Wavelength Beam Combining Output Control for Stable Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wavelength beam combining devices face instability when output is reduced by adjusting current values, leading to suboptimal performance and unstable resonance conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an output control unit that selectively turns off laser light sources farthest from the optical axis to adjust output without altering current values, ensuring stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the current value flowing through the laser light sources is reduced to reduce the output of the WBC device, then the output power is reduced, but the external resonance condition becomes unstable and device characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light source unit into multiple individually controllable laser light sources (e.g., multiple LDs or LD bars). The output control unit can selectively turn off specific light sources while keeping others active, allowing output reduction without affecting the operational stability of remaining sources. This segmentation enables independent control of each light source's contribution to the total output while maintaining stable resonance conditions in active sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively controlling individual laser light sources based on their specific positions or characteristics. The output control unit can turn off specific light sources (e.g., those farthest from the optical axis) while maintaining optimal operation of others, ensuring that the local resonance conditions of active sources remain stable while achieving overall output reduction.
2Power
If all laser light sources are turned on to achieve maximum output, then the output power is maximized, but chromatic and spherical aberrations increase and beam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by selectively activating only the necessary number of laser light sources required to achieve the desired output level. The output control unit turns off excess light sources (e.g., outermost sources) when maximum power is not needed, thereby reducing chromatic and spherical aberrations that would otherwise degrade beam quality, while still providing sufficient output for the application.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the light source array into individually controllable units, the system can activate only the central or optimal subset of light sources that produce high-quality beams, while excluding peripheral sources that contribute more to aberrations. This selective activation maintains beam quality while providing flexible output control.
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 approach allows for stable adjustment of output without compromising device characteristics, reducing chromatic and spherical aberrations, and maintaining high-quality beam performance.
Implementation Method 1
a light condensing member (such as a condensing lens) that condenses the laser beams emitted from the laser light sources
Implementation Method 2
a diffraction grating on which the laser beams condensed by the light condensing member are incident; and a partially reflecting mirror disposed in the optical path of the diffracted beam from the diffraction grating
Implementation Method 3
A rear mirror of the laser light sources and the partially reflecting mirror form an external resonator, and light travels back and forth between the rear mirror and the partially reflecting mirror, so that light is amplified
Data Source
AI summary
A wavelength beam combining device includes: a laser diode stack comprising a plurality of stacked laser diode bars, wherein each laser diode bar comprises a plurality of laser diodes arranged laterally in a row; a light condensing member; a diffraction grating; a resonator mirror; and an output control unit configured to control each of the laser diode bars such that, in every possible mode in which the output control unit controls each laser diode bar to operate such that one or more of the laser diodes emit laser beams and one or more of the laser diodes do not emit laser beams, the one or more laser diodes that emit laser beams are located inward of the one or more laser diodes that do not emit laser beams.