Optical Combiner Structure for Center-Ring Laser Beam Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical combiners face challenges in manufacturing and mechanical strength due to the need for smaller inner optical fibers, limiting the number of fibers and laser power, and struggles with beam profile adjustment and output balance between center and outer cores.
Innovation Solution
The optical combiner design includes a bridge fiber with a diameter reduction portion and an intermediate fiber, allowing first and second laser beams to be combined into a center and ring core of an output optical fiber without reducing fiber diameter, enhancing mechanical strength and enabling adjustable beam profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the diameter of inner optical fibers is reduced to avoid increased output fiber diameter, then the number of inner optical fibers can be increased, but the mechanical strength of the inner optical fibers is reduced and breakage or cutting is likely to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple inner optical fibers (first optical fibers) inside the core region of a single outer optical fiber (second optical fiber). The inner optical fibers are arranged in the central area while the outer optical fiber surrounds them, creating a nested configuration where multiple fibers occupy space within the output fiber's core region without requiring each inner fiber to have reduced diameter for mechanical strength
2Quantity of substance
If the diameter of inner optical fibers is reduced to avoid increased output fiber diameter, then the number of inner optical fibers can be increased, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration allows inner optical fibers to be positioned within the core region of the output fiber without requiring precise diameter reduction. The outer optical fiber naturally surrounds the inner fibers, and the arrangement can be achieved through standard splicing techniques rather than requiring specialized manufacturing processes for reduced-diameter fibers
3Power
If the number of inner optical fibers is increased to increase laser beam power, then the power of laser beam introduced into the center core can be increased, but the output balance between center core and outer core becomes difficult to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of output balance by allowing independent control of laser sources connected to inner and outer optical fibers. The system can dynamically adjust the power distribution between the center core (via inner fibers) and outer core (via outer fiber) to achieve desired beam profiles, making the system adaptable to different processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows changing operational parameters such as the number of active inner optical fibers and their power levels to adjust the output balance. By varying these parameters, the system can optimize the distribution of laser power between center and outer cores for different workpiece materials and thicknesses
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 allows for increased fiber count and laser power, improved mechanical strength, and adjustable beam profiles, enhancing processing performance and reducing heat generation and mechanical failures.
Implementation Method 1
a bridge fiber (20) having a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers (10), a diameter reduction portion (24) having a diameter gradually reduced away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along an optical axis
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an optical combiner that can readily be manufactured with capability of directing a laser beam into each of a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide of an output optical fiber. An optical combiner 3 has a plurality of first input optical fibers 10 each including a core 11, a bridge fiber 20 having a bridge input surface 26 connected to the cores 11 of the first input optical fibers 10, a diameter reduction portion 24 having a diameter gradually reduced away from the bridge input surface 26 along an optical axis, and a bridge output surface 27 located opposite to the bridge input surface 26 along the optical axis, an intermediate optical fiber 30 including a core 31 connected to the bridge output surface 27 of the bridge fiber 20, a plurality of second input optical fibers 40 each including a core 41, and an output optical fiber 50 including a center core 51 connected to the core 31 of the intermediate optical fiber 30 and a ring core 53 connected to the cores 41 of the second input optical fibers 40.