Multi-Emitter Laser Source Assembly for Thermal Pointing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable, compact laser sources often fail to generate output beams with sufficient power and desired spectral characteristics for applications such as thermal pointing, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control.
Innovation Solution
A laser source assembly comprising multiple emitters emitting beams along parallel axes, with a beam adjuster assembly that expands and collimates the beams, and a system controller to adjust power, allowing for the combination of beams to achieve the desired spectral profile and power for propagation through the atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple emitters are used to increase power output, then the power and spectral characteristics are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the laser source into multiple independent emitters (first emitter, second emitter, third emitter), each contributing to the overall power output. This segmentation allows each emitter to operate independently while collectively achieving the desired power and spectral characteristics that a single emitter cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple emitter beams are combined into a single assembly output beam through optical components. The beams from different emitters are merged and directed along a common assembly axis, consolidating their power and spectral properties into one unified output that achieves the required performance levels.
2Productivity
If beam expanding and collimating components are added, then the beam quality and propagation capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam adjuster assembly performs preliminary expansion and collimation of the emitter beams before they are combined into the final output. By pre-conditioning the beams through expansion and collimation, the system ensures optimal propagation characteristics are achieved before the beams merge, improving overall beam quality and atmospheric transmission.
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 solution enables the generation of a high-power, multiple-watt output beam with a diverse spectral profile, capable of propagating effectively through the atmosphere, addressing the limitations of existing technologies in power and spectral characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The first emitter emits a first beam along a first beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the assembly axis. The second emitter emits a second beam along a second beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the assembly axis. The third emitter emits a third beam along a third beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the assembly axis.
Implementation Method 2
the laser source assembly can further comprise a beam adjuster assembly that collectively expands the beams and subsequently collimates the beams
Implementation Method 3
a first lens that collimates the first beam, a second lens that collimates the second beam, and a third lens that collimates the third beam
Implementation Method 4
the beam adjuster assembly includes (i) a diverging lens that diverges the first beam that exits the first lens, the second beam that exits the second lens, and the third beam the exits the third lens, and (ii) an assembly lens that collimates the first beam, the second beam, and the third beam exiting from the diverging lens
Data Source
AI summary
A laser source assembly for providing an assembly output beam includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter emits a first beam along a first beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from an assembly axis. The second emitter emits a second beam along a second beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the assembly axis. The third emitter emits a third beam along a third beam axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the assembly axis. The first beam axis, the second beam axis and the third beam axis are positioned spaced apart about and substantially equidistant from the assembly axis.