Liquid Optical Fiber Laser Coupling for High Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for coupling medium-high power semiconductor laser diodes into optical fibers face inefficiencies and complexity, particularly with glass fibers, which struggle to handle high-power laser stacks due to beam quality issues and spatial density limitations, leading to significant power loss and incompatibility with high-duty-cycle or CW mode operations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a liquid optical fiber with a polymeric cladding and a core diameter of 2-8 mm, coupled with cylindrical fast-axis collimation lenses and aspherical or spherical lenses to reduce beam divergence and focus the laser beam, allowing efficient coupling of medium-high power laser diodes with improved beam homogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If glass optical fibers are used to couple medium-high power laser diodes, then the system structure is well-defined and manufacturable, but the transmission efficiency deteriorates significantly due to beam quality mismatches and spatial density limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the optical fiber from glass to liquid crystal, which fundamentally alters the fiber's optical properties. Liquid crystal optical fibers have higher numerical aperture and larger mode field diameter, enabling them to accept and transmit high-power laser beams with poor beam quality that glass fibers cannot handle efficiently, thus reducing power loss while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure by combining liquid crystal material with optical fiber architecture. The liquid crystal core is surrounded by a cladding layer, creating a composite structure that leverages the high optical acceptance of liquid crystals while maintaining the guiding functionality of optical fibers, achieving both efficient power transmission and structural integrity
2Power
If the number of emitters per bar and spatial density are increased to achieve higher power output, then the power capability improves, but the beam quality deteriorates with higher divergence and asymmetry
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal optical fiber acts as an intermediary between the laser emitter array and the application target. It receives the complex, high-divergence beam from multiple emitters and transforms it into a unified, controllable beam mode, mediating the transition from poor-quality multi-emitter output to reliable transmitted beam while maintaining high power capability
3Reliability
If laser diodes are positioned remotely from the application area to improve beam homogeneity, then the beam quality at the target improves, but the complexity of power supply and cooling systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes liquid crystal material properties that allow the optical fiber to be flexible and adaptable in positioning. The liquid crystal optical fiber can be routed and positioned to achieve optimal beam homogeneity at the application area while maintaining manageable system complexity through its fluid-based optical guidance mechanism
4Power
If liquid optical fiber with larger core diameter is used to improve power transmission capability, then the power handling improves, but the fiber flexibility and ease of routing may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material state from solid glass to liquid crystal, which fundamentally alters the mechanical and optical parameters. Liquid crystal optical fibers maintain flexibility and adaptability even with larger core diameters, enabling both high power transmission capability and ease of routing to the application area
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 achieves high transmission efficiency (>95%) with reduced complexity and cost, enabling effective coupling of medium-high power laser diodes, suitable for industrial and aesthetic applications like laser hair removal, by leveraging the higher BPP and homogeneity of liquid optical fibers.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber, in particular a liquid optical fiber, having a core surrounded by a cladding
Implementation Method 2
cylindrical fast-axis collimation lenses and aspherical or spherical lenses to reduce beam divergence
Implementation Method 3
aspherical or spherical lenses to reduce beam divergence and focus the laser beam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A description is given of a system for coupling a medium-high power laser diode in an optical guide. The system comprises a laser diode, a liquid optical fiber and coupling optics arranged in between the laser diode and the liquid optical fiber so as to couple the laser beam emitted by the laser diode in the liquid optical fiber.