Wavelength Beam Combining via Selective Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wavelength beam combining systems face limitations in achieving high spatial brightness and beam quality due to imperfections in laser elements, particularly when combining beams along the array dimension, which results in reduced spectral utilization and output beam quality, and require complex beam symmetrization for efficient fiber coupling.

Innovation Solution

The development of optical and mechanical means to selectively rotate and reposition emitted electromagnetic beams in one-dimensional or two-dimensional arrays, allowing for alignment conducive to generating a preferred output beam profile, thereby overcoming the limitations of fixed-position emitters and improving beam quality and brightness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam combining is performed along the array dimension, then the external cavity is more sensitive to imperfections in the laser elements, but spectral utilization is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensitivity to imperfectionsVSAvoidspectral utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional beam combining approach by performing combining along the stacking dimension instead of the array dimension. This reversal makes the external cavity much less sensitive to laser element imperfections and significantly improves spectral utilization while maintaining high output power and brightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the dimension along which beam combining is performed, transitioning from combining along the array dimension to combining along the stacking dimension. This dimensional change fundamentally alters the system's sensitivity characteristics and spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of energy

If beam combining is performed along the stacking dimension, then the external cavity is much less sensitive to imperfections in laser elements and spectral utilization is high, but the output beam quality is limited to the beam quality of a single beam combining element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral utilizationVSAvoidoutput beam quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If standard COTS diode laser bars with 19 to 49 emitters are used, then they are readily available and cost-effective, but the output beam quality is barely adequate for some applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability and costVSAvoidoutput beam quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If individual emitters are assumed to be pre-aligned or fixed in position, then the system is simpler, but the output beam profile is limited by this pre-alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment complexityVSAvoidoutput beam profile

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities through optical elements that can selectively reposition and rotate individual beams. This allows the system to compensate for fixed-position emitter limitations and generate preferred output beam profiles without requiring complex pre-alignment of all emitters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical elements as intermediaries between the fixed-position emitters and the final beam output. These intermediaries (optical rotators and spatial repositioning elements) enable beam manipulation to achieve desired profiles without requiring the emitters themselves to be precisely pre-aligned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8553327B2Selective repositioning and rotation wavelength beam combining system and method

Publication Date: 2013.10.08 WBC PHOTONICS INC

AI summary

A system and method for reconfiguring a plurality of electromagnetic beams to take advantage of various wavelength beam combining techniques. The reconfiguring of beams includes individual rotation and selective repositioning of one or more beams with respect to beam's original input position.