Oscillating Laser Focus Shaping for Variable Beam Spot Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices for shaping electromagnetic wave beams, such as laser beams, face challenges in achieving high-quality beam treatment of workpieces due to limitations in adjusting beam spot diameter and shape without adding additional optical components in the beam path, especially when dealing with high-power laser beams.
Innovation Solution
An optical device that induces oscillation of the focal point in the x, y, and z directions using an exciter means with multiple units, allowing for a controllable focal point oscillation path, which increases the Beam Parameter Product (BPP) and enables variable beam shaping without additional optical components in the beam path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional optical components such as lenses or transport fibers are used to adjust beam spot diameter and shape, then beam quality and manufacturing precision are improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to more components in the beam path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the existing optical system by dynamically adjusting the focal point position through oscillation in x, y, and z directions. This allows variation of beam spot diameter and intensity distribution without modifying the physical optical components, thereby improving beam quality while maintaining device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic oscillation of the focal point along a controllable path to achieve variable beam shaping. By making the focal point position dynamic rather than static, the system can adapt beam parameters in real-time without adding physical components, resolving the contradiction between beam quality and device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If additional optical components are added to the beam path to shape the beam, then beam spot diameter and shape can be adjusted, but reliability decreases due to increased risk of damage and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding physical components that could fail or misalign, the patent achieves beam spot control by changing the focal point position parameters through oscillation. This parameter-based approach eliminates additional components that could introduce reliability issues while maintaining precise beam control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the beam shaping function from physical optical components and implements it through dynamic focal point oscillation. By removing the need for additional lenses or fibers, the system eliminates potential failure points while maintaining the essential beam shaping capability
3Manufacturing precision
If beam spot diameter is increased to improve energy input and cutting quality, then manufacturing precision improves, but beam parameter product (BPP) increases which may reduce productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic oscillation of the focal point to create time-varying beam spot sizes. The oscillating focal point naturally produces periodic variations in beam diameter, allowing the system to achieve both small spot sizes for precision and larger effective spot sizes for higher energy input, balancing cutting quality and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
By dynamically oscillating the focal point position, the system can adapt beam spot diameter in real-time during processing. This dynamic control allows optimization of beam parameters for different stages of cutting, achieving high precision when needed while maintaining overall productivity through efficient energy distribution
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 solution improves the energy input into the cutting edge of workpieces by increasing the beam spot diameter within the x-y plane, resulting in enhanced cutting quality and optimized beam treatment without the need for additional optical components, allowing for fine adjustments in beam spot size and intensity distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an exciter means functionally connected to the optical element for inducing an oscillation of the focal point in at least one of an x direction and a y direction of a plane perpendicular to the beam propagation direction along a controllable focal point oscillation path
Data Source
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AI summary
A an optical device for shaping an electromagnetic wave beam and a use thereof, a beam treatment device and a use thereof, and a beam treatment method are provided. The optical device has an optical element positioned within beam propagation direction, and an exciter means functionally connected to the optical element for inducing an oscillation of the focal point in at least one of an x direction and an y direction of a plane perpendicular to the beam propagation direction along a focal point oscillation path.