Diffractive Laser Beam Splitting for Long-Fiber Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power laser transmission through optical fibers is limited by short transmission distance and bending limitations, leading to light leakage, heat generation, and misalignment of optical components due to heat-induced displacement of the focus.
Innovation Solution
A laser processing apparatus utilizing multiple laser sources and diffractive optical elements, where each laser source emits 1 kW of power, with optical fibers transmitting the beams over 100 meters, and diffractive optical elements forming a uniform intensity distribution and focal position on the object, preventing heat-induced damage and misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high-power laser light is transmitted through optical fiber, then laser processing capability is improved, but transmission distance is limited and fiber bending causes light leakage and heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-power laser beam into multiple lower-power beams using a diffractive optical element. This segmentation allows the use of multiple optical fibers, each transmitting lower power, thereby extending transmission distance and reducing heat generation while maintaining total processing power through combination of multiple beams.
2Ease of operation
If optical fiber is bent to extend reach, then positioning flexibility is improved, but light leakage and heat generation damage the fiber
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the high-power beam into multiple lower-power beams transmitted through separate fibers, each fiber can be routed with gentler bends, reducing stress and light leakage while maintaining positioning flexibility through multiple routing options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If diffractive optical element is used to shape laser beam, then processing flexibility is improved, but heat generation causes misalignment and focus displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The diffractive optical element divides the high-power laser beam into multiple lower-power beams. This segmentation reduces the heat load on the DOE, minimizing thermal expansion and focus displacement, while the multiple beams can be independently controlled to maintain processing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple optical fibers act as intermediaries between the diffractive optical element and the workpiece, distributing the thermal load and allowing for better heat management while maintaining the beam shaping capabilities of the DOE.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables long-distance transmission of high-power laser light, extends the optical fiber length to several hundred meters, reduces the risk of fiber damage, and maintains high processing throughput with redundant laser sources for component failure, allowing precise and efficient laser processing in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
diffractive optical elements on which a plurality of laser light beams are incident, the plurality of laser light beams being emitted from the plurality of optical fibers. Diffracted light reflected by each of the diffractive optical elements forms an image on an object
Data Source
AI summary
A laser processing apparatus includes a plurality of laser sources, an optical fiber connected to each of the plurality of laser sources, the optical fiber being one of a plurality of the optical fibers, and diffractive optical elements on which laser light beams are incident, laser light beams being emitted from the plurality of optical fibers. Diffracted light reflected by each of the diffractive optical elements forms an image on an object at a substantially identical intensity distribution and at a substantially identical focal position.