Laser Beam Combiner Control for Ripple-Stable Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser beam generation devices face challenges in achieving stable laser output due to current ripples generated in the driving current of LD modules, particularly in full-bridge circuit switching operations.
Innovation Solution
A laser beam generation device is designed with multiple power supply units, LD modules, a condensing unit, and a control device that generates control signals with adjustable phases or frequencies. This configuration allows for the cancellation of ripples in the laser beams output from multiple LD modules, resulting in a stable laser output with reduced ripple.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a full-bridge circuit switching operation is used to drive LD modules, then high efficiency and high heat dissipation are achieved, but current ripples are generated in the driving current causing unstable laser output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single full-bridge circuit into multiple independent full-bridge circuits, each driving a separate LD module. By segmenting the power supply system, the current ripples from each circuit can be phase-shifted relative to each other, allowing the ripples to cancel out when the laser beams are combined, thus maintaining high efficiency while improving output stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple laser beams from separate LD modules into a single output beam. The individual beams, each containing ripple components at different phases, are merged through optical combining. This merging process allows the ripple components to interfere destructively and cancel each other out, resulting in a stable combined output while preserving the high efficiency benefits of multiple full-bridge circuits
2Temperature
If multiple power supply units and LD modules are provided to achieve high heat dissipation, then heat is dispersed effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs each power supply unit and LD module combination as a universal, identical module that performs multiple functions: power conversion, heat dissipation, and laser generation. This modular universal design allows the system to achieve high heat dissipation capability while keeping individual module complexity low and enabling standardized manufacturing and maintenance
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 proposed solution effectively cancels out ripples in the laser beams, achieving a stable laser output with a significantly reduced ripple rate, thereby improving the reliability and accuracy of laser processing applications.
Implementation Method 1
the phase or frequency of each of the plurality of control signals is changed... by shifting the phases of the plurality of control signals from each other, the ripples included in the laser beams output from the plurality of laser diode modules are canceled from each other
Data Source
AI summary
A laser beam generation device includes power supply units, LD modules, a combiner, and a control device. The LD modules receive currents from the power supply units, and output laser beams. The combiner collects the laser beams and outputs one laser beam. The control device generates control signals such that power of the laser beam becomes a laser output setting value and such that the currents become current command values. Phases of pulses of the control signals are shifted from each other by 60 degrees.