Laser Phase Control with Reference Beam Focus Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laser processing devices, it is challenging to distinguish between changes in the convergence position caused by the light source and those caused by the phase controller, leading to difficulties in correcting the convergence state effectively.
Innovation Solution
The laser device employs a phase control unit that splits the laser light into control and non-control light, where the non-control light, unaffected by the phase controller, is used to detect changes in the convergence state, allowing for easy correction through feedback control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all laser light is guided to the convergence position measuring unit through a semi-reflection mirror, then the convergence position can be measured, but it becomes difficult to detect whether the change in convergence position is caused by the light source or by another optical system
Solution Approach 1:
The laser light is divided into two separate paths: control light that undergoes phase control and non-control light that maintains original characteristics. This segmentation allows independent detection of light source changes versus phase controller changes, resolving the measurement ambiguity while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-control light acts as an intermediary reference that carries information about light source characteristics without being affected by the phase controller. By comparing this reference with the control light, the system can distinguish between light source variations and phase controller variations.
2Productivity
If a phase controller is introduced to improve processing speed by branching laser light into multiple rays, then productivity increases, but the ability to distinguish convergence position changes caused by light source versus phase controller deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The laser light is segmented into control light (subject to phase control for processing) and non-control light (used as reference). This allows the system to maintain high productivity through phase-controlled multi-ray branching while simultaneously using the non-control light to detect light source changes independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection result from the non-control light is fed back to the control unit, which then adjusts the phase controller accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic compensation for light source variations, maintaining measurement accuracy despite the complexity introduced by the phase controller.
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 enables precise maintenance of the convergence state of laser light, reducing machine differences when multiple devices are used in parallel, even with changes due to aging, by using the non-control light to correct the control light's spatial phase.
Implementation Method 1
a phase control unit configured to receive the laser light emitted from the laser light source, to control a spatial phase of a portion of the laser light
Implementation Method 2
a second optical system configured to cause the non-control light emitted from the phase control unit to converge toward a detection surface of the detector
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a laser device including: a laser light source configured to emit laser light; a phase control unit configured to receive the laser light emitted from the laser light source, to control a spatial phase of a portion of the laser light, to emit the portion of the light as control light, and to emit another portion of the laser light as non-control light; a first optical system configured to irradiate an object with the control light emitted from the phase control unit; a detector configured to detect the non-control light emitted from the phase control unit; a second optical system configured to cause the non-control light emitted from the phase control unit to converge toward a detection surface of the detector.