Multi-wavelength Laser Beam Alignment via Correction Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-wavelength laser systems face challenges in aligning and maintaining the position and direction of individual laser beams, leading to complex and expensive adjustment systems with moving parts, which require frequent service adjustments and can result in non-optimal beam quality and pattern changes over distance.
Innovation Solution
Integrating laser sources on a common base plate with beam correction plates inside telescopes to permanently align beam positions and directions, eliminating the need for external optics and moving parts, and allowing for high-precision alignment during manufacturing to ensure stable multi-wavelength output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate laser modules are combined using external optics, then individual modules can be conveniently exchanged, but beam alignment becomes very challenging and requires complex adjustment systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser modules and beam combining optics into a single integrated unit. The laser diodes are mounted on a common mounting structure with permanently integrated beam combining optics, eliminating the need for separate external optics and complex alignment systems while maintaining the ability to exchange entire pre-aligned modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam alignment is performed preliminarily during the manufacturing process. The beam combining optics are permanently aligned to the laser diodes on the mounting structure before the module is completed, so that when modules are exchanged, the alignment is already established and no further adjustment is needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If adjustment mirrors are used to align beams, then beam positioning can be corrected, but the system becomes bulky and requires frequent service adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment mirror system with a permanently integrated optical system. Instead of using movable mirrors that require mechanical adjustment, the beam combining optics are fixed in position relative to the laser diodes, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustment components and their associated reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the adjustment mirrors and their mechanical adjustment mechanisms from the system. By performing alignment preliminarily during manufacturing and making the optics permanent, the troublesome adjustment components are completely removed, leaving only the essential laser functionality.
3Ease of operation
If adjustment mirrors are placed in the beam path, then beam direction can be adjusted, but iterative alignment is required since one adjustment influences other beams
Solution Approach 1:
The beam directions are preliminarily set during manufacturing by permanently mounting the beam combining optics at specific angles relative to the laser diodes. This preliminary configuration ensures that all beams are correctly directed without requiring iterative adjustments during operation, as the geometry is fixed from the start.
4Measurement precision
If Risley prism pairs are used for beam adjustment, then beam positioning can be achieved, but subsequent positioning system adjustment is still needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the Risley prism pairs and positioning adjustment systems from the design. By permanently integrating the beam combining optics directly to the laser diodes during manufacturing, all intermediate adjustment components are eliminated, achieving beam position precision through permanent geometric relationships rather than adjustable mechanisms.
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 solution achieves a compact, high-precision multi-wavelength laser system with no need for post-manufacturing adjustments, maintaining beam quality and alignment over distance, and reducing maintenance and costs by integrating optics and sources on a common base plate with beam angle correction plates.
Implementation Method 1
a beam angle correction plate arranged inside said at least one telescope in said radiation beam path so as to shift said radiation beam parallel between said first and second lens of said telescope, resulting in a shift in pointing direction for a beam after passage of the telescope
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-wavelength laser module including a base plate, a plurality of radiation sources mounted on the base plate, at least one telescope including a first lens and a second lens wherein the second lens is arranged at a distance from the first lens along a radiation beam path, thereby creating a telescopic effect. A beam angle correction plate is arranged between the first lens and the second lens in the radiation beam path, the beam angle correction plate being angled in relation to the radiation beam path so as to parallel shift the radiation beam inside the telescope and thereby adjust the pointing direction of the radiation beam after passage of the telescope. Further, a method for assembling a multi-wavelength laser system provided with telescopes with such beam angle correction plate.