Fiber-Based Optical Beam Delivery System With Adjustable Characteristics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fiber-coupled laser systems require complex and costly mechanisms to adjust beam characteristics, often relying on free-space optics that increase cost, complexity, and reduce reliability, failing to provide optimal performance for various materials processing tasks.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fiber-based system with a first and second length of fiber, where the optical beam is perturbed to adjust beam characteristics, such as spot size and divergence, within the first fiber and maintained in the second fiber's confinement regions, using refractive index profiles and perturbation devices like bending or acousto-optic excitation, to achieve variable beam characteristics without free-space optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If free-space optics or complex add-on mechanisms are used to vary beam characteristics, then beam adjustability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the beam characteristic adjustment function directly into the fiber optic delivery system by integrating a perturbation device with the fiber bundle structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate free-space optics and complex add-on mechanisms, achieving beam adjustability while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a perturbation device as an intermediary element that acts on the optical beam within the fiber bundle to modify beam characteristics. This intermediary approach allows for controlled beam adjustment without requiring complex external optical systems, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If free-space optics are used to adjust beam characteristics, then beam variability is improved, but reliability decreases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the beam adjustment capability into the fiber bundle itself through integrated perturbation devices, the patent eliminates multiple discrete components that would reduce reliability. The all-fiber architecture maintains system robustness while achieving beam variability through the perturbation mechanism.
3Temperature
If conventional nonlinear frequency conversion is used to change beam wavelength, then wavelength conversion is achieved, but beam characteristic control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical beam control function into distinct adjustable parameters (wavelength, spot size, divergence) that can be independently controlled. By applying perturbation to different regions of the fiber bundle and using multiple confinement regions with different RIPs, the system achieves granular control over various beam characteristics simultaneously or independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control mechanisms that allow real-time adjustment of beam characteristics. The perturbation device can dynamically modify beam properties by changing perturbation strength and positioning, while the confinement regions with selectable RIPs enable dynamic switching between different beam profiles and wavelengths.
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
This approach allows for adjustable beam characteristics that optimize laser processing tasks, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining performance and reliability, enabling tailored beam profiles for specific applications without the need for free-space optics.
Implementation Method 1
perturbing the first length of fiber by bending the first length of fiber to alter a bend radius such that one or more modes of the optical beam are displaced radially with respect to a longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
maintaining at least a portion of one or more adjusted beam characteristics within a second length of fiber having one or more confinement regions
Implementation Method 3
perturbation devices like bending or acousto-optic excitation
Data Source
AI summary
An optical beam delivery system, includes: an optical beam source; a fiber assembly situated to receive and modify one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam; and a nonlinear frequency-conversion stage in optical communication with the fiber assembly and situated to receive and frequency-convert an optical beam from a first wavelength to one or more second wavelengths. The fiber assembly includes: a first length of fiber comprising a first RIP formed to enable modification of the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam by a perturbation device, and a second length of fiber having a second RIP coupled to the first length of fiber, the second RIP formed to confine at least a portion of modified beam characteristics of the optical beam within one or more confinement regions. The first RIP and the second RIP are different.