Ring Beam Laser System for Sharp Linear Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser systems in laser class 2 or 2M have limited laser power, resulting in poorly visible linear laser markings on projection surfaces, especially when the markings are wide, due to decreased power density.
Innovation Solution
A laser system comprising a laser beam source, a first collimation optical unit, a conical mirror, and a second beam shaping optical unit arranged upstream of the conical mirror, which reshapes the laser beam into a ring beam with an intensity minimum in the center, reducing diffraction effects and enhancing marking visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the laser power is limited to less than 1 mW to prevent damage to the human eye, then safety is improved, but the visibility of the linear laser marking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a ring beam with a specific intensity distribution where the center has minimum intensity and the periphery has maximum intensity. This localized intensity concentration at the edges of the beam cross-section enhances the visibility of the laser marking while maintaining overall low power levels for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the intensity distribution parameter of the laser beam from a conventional Gaussian profile to a ring-shaped profile with minimum intensity at the center and maximum intensity at the periphery. This parameter change allows the laser marking to be more visible at the same power level, resolving the contradiction between safety and visibility.
2Area of stationary object
If the laser beam is shaped into a wide marking to improve coverage, then area coverage is improved, but the visibility deteriorates due to decreased power density
Solution Approach 1:
The ring beam configuration concentrates laser intensity at the periphery while maintaining a wide coverage area. This local quality approach ensures that even though the beam covers a large area, the intensity is concentrated at the edges where the marking is formed, maintaining visibility despite the wide coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional single-line laser marking to a ring-shaped beam that marks in multiple directions simultaneously. This dimensional change allows the system to cover a wider area (360° coverage) while maintaining adequate power density at the marking locations through the ring structure.
3Device complexity
If a conventional laser beam is used without a second beam shaping optical unit, then device complexity is reduced, but diffraction effects at the cone vertex cause multiple lines instead of a sharply delimited marking
Solution Approach 1:
The second beam shaping optical unit is positioned upstream of the conical mirror to pre-shape the laser beam into a ring beam before it reaches the cone vertex. This preliminary action of beam shaping prevents diffraction effects from creating multiple lines, ensuring a sharply delimited marking while maintaining a relatively simple overall device configuration.
4Manufacturing precision
If the laser marking quality is improved by reducing distance to the projection surface, then marking quality is improved, but the versatility and adaptability to different working distances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ring beam configuration changes the intensity distribution parameter of the laser marking, creating a profile that maintains sharp delimitation and high visibility at various distances from the projection surface. This parameter change in beam shape provides adaptability to different working distances while maintaining marking quality.
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 proposed laser system generates a sharply delimited linear laser marking with a 360° opening angle on a projection surface, improving visibility and quality by minimizing diffraction effects.
Implementation Method 1
The occurrence of a plurality of lines is caused by the fact that the laser beam source generates a laser beam having a plurality of orders of diffraction which are diffracted differently at the cone vertex of the conical mirror
Implementation Method 2
a conical mirror (14; 64) embodied as a right cone having a cone axis (15; 65) and a reflective lateral surface (22; 77), wherein the conical mirror (14; 64) is arranged in the beam path of the laser beam downstream of the collimation optical unit (12; 62)
Data Source
AI summary
A laser system (10) for generating a linear laser marking (34) on a projection surface (33), including a laser beam source (11), which generates a laser beam (25) and emits it along a propagation direction (26), a first beam shaping optical unit (12) embodied as a collimation optical unit and having a first optical axis (13), and a conical mirror (14) which is embodied as a right cone having a cone axis (15) and a reflective lateral surface (22) and is arranged in the beam path of the laser beam downstream of the collimation optical unit (12), wherein the cone axis (15) is oriented parallel to the first optical axis (13). The laser system (10) includes a second beam shaping optical unit (16), which is arranged in the beam path of the laser beam upstream of the conical mirror (14) and reshapes the laser beam into a ring beam (28) having an intensity minimum in the center of the beam.