Modular Laser Combiner with Segmented Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser systems are inflexible and costly due to the need for precise alignment and reconfiguration of multiple laser wavelengths, requiring extensive customization and remanufacturing for upgrades, which limits their scalability and adaptability to various applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular, stackable laser combiner system where each laser module includes a laser, power supply, electronics, and optics, allowing for easy combination and reconfiguration, with a control module for switching, shuttering, and intensity control, enabling a wide range of configurations with minimal manufacturing complexity and field-upgradeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single solid platform is used to hold lasers, combining optics and fiber for precise alignment, then beam alignment precision and system stability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to requirements for vibration isolation and thermal expansion control
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: individual laser modules, a combining module with optics, and a fiber coupling module. Each module can be independently manufactured, aligned, and tested, then assembled together. This segmentation reduces the complexity of maintaining precision alignment across the entire system while achieving the same alignment precision through modular interfaces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a single solid platform is used to hold lasers, combining optics and fiber for precise alignment, then system stability is improved, but ease of manufacture and field-upgradeability worsen due to requirements for reconfiguring internal optics
Solution Approach 1:
The modular architecture allows the system configuration to be dynamically changed by adding, removing, or replacing individual laser modules without affecting the stability of the core combining optics and fiber coupling infrastructure. This enables field upgrades while maintaining system stability through consistent optical interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customized laser systems are manufactured for each application with specific wavelength selections, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to large number of customized systems
Solution Approach 1:
The combining module and fiber coupling module are designed as universal components that can work with multiple different laser modules of various wavelengths. This universality allows a single core system to serve multiple applications by simply changing the laser modules, eliminating the need to manufacture entirely customized systems for each application while maintaining high adaptability.
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 modular system reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by allowing easy assembly and upgrade of laser systems, enabling a vast number of configurations with fewer manufactured entities, and maintaining precise beam alignment and control across various applications.
Implementation Method 1
A common way to combine laser beams is to use a polychromatic mirror (dichroic) to reflect one laser beam along the path of another.
Data Source
AI summary
Modular electrical, mechanical and optical components allow for the building of a laser combiner system that can be used, for example, for biological research that allows different lasers to be easily added to or removed from a laser system. Each individual laser can be packaged into a module which can be added to or taken away from the laser system with relative ease. Each of the modules can be controlled via a control module that allows one or more of varying of power levels, switching on/off, shutter control and diagnostic/status information monitoring.