Rectangular Optical Waveguide Laser Hardening Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser hardening tools with cylindrical optical waveguides suffer from reduced efficiency due to increased reflections, leading to loss of laser output, as the reflectivity of the inner surface is 1.0 or smaller.
Innovation Solution
A laser hardening tool utilizing a semiconductor laser stack with a condensing optical system, a diverging optical system, a rectangular optical waveguide, a re-condensing optical system, and an optical waveguide nozzle, along with mirrors and a cooling water channel, to minimize reflections and energy loss by using a rectangular cross-sectional waveguide and reflection amplifying coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical optical waveguide is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the number of reflections increases and laser output efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the waveguide cross-section from a symmetric cylindrical shape to an asymmetric rectangular shape. This asymmetric geometry reduces the number of reflections the laser beams undergo while traveling through the waveguide, thereby reducing energy loss and improving laser output efficiency, while still maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication processes.
2Ease of manufacture
If the inner surface reflectivity is less than or equal to 1.0, then the manufacturing is simple, but the laser output is reduced due to repeated reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The rectangular cross-section creates an asymmetric light path that minimizes the number of reflections required for the laser beams to traverse the waveguide. This geometric asymmetry reduces cumulative energy loss from reflections, maintaining high laser output power without requiring complex high-reflectivity coatings.
3Loss of energy
If a rectangular optical waveguide is used, then the number of reflections is reduced and output efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rectangular waveguide introduces geometric asymmetry to optimize light propagation and reduce reflections. While this changes the waveguide geometry from the simpler cylindrical form, the rectangular shape remains compatible with standard manufacturing techniques and does not significantly increase overall device complexity, making it a practical solution for improving laser output efficiency.
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 tool effectively guides laser beams from the semiconductor laser stack to the nozzle with minimal loss, enhancing the hardening treatment efficiency and maintaining the tool's temperature through cooling water circulation.
Implementation Method 1
a condensing optical system for condensing the laser beams output from the semiconductor laser stack
Implementation Method 2
a diverging optical system for diverging the laser beams condensed by the condensing optical system so that the axis line of the laser beams become parallel
Implementation Method 3
a rectangular (square) optical waveguide for guiding the laser beams output from the diverging optical system having a rectangular cross-sectional shape
Implementation Method 4
a re-condensing optical system for re-condensing the laser beams having traveled through the rectangular optical waveguide
Implementation Method 5
a cooling water channel for supplying cooling water provided in a lens holder of the condensing optical system, a lens holder of the diverging optical system, the first mirror, the rectangular optical waveguide, a lens holder of the re-condensing optical system, the second mirror and the optical waveguide nozzle
Implementation Method 6
the mirror surface for reflecting the laser beam is provided with a reflection amplifying coating layer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a laser hardening tool having little laser output loss. The laser hardening tool 100 condenses the irradiated beams LB1 from a semiconductor laser stack 120 via a condensing optical lens 134, and creates parallel light beams LB3 via a diverging optical lens 142. The laser beams LB4 having been bent by a first mirror 160 travels through an optical waveguide 150 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The laser beams LB5 having been condensed by a re-condensing optical lens 170 are irradiated through a nozzle 190 to subject a work to hardening. The number of reflections of the laser beams LB4 in the angular optical waveguide 150 is small, and thus the loss of laser output is reduced.