated, the first laser beam L1 emitted by the first laser source 21 enters the beam combiner 23 from the first surface 231 of the beam combiner 23, is refracted at the first surface 231 of the beam combiner 23, undergoes total internal reflection at the second surface 232 of the beam combiner 23, and then exits from the third surface 233 of the beam combiner 23.

[0045] To satisfy the total internal reflection condition, the incident angle of the first laser beam L1 on the second surface 232 should be greater than the critical angle C of total internal reflection. The formula for calculating the critical angle C of total internal reflection is: n = 1 / sinC, where n is the refractive index of the beam combining lens 23.

[0046] Meanwhile, the first and second laser beams emitted by the second laser source 22 enter the beam combining lens 23 from the second surface 232, are refracted at the second surface 232, and exit from the third surface 233 of the beam combining lens 23.

[0047] The first and second beams emitted by the first laser source 21 and the second laser source 22 are combined at the same position on the third surface 233 of the combining lens 23 to generate a new combined laser L, thereby increasing the laser power.

[0048] The spatial laser beam combiner of this invention utilizes the principle of total internal reflection when a light beam travels from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium. It employs a beam combiner lens 23 with a refractive index greater than that of air, and sets the angles of its first surface 231, second surface 232, and third surface 233. A deflection angle exists between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 so that the incident angle of the first laser beam L1 at the third surface 233 is less than the critical angle for total internal reflection. This allows the first laser beam L1, after entering the beam combiner lens 23 from the first surface 231, to... The laser beam L1 is refracted from the third surface 233 to the outside of the beam combiner lens 23. At the same time, by adjusting the emission angle of the first laser source 21 and the second laser source 22, the second laser beam L2 is incident on the second surface 232 and then refracted from the third surface 233 to the outside of the beam combiner lens 23 and coincides with the first laser beam L1. This achieves the beam combining of the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2, resulting in a combined laser L, thus realizing composite laser output. The beam combiner lens 23 does not need to be coated with a reflective film to achieve laser beam combining, reducing the manufacturing cost of the space laser beam combiner.

[0049] Furthermore, the first laser source 21 and the second laser source 22 are light sources with different wavelengths, that is, the wavelength of the first laser beam L1 is less than the wavelength of the second laser beam L2. Therefore, when the first laser beam L1 undergoes total internal reflection on the second surface 232 of the beam combining lens 23, the second laser beam L2 enters the beam combining lens 23 from the second surface 232 of the beam combining lens 23, and finally the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 can be combined.

[0050] It should be understood that since the wavelength of the first laser beam L1 is smaller, its deflection after refraction by the third surface 233 will be slightly greater than that of the second laser beam L2. Accordingly, the incident angle of the second laser beam L2 can be adjusted so that the second laser beam L2 emitted after passing through the third surface 233 coincides with the first laser beam L1.

[0051] In this method, not only can the combined output of lasers of different wavelengths be achieved, but also, because shorter wavelength beams are more likely to undergo total internal reflection, the propagation path of the beam can be controlled more precisely, thus improving the beam combining efficiency.

[0052] In some embodiments, the wavelength of the first laser beam L1 is 500 nm to 600 nm, and the wavelength of the second laser beam L2 is 1000 nm to 1100 nm.

[0053] For example, the wavelength of the first laser beam L1 is 500nm and the wavelength of the second laser beam L2 is 1000nm, or the wavelength of the first laser beam L1 is 600nm and the wavelength of the second laser beam L2 is 1100nm.

[0054] In a preferred example, the first laser beam L1 is green light with a wavelength of 550 nm, and the second laser beam L2 is infrared light with a wavelength of 1064 nm.

[0055] Composite lasers combining green and infrared light have numerous applications in current industrial processing.

[0056] In some embodiments, the refractive index of the combining lens 23 is 1.5 to 2.0.

[0057] Specifically, high refractive index materials such as DAP (1.56 refractive index), PC (1.59 refractive index), and acrylic (1.60 refractive index) can be selected as the manufacturing materials for the combining lens 23.

[0058] DAP material, or diallyl diphenylamine, is a plastic material with a high refractive index. DAP material has a refractive index of 1.56 and a relatively low cost.

[0059] PC, or polycarbonate, is a transparent material with high impact resistance and high strength. With a refractive index of 1.59, higher than most plastics and glass, PC has wide applications in lenses, optical fibers, and other fields.

[0060] Acrylic material, also known as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), is a polymer material with a refractive index between 1.49 and 1.51. Due to its unique chemical structure, acrylic material has a relatively stable refractive index range.

[0061] The use of these high refractive index materials makes it easier for the laser beam to undergo total internal reflection on the second surface 232 of the beam combiner 23, thereby improving the performance of the space laser beam combiner.

[0062] Furthermore, the deflection direction of the deflection angle between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 makes the incident angle of the first laser beam L1 on the third surface 233 smaller than the incident angle of the first laser beam L1 on the second surface 232, thereby preventing the first laser beam L1 from undergoing total internal reflection on the third surface 233.

[0063] Specifically, the angle of deflection between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 is 15° to 45°.

[0064] For example, the angle of deflection between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 is 15°, or the angle of deflection between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 is up to 45°, or the angle of deflection between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 is 30°.

[0065] By setting the deflection angle between the third surface 233 and the second surface 232 between 15° and 45°, it is ensured that the first laser beam L1 can be refracted to the outside by a larger proportion of the third surface 233 while satisfying the total internal reflection condition, thereby improving the beam combining efficiency.

[0066] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the space laser beam combiner also includes a first collimating lens 24 and a second collimating lens 25. The first collimating lens 24 is disposed between the first laser source 21 and the first surface 231, and is used to collimate the first laser beam L1 emitted from the first laser source 21 before outputting it to the first surface 231. The second collimating lens 25 is disposed between the second laser source 22 and the second surface 232, and is used to collimate the second laser beam L2 emitted from the second laser source 22 before outputting it to the second surface 232.

[0067] Both the first collimating mirror 24 and the second collimating mirror 25 employ optical lenses, which can be spherical or aspherical. Spherical mirrors are widely used due to their simple manufacturing process and low cost. However, spherical mirrors exhibit certain spherical aberrations, which may affect the collimation quality of the beam. Aspherical mirrors, through their unique curved surface design, can compensate for spherical aberrations and provide a higher quality collimated beam. When designing a space laser beam combiner, the most suitable collimating mirror type can be selected based on the beam characteristics and system design requirements.

[0068] In one example, both the first collimating lens 24 and the second collimating lens 25 are made of quartz glass. Quartz glass is the preferred material for high-power laser systems due to its excellent optical properties and heat resistance. It maintains high transmittance over a wide wavelength range, especially in the ultraviolet and infrared bands, which is particularly important for multi-wavelength laser beam combiners.

[0069] In this method, by setting the first collimating mirror 24 and the second collimating mirror 25, the collimation of the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 is improved, and the divergence of the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 during propagation is reduced. The collimated laser will be more controllable and can be refracted and reflected in a preset direction, thereby improving the beam quality after beam combining.

[0070] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the space laser beam combiner also includes a focusing lens 26, which is disposed on the beam combining path after the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 are refracted by the third surface 233, and is used to focus the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 after being refracted by the third surface 233.

[0071] Specifically, the focusing lens 26 can employ a combination of one or more convex lenses to achieve optimal focusing of the light beam. These lenses can be spherical or aspherical, the latter providing a higher quality focused spot due to its ability to reduce spherical aberration. Furthermore, the design of the focusing lens 26 includes various types such as plano-convex, positive concave-convex, diffractive, and reflective lenses to meet different application requirements.

[0072] The choice of material for the focusing lens 26 also significantly affects its performance. The focusing lens 26 in this embodiment uses materials including K9 glass, quartz, and ultraviolet fused silica. K9 glass is widely used due to its good optical properties and low cost. Quartz is favored because of its excellent transmittance in the ultraviolet and infrared light bands. Ultraviolet fused silica is suitable for applications requiring extremely high heat resistance and laser damage threshold.

[0073] In this method, the focusing characteristics of the combined beam are adjusted by the focusing lens 26 to focus the first laser beam L1 and the second laser beam L2 to meet the needs of subsequent laser processing applications, enabling laser processing to achieve higher precision and efficiency, such as more precise operations in laser processing.

[0074] The space laser beam combiner of this invention, with its ingenious design, offers new possibilities for the application of laser technology. By controlling the angles of the first surface 231, the second surface 232, and the third surface 233 of the beam combiner 23, efficient laser beam combining can be achieved without the need for a reflective coating, reducing manufacturing costs and improving beam quality.

[0075] The space laser beam combiner of this invention shows broad application prospects in fields such as industrial manufacturing, medical surgery, and scientific research, providing strong support for technological progress and innovative development in related fields.

[0076] This invention also provides a laser, including a space laser beam combiner as described in the above embodiments.

[0077] While exemplary embodiments and their advantages have been described in detail, those skilled in the art can make various changes, substitutions and modifications to these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined herein.

Claims

1. A space laser beam combiner, characterized in that, include: The first laser source (21) is used to output the first laser beam (L1); The second laser source (22) is used to output the second laser beam (L2); The beam combining lens (23) includes a first surface (231), a second surface (232) and a third surface (233), wherein the first surface (231), the second surface (232) and the third surface (233) have different orientations; The refractive index of the combined lens (23) is greater than that of air; After the first laser beam (L1) is incident on the beam combining lens (23) from the first surface (231), the incident angle of the first laser beam (L1) on the second surface (232) is greater than the critical angle of total internal reflection so that total internal reflection occurs and it is reflected to the third surface (233). There is a deflection angle between the third surface (233) and the second surface (232) so that the incident angle of the first laser beam (L1) on the third surface (233) is less than the critical angle of total internal reflection. The first laser beam (L1) is refracted from the third surface (233) to the outside of the beam combining lens (23). After the second laser beam (L2) is incident on the beam combiner (23) from the second surface (232), it is refracted from the third surface (233) to the outside of the beam combiner (23) and coincides with the first laser beam (L1).

2. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wavelength of the first laser beam (L1) is shorter than the wavelength of the second laser beam (L2).

3. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first laser beam (L1) has a wavelength of 500 nm to 600 nm, and the second laser beam (L2) has a wavelength of 1000 nm to 1100 nm.

4. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refractive index of the combined lens (23) is 1.5 to 2.

0.

5. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The angle of deflection between the third surface (233) and the second surface (232) is 15° to 45°.

6. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The space laser beam combiner also includes a first collimating lens (24), which is disposed between the first laser source (21) and the first surface (231) to collimate the first laser beam (L1) emitted from the first laser source (21) and output it to the first surface (231).

7. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that, The space laser beam combiner also includes a second collimating lens (25), which is disposed between the second laser source (22) and the second surface (232) to collimate the second laser beam (L2) emitted from the second laser source (22) and output it to the second surface (232).

8. The space laser beam combiner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The space laser beam combiner also includes a focusing lens (26), which is disposed on the beam combining path of the first laser beam (L1) and the second laser beam (L2) after being refracted by the third surface (233), and is used to focus the first laser beam (L1) and the second laser beam (L2) after being refracted by the third surface (233).

9. A laser, characterized in that, Includes the space laser beam combiner as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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