Monolithic Fiber Connector Non-Planar Facet Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power fiber lasers require additional optical components for collimation or focusing of output radiation, which increases complexity and cost, and may cause damage to fibers or facets due to low power density and divergence issues.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic fiber connector system with a non-planar output facet, capable of altering the spatial distribution of the output beam through machining into hemispherical, semi-spherical, or aspherical shapes, and optionally incorporating a diffraction element like a diffraction grating or Fresnel-zone plate, eliminating the need for additional optical circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional optical components (lenses, mirrors) are used for collimation or focusing of output radiation, then beam quality and spatial distribution are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the block's output facet with collimation or focusing optical elements into a single integrated component. The non-planar surface (spherical, aspherical, or freeform) directly provides the optical function that would otherwise require separate lenses or mirrors, thereby eliminating additional optical components while maintaining beam quality control.
Solution Approach 2:
The block's output facet serves multiple functions: it acts as both the optical interface for radiation extraction and the collimation or focusing element. By designing the facet with specific non-planar geometries, a single component achieves both radiation extraction and beam shaping functions that would traditionally require separate optical elements.
2Speed
If additional optical components are added for beam control, then beam divergence is reduced, but the risk of damage to fibers or facets increases due to higher power density concentration
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the optical control function directly into the block's output facet, the patent eliminates intermediate optical components that would be exposed to high power density. The facet itself manages beam divergence without requiring separate lenses or mirrors that could be damaged by concentrated laser power.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-planar output facet acts as an intermediary element that gradually transforms the divergent beam from the core into a collimated or focused output. This gradual transformation through the facet's curved surface reduces abrupt power density changes that could cause damage to optical components or fibers.
3Device complexity
If a non-planar output facet is used to alter beam distribution, then additional optical components are eliminated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical, aspherical, or freeform curved surfaces for the output facet to achieve collimation or focusing functions. These curved geometries can be manufactured using precision machining or molding techniques, and their symmetric or well-defined shapes facilitate quality control and manufacturing repeatability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the non-planar facet (such as radius of curvature, aspherical coefficients, or freeform surface equations) to achieve the desired beam control while accommodating manufacturing capabilities. By carefully selecting and optimizing these parameters, the design balances optical performance with manufacturability.
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
The system simplifies the structure for fiber laser radiation transmission by directly altering beam divergence and distribution without additional components, ensuring efficient and damage-free high power and ultra-high-power fiber laser radiation handling.
Implementation Method 1
The non-planar output facet 203 of block 202...is operative to change the divergence of output beam 204 into output beam 205 which can be collimated, focused, or have any predetermined and desired special distribution
Implementation Method 2
The end facet 203 is also configured as a single piece diffraction element 207 operative to modify the divergence of output beams 204
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A fiber connector system provides a pigtailed monolithic terminal block of a fiber connector configured to alter a space distribution of laser output radiation. The output facet of the pigtailed monolithic terminal block is configured to alter the divergence of an output beam allowing collimation, focusing, or any desired distribution without additional optical circuitry, The fiber connector system is operative to couple two fiber's from respective different fiber devices and allows positioning additional optical components there between.