Prismatic Optical System for Laser Array Axis Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high power laser systems using semiconductor laser array stacks, the need to increase the number of light emission regions for enhanced laser light quantity leads to insufficient cooling and potential non-uniformity of laser light distribution due to adjacent stacks, requiring a solution that maintains uniformity without necessitating close proximity of the stacks.
Innovation Solution
A laser device employing a prismatic optical system that shifts the optical axes of luminous fluxes from multiple semiconductor laser array stacks, allowing for appropriate spacing and ensuring uniform light distribution by overlapping and condensing the fluxes at a predetermined position, thereby preventing the need for adjacent stacks and simplifying cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple semiconductor laser array stacks are disposed adjacent to each other to increase laser light quantity, then the productivity and laser output are improved, but the cooling device size increases and cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional reconfiguration by arranging multiple semiconductor laser array stacks in a matrix pattern (multiple rows and columns) rather than simple linear adjacency. This spatial redistribution in two dimensions allows optimization of both light output aggregation and cooling efficiency by creating appropriate spacing and thermal management zones between stacks while maintaining high productivity
2Temperature
If multiple semiconductor laser array stacks are disposed at appropriate intervals for sufficient cooling, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device size increases and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning from one-dimensional linear arrangement to two-dimensional matrix arrangement, the system achieves better thermal management through increased spacing in certain directions while maintaining compact overall footprint. This dimensional change allows sufficient cooling intervals without excessive device size increase and preserves productivity through optimized spatial configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The laser array system is segmented into multiple independent semiconductor laser array stacks arranged in a matrix, each capable of independent thermal management. This segmentation allows optimized cooling for each stack while maintaining high overall productivity through coordinated operation of multiple modules
3Productivity
If adjacent semiconductor laser array stacks are used to increase output, then the productivity is improved, but the uniformity of laser light distribution deteriorates due to potential stack deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent semiconductor laser array stacks arranged in a matrix, where each stack operates as a separate module. This segmentation ensures that deterioration in one stack does not affect others, and the combined output from multiple stacks maintains uniform laser light distribution across the target area, preserving both productivity and stability
Solution Approach 2:
Each semiconductor laser array stack in the matrix can be independently optimized and monitored for local quality characteristics. This allows identification and compensation of local deterioration in specific stacks while maintaining overall uniformity of laser light distribution across the entire system output
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 maintains uniform laser light intensity at the irradiation target even with stack deterioration, allows for miniaturization, and reduces cooling device size, enabling efficient long-distance transmission with low loss and high spatial intensity distribution.
Implementation Method 1
as the optical axes of laser luminous fluxes L1 to LN respectively emitted from the N semiconductor laser array stacks LS1 to LSN are shifted by the prismatic optical system 10A
Implementation Method 2
the imaging optical system 18 generates light-condensing points P1 to PN of the laser luminous fluxes L1 to LN between the imaging optical system 18 and a predetermined position Q
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a laser device including N semiconductor laser array stacks, a prismatic optical system that shifts optical axes of luminous fluxes respectively output from the N semiconductor laser array stacks so as to decrease intervals among the luminous fluxes, and an imaging optical system that causes the luminous fluxes to be condensed and deflected for each luminous flux. The imaging optical system causes the luminous fluxes to be deflected so that the luminous fluxes overlap each other at a predetermined position and generates a light-condensing point of the luminous fluxes between the imaging optical system and the predetermined position.