Optical Phased Array Beam Shaping with Intermittent Noise Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical phased arrays face challenges in effectively correcting noise and modifying phases in dynamically shaped laser beams, leading to inefficiencies in applications such as laser cutting, additive manufacturing, and free-space optical communication.
Innovation Solution
A laser system with a noise cancellation subsystem that applies phase correction based on noise sampling and varying rates, combined with spatial modulation, to enhance precision and speed of beam shaping, including mechanisms like optical masks and phase modulators for improved noise cancellation and beam control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If noise correction is applied at high sampling rates to improve beam precision, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The noise correction system is segmented into multiple independent detectors, each monitoring specific spatial regions of the laser beam. This allows parallel noise sampling across different beam sections, achieving high precision without requiring a single overly complex correction mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary optical components (beam splitters, mirrors, and optical paths) that mediate between the laser beam and detectors. These intermediaries enable noise sampling without direct interference with the main beam path, reducing system complexity while maintaining correction effectiveness.
2Productivity
If phase modulation speed is increased to improve beam control responsiveness, then productivity improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to insufficient noise sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary noise sampling and characterization before phase modulation occurs. Detectors continuously monitor beam noise characteristics in advance, building a noise profile that guides subsequent phase correction actions, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained despite high-speed modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise sampling process operates continuously alongside phase modulation rather than intermittently. Multiple detectors simultaneously and continuously measure noise parameters, ensuring that noise characterization keeps pace with the rapid phase changes, maintaining measurement precision throughout the high-speed operation.
3Reliability
If multiple detectors are used to improve noise cancellation, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each detector in the system is designed to perform multiple functions: noise sampling, beam position monitoring, and intensity measurement. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable noise cancellation using universal detector components rather than specialized sensors, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the noise detection and beam control functions into a unified system where multiple detectors work in concert with the phase modulation system. By combining these functions and using the detectors for both measurement and control feedback, the system achieves reliable noise cancellation without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 system achieves precise and efficient beam shaping with reduced noise, enhancing the performance of laser cutting, additive manufacturing, and free-space optical communication systems by improving beam intensity and position control.
Implementation Method 1
a noise cancellation subsystem operative to provide a noise cancellation phase correction output based on taking into consideration the noise at intermittent times, the laser beam splitting and combining subsystem varying a phase of the combined laser output during time interstices between the intermittent times
Implementation Method 2
laser coherent beam combining and more particularly to optical phased arrays
Data Source
AI summary
A laser system including a seed laser, a laser beam splitting and combining subsystem receiving an output from the seed laser and providing a combined laser output having noise and a noise cancellation subsystem operative to provide a noise cancellation phase correction output based on taking into consideration the noise at intermittent times, the laser beam splitting and combining subsystem varying a phase of the combined laser output during time interstices between the intermittent times.