Laser Unit Stacked Emitters Anamorphic Prisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser devices using the single emitter method are limited in the number and density of laser beams that can be combined, resulting in restricted laser power and optical fiber thickness in fiber coupling methods.
Innovation Solution
A laser unit configuration that includes stacked laser beam creation units with single emitters arranged at different heights and anamorphic prisms to compress and align laser beams, allowing for high-density and high-power laser beam combination through spatial, polarization, or wavelength coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If individual single laser beams are combined into a bundle without changing beam size, then the combination is simple, but the light-concentration density and laser power are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using anamorphic prisms to compress the beam size in one direction while maintaining it in the other direction. This changes the beam's dimensional parameters, allowing multiple beams to be packed more densely in the bundle, thereby increasing light-concentration density and laser power without overly complicating the combination system.
2Power
If beam size is compressed to increase light-concentration density, then laser power improves, but the optical system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces anamorphic prisms as intermediary optical elements that perform the beam compression function. These prisms serve as mediators between the simple beam combination approach and the desired high power output, achieving compression with a relatively simple optical component rather than requiring complex optical systems.
3Power
If multiple single emitters are arranged densely to increase power, then laser power increases, but beam interference and coupling efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses anamorphic prisms to compress beams in one dimension (the direction perpendicular to the paper face) while maintaining spacing in the other dimension. This dimensional transformation allows dense packing of multiple beams without causing interference, as the compressed dimension does not lead to overlap due to the non-contacting arrangement maintained in the other dimension.
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 configuration significantly improves the light-concentration density and laser power of combined beams, enabling higher quality and more efficient laser processing.
Implementation Method 1
a first anamorphic prism that allows the first stacked laser beam from the first stacked laser beam creation unit to pass therethrough so that a beam size of the individual first single laser beams that form the first stacked laser beam is compressed by a first compression ratio in one of a fast-axis direction and a slow-axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
The light-concentration density or laser power of a combined laser beam bundle, obtained by combining individual laser beams that are caused to oscillate by and are output from a plurality of single-emitter LDs, is increased efficiently, with high quality. On a bottom plate or a unit base 22 of the laser unit 10, there are disposed: a pair of stacked laser beam creation units 24L, 24R which are arranged with left-right symmetry with respect to a center line N; a single wavelength stabilizing element (VBG) 26 of which an incidence plane vertically intersects the center line N; a pair of primary anamorphic prisms 28L, 28R which are arranged separately on the right and left of the center line N; a mirror-type beam rotation element 30 disposed on the center line N; and a secondary anamorphic prism 32 disposed offset from the beam rotation element 30 in a direction (X-direction) perpendicular to the center line N.