Laser Device Multiplexing Phase-Controlled Light for High-Output Pulses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser devices face challenges in generating high-output pulsed laser light while preventing damage to amplifiers, as they require increasing pulse width to lower peak light intensity, making it difficult to produce short-pulse and high-output pulsed laser light.

Innovation Solution

A laser device that multiplexes laser lights with different frequencies, controlling their phases to ensure peak output at predetermined intervals, using semiconductor lasers and optical fibers with temperature-controlled phase control, allowing for easy generation of short-pulse and high-output pulsed laser light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a pulsed laser light is amplified to increase output power, then the peak light intensity increases, but the amplifier may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput powerVSAvoidpeak light intensity damage
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the amplification process into multiple stages with different amplification factors. The pulsed laser light is divided into multiple pulses with different peak intensities, and each pulse is amplified by a different amplifier with an appropriate amplification factor, thereby avoiding damage to any single amplifier while achieving high total output power

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic modulation of the laser light to create a train of pulses with controlled peak intensities. By adjusting the pulse repetition frequency and duty cycle, the system achieves high average output power while keeping individual pulse peak intensities within safe limits for the amplifiers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the pulse width is increased to lower peak light intensity, then amplifier damage is prevented, but the pulse width becomes longer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak light intensityVSAvoidpulse width
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single long pulse with low peak intensity, the patent segments the energy into multiple shorter pulses. Each pulse maintains a short duration (low peak intensity) while the overall energy delivery is extended through the pulse train, achieving both short pulse width and safe peak intensity levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal distribution parameters of the laser output by adjusting pulse repetition frequency, duty cycle, and individual pulse width. This allows optimization of both peak intensity and average power independently, achieving short pulse width while maintaining safe peak intensity levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If multiple amplifiers are used to amplify pulsed laser light, then output power increases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput powerVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple amplification stages into a coordinated system where amplifiers work in sequence or parallel with synchronized control. The pulse train generation and amplification are integrated into a unified control architecture, reducing overall system complexity despite using multiple amplifiers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the amplification system with universal components that can serve multiple functions. The same amplifier hardware can be configured for different amplification factors by adjusting control parameters, and the system can adapt to different pulse train configurations, reducing the need for specialized components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device effectively generates high-output pulsed laser light with improved beam quality and mechanical stability, reducing manufacturing costs and power consumption, while avoiding nonlinear optical effects that broaden pulse width.

Implementation Method 1

the phase control means controls the phase of each of the laser lights by controlling the temperature of each of the optical fibers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase control through temperature control: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2615488B1Laser device
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
  • EP2615488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2615488B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2615488B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laser device including a plurality of oscillating means for oscillating a plurality of laser lights being continuous lights and having frequencies different from each other, respectively, multiplexing means for multiplexing, after amplifying or without amplifying, the respective laser lights oscillated from the respective oscillating means at a predetermined position to generate a multiplexed light, and phase control means for controlling the phase of each of the laser lights so that a peak in output of the multiplexed light repeatedly appears at predetermined time intervals at the predetermined position (so that the same pulse temporal waveform repeatedly appears at predetermined time intervals).