Adjustable Fiber Beam Shaping With Divergence-Preserving Combiner
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser welding systems with fixed central core and ring fiber dimensions are limited in adjusting spatial intensity distribution, restricting further optimization of the laser welding process and reducing versatility.
Innovation Solution
An optical beam delivery system with multiple input fibers and a fused fiber combiner that preserves divergence, allowing for adjustable composite beam shapes by varying the relative dimensions of the central core and ring beams through a tunable fiber assembly, which adjusts the input transverse spatial intensity distribution and converts it to an intermediate divergence distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ring fiber with separate guiding regions is used to adjust beam diameter and shape, then beam characteristics can be varied, but light coupling into the low-index layer between cores causes increased divergence
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber is divided into multiple independent guiding regions (central core and annular core) separated by low-index layers. Each core can independently guide light with different spatial intensity distributions, allowing separate control of central and ring beam characteristics without mutual interference that would cause divergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The low-index glass layers act as intermediary regions between the central and annular cores. These layers are designed with specific refractive index properties to prevent light coupling between cores while still allowing the fiber structure to maintain mechanical integrity and guide light efficiently within each core region.
2Device complexity
If fixed central core and ring fiber dimensions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adjust spatial intensity distribution and optimize welding parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber design enables dynamic adjustment of beam characteristics by independently controlling the power distribution between the central and annular cores. This allows real-time modification of spatial intensity distribution (Gaussian, flat-top, ring, saddle shapes) without changing the physical fiber structure, achieving versatility while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves beam shape adjustment by changing the optical parameters (power distribution, intensity ratios) between different guiding regions rather than changing physical dimensions. By varying the relative power in central and annular cores, multiple beam profiles can be generated from a single fixed fiber structure.
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 flexible generation of composite beam shapes, such as ring, saddle, and flat-top beams, optimizing welding properties like welding mode, depth, and melt pool dynamics by independently controlling central and ring beam powers.
Implementation Method 1
a tunable fiber assembly, which adjusts the input transverse spatial intensity distribution and converts it to an intermediate divergence distribution
Implementation Method 2
A fused fiber combiner combines multiple input beams into a composite output beam
Data Source
AI summary
A fused fiber combiner combines outputs from multiple, separately controllable input fibers. At least one of the input fibers includes a portion to vary a transverse spatial intensity distribution in response to controllable perturbation, a portion to convert position to angle, and a portion to preserve the divergence distribution. An output of the combiner is coupled to a divergence-preserving fiber, which preserves a combined divergence distribution guided by the divergence-preserving fiber. An output GRIN lens maps the combined divergence distribution to an output transverse spatial intensity distribution defining a composite beam shape of an output beam, the output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing a superposition of individual channel output beams.