Fiber Laser Failure Detection via Leakage Signal Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting fiber fuse and disconnection in fiber laser apparatuses are costly and inefficient, as they require extensive monitoring mechanisms and can fail to detect issues due to pump light propagation in Double Clad Fibers, leading to increased repair times and financial losses.
Innovation Solution
A fiber laser apparatus with a detecting section that monitors leakage signal light from the core or fusion-spliced portions of optical fibers, using a photodiode to detect intensity decreases and stop pump light introduction when a failure is detected, without the need for additional optical components, allowing for stable and cost-effective failure detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monitoring mechanisms are provided at every possible position to detect fiber fuse, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from multiple distributed monitoring mechanisms and concentrates it into a single monitoring mechanism that detects leakage signal light. By monitoring the leakage light from the optical fiber core at one strategic position, the system achieves reliable fiber fuse detection without requiring complex monitoring at every possible position along the fiber path.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring mechanism is designed to serve multiple detection purposes simultaneously - it can detect fiber fuse events, fiber disconnections, and other failures along the optical path using a single leakage light detection system, thereby reducing the need for multiple specialized monitoring mechanisms.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If pump light is used for detection in DCF, then detection capability is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates because pump light propagates in clad and may continue even after core damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of leakage signal light (which normally represents energy loss and system degradation) into a useful detection signal. By monitoring the leakage light that escapes from the optical fiber core, the system can accurately detect fiber fuse events and disconnections, transforming a sign of system failure into a reliable detection mechanism.
3Device complexity
If fiber fuse detection is delayed, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time and productivity increase due to continued damage progression
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring mechanism continuously monitors leakage signal light in advance to detect fiber fuse events at their earliest stages. By detecting failures immediately when they occur rather than waiting for symptoms to manifest, the system enables rapid response and minimizes the time required for repair, preventing further damage progression.
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 positive detection of fiber fuse or disconnection, reduces production costs, and minimizes downtime by quickly identifying and stopping the progression of failures, allowing for timely repair and reducing the risk of further damage.
Implementation Method 1
a detecting section that detects signal light leaking out from a core of the optical fiber as leakage signal light
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber laser apparatus in which pump light is introduced into an optical fiber to generate laser light includes a detecting section that detects signal light leaking out from a core of the optical fiber as leakage signal light, a determining section that determines that, in a case where there is a decrease in an intensity of the leakage signal light detected in the detecting section, a failure of the fiber has occurred, and a stopping section that stops, in a case where the determining section has determined that a failure of the fiber has occurred, the introduction of the pump light into the optical fiber. The detecting section detects the leakage signal light leaking out of a High Reflectivity FBG that is provided on a side opposite to an output side of the laser light.