Optical Engine Laser Synchronization Without Thermal Restart Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronous control systems for laser tests of optical engines face inefficiencies due to the need for long thermal balance times in lasers, especially those using temperature for frequency doubling crystal regulation, which affects experiment efficiency and increases the risk of mechanical failure and optical window pollution when the optical engine is used to drive the laser.
Innovation Solution
A synchronous control method and system that independently drives the laser to achieve energy stability before experiments, adjusts the clock frequency for phase matching with the optical engine, and maintains stable operation, allowing for direct continuation of experiments without relying on the optical engine's operation, thereby improving test accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical engine is used to drive the laser to achieve synchronous operation, then the laser can be triggered at the correct crank angle phase, but the laser requires long thermal balance time (more than 30 min) to re-establish stable energy output after the optical engine stops, greatly affecting experiment efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming of the laser before the optical engine starts operating. The control system activates the laser in advance and maintains it in a warm state during the optical engine's operation, so that when the optical engine stops for window cleaning, the laser has already been pre-heated and requires minimal or no thermal balance time to resume stable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser is maintained in a continuous operating state throughout the experiment, including during periods when the optical engine is stopped for window cleaning. The control system keeps the laser running at a reduced power level or maintains it in standby mode, ensuring continuous thermal equilibrium and eliminating the need for repeated thermal balance periods.
2Reliability
If the optical engine operates continuously to maintain laser triggering, then synchronous control can be maintained, but the risk of mechanical failure and optical window pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the laser driving function from the optical engine. The laser is driven by an independent frequency source (function generator) rather than being directly triggered by the optical engine's mechanical operation. This segmentation allows the optical engine to be stopped for window cleaning while the laser continues to operate independently, eliminating the coupling that causes mechanical failure risk and window pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate control system (synchronous control system with phase matching) is introduced between the optical engine and the laser. This intermediary maintains the synchronous relationship through software control and phase adjustment rather than direct mechanical coupling, allowing the optical engine to be stopped without affecting laser operation.
3Reliability
If the laser is restarted with the optical engine operation after window cleaning, then synchronous operation can be re-established, but more than 30 minutes are required to re-establish thermal balance
Solution Approach 1:
The laser is pre-warmed before the optical engine starts and maintained in a warm state throughout the experiment. This preliminary heating action ensures that when the optical engine is stopped for window cleaning, the laser is already at or near its operating temperature, eliminating the need for 30-minute thermal balance periods and significantly improving experiment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser operates continuously throughout the entire experiment, including during window cleaning intervals. The control system maintains the laser in a ready state with continuous power supply, ensuring that the thermal balance is never disrupted and the laser can immediately resume stable operation after the optical engine restarts.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in embodiments of the present invention are a synchronous control method and system for a laser test of an optical engine. The operation of a laser can be driven by the synchronous control system. When a test of a data point is finished and the optical engine stops for optical window cleaning, the laser may still maintain stable operation under the driving of the synchronous control system, experiments may be directly carried out next time, and thus, laser test efficiency of the optical engine can be improved. Moreover, the synchronous control system is adopted to independently drive the laser to achieve energy stability before experiments, preventing an influence of long-term operation on the performance of the optical engine, and improving test accuracy.