Fiber Laser Alignment Using Visible Light Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber laser systems face challenges in accurately aligning invisible laser light irradiation positions on workpieces due to mismatched guiding routes of invisible and visible laser light, leading to inaccurate alignment.
Innovation Solution
A fiber laser apparatus that generates invisible laser light using a single-mode core amplification optical fiber and includes a visible laser light source, an introducing section to introduce visible laser light into the amplification and output optical fibers, and a drive unit to align the irradiation position, along with a wavelength selective coupling-splitting element to manage return light and prevent damage to the visible laser light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate guiding routes are used for invisible laser light and visible laser light, then the invisible laser light can be generated and transmitted through the optical fiber, but the irradiation positions on the workpiece do not match and alignment cannot be performed accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guiding routes of invisible laser light and visible laser light into a single optical fiber. The visible laser light source is coupled to the optical fiber core, and both visible and invisible laser lights propagate through the same core, ensuring they exit at the same position and achieve accurate alignment on the workpiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an optical isolator as an intermediary component to manage return light. The optical isolator is inserted into the optical path to block return light from reaching the visible laser light source, preventing damage while maintaining the merged guiding route configuration.
2Reliability
If visible laser light is introduced into the same optical fiber core as invisible laser light, then accurate alignment can be achieved, but return light may propagate back to and damage the visible laser light source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical isolator as an intermediary component in the optical path. This device allows forward-propagating visible laser light to pass through to the optical fiber core while blocking return light from reaching the visible laser light source, thus preventing damage while maintaining alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful return light into a manageable condition by using the optical isolator to selectively block only the harmful backward-propagating light while allowing the useful forward-propagating light to pass through, thus protecting the light source without compromising the alignment function.
3Reliability
If an optical isolator is inserted to block return light, then the visible laser light source is protected from damage, but the optical path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an optical isolator as a compact intermediary component that can be integrated into the existing optical path without requiring significant structural changes. The isolator's small form factor and straightforward insertion method minimize the increase in overall system complexity while providing essential protection.
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 accurate alignment of invisible laser light irradiation positions on workpieces by matching the optical axes of visible and invisible laser light, preventing damage to the visible laser light source and improving beam quality and spot diameter.
Implementation Method 1
the introducing section has a wavelength selective coupling-splitting element that at least has two input terminals and one output terminal, the visible laser light from the visible laser light source being entered into one of the input terminals, laser light emitted from the output terminal being introduced into the core of one of the amplification optical fiber and the output optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
an optical fiber that guides visible laser light is arranged in parallel with an optical fiber that guides invisible laser light
Implementation Method 3
an optical fiber that guides visible laser light is arranged in parallel with an optical fiber that guides invisible laser light, and collecting the laser light outputted from each fiber at an emitting section with a lens
Implementation Method 4
collecting the laser light outputted from each fiber at an emitting section with a lens, and collecting them at the same position at a predetermined distance from the emitting section
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber laser apparatus that generates invisible laser light using an amplification optical fiber having a core and that propagates a fundamental mode and a low-order mode is provided. The fiber laser apparatus includes a visible laser light source that generates visible laser light, an introducing section that introduces the visible laser light generated by the visible laser light source into a core of the amplification optical fiber, a cladding light attenuating section that attenuates light which has propagated through a cladding of the amplification optical fiber, at a subsequent stage of the amplification optical fiber, and a drive unit that drives the visible laser light source to emit the visible laser light through a core of the output optical fiber in a case of performing alignment of an irradiation position of the invisible laser light with respect to a workpiece.