Laser Module Beam Rotator for Single-Plane Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power fiber lasers require wavelength locking and higher brightness to efficiently process materials, but conventional non-locked multimode pump lasers have broader emission spectra than the narrow absorption bands of these lasers, making them difficult to implement effectively.
Innovation Solution
A laser module design incorporating a laser submodule, polarization beam combiner, beam rotator, grating, and output fiber that emits an array pattern of beams with different polarizations, which are combined and rotated to create a single, high-power, high-brightness beam by wavelength beam combining, with the beam rotator enabling all components to be aligned in a single plane, reducing complexity and enhancing beam quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional non-locked multimode pump lasers are used, then the emission spectrum is broader, but this does not match the narrow absorption bands of high power fiber lasers
Solution Approach 1:
The pump laser is divided into multiple individual laser diodes, each emitting at a specific wavelength. These discrete wavelength sources are then combined using a diffraction grating to match the narrow absorption bands of the high power fiber laser, replacing the conventional single broad-spectrum source.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple laser diodes emitting at different wavelengths are combined using a diffraction grating and polarization beam combiner to create a multi-wavelength pump source that matches the absorption spectrum of the fiber laser, achieving both wavelength locking and spectral adaptability.
2Power
If multiple laser diodes are combined to increase power, then the power increases, but the beam quality and brightness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Each laser diode in the array is individually optimized and positioned to emit with specific polarization and spatial characteristics. The polarization beam combiner and diffraction grating preserve and combine these optimized local beam qualities to maintain high overall beam brightness while scaling power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polarization as an additional dimension to combine multiple laser diode beams. By assigning different polarization states to different diodes and using a polarization beam combiner, the system combines power while maintaining beam quality through polarization multiplexing rather than simple spatial stacking.
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 wavelength locking, increased beam brightness, and power, while simplifying the design and thermal management of the laser module, enabling efficient material processing with reduced beam divergence and increased reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the PBC is configured to combine the array pattern of beams into a vertical stack pattern of beams
Implementation Method 2
the beam rotator is configured to rotate the vertical stack pattern of beams into a horizontal stack pattern of beams
Implementation Method 3
the grating is configured to combine the horizontal stack pattern of beams into an overlapped pattern of beams
Implementation Method 4
the first lens and the reflector are configured to direct the horizontal stack pattern of beams to the grating
Data Source
AI summary
A laser module includes a laser submodule, a polarization beam combiner (PBC), a beam rotator, a grating, and an output fiber (e.g., each disposed on an internal surface of a floor of the laser module). The laser submodule is configured to emit an array pattern of beams, which the PBC is configured to combine into a vertical stack pattern of beams, which the beam rotator is configured to rotate into a horizontal stack pattern of beams, which the grating is configured to combine into an overlapped pattern of beams, which the output fiber is configured to emit. The vertical stack pattern of beams, the horizontal stack pattern of beams, and the overlapped pattern of beams are to transmit through the laser module parallel to a single common plane (e.g., that is parallel to the internal surface of the floor of the laser module).