In various embodiments, a laser emitter such as a diode bar is cooled during operation via jets of cooling fluid formed by ports in a cooler on which the laser emitter is positioned. The jets strike an impingement surface of the cooler that is thermally coupled to the laser emitter but prevents direct contact between the cooling fluid and the laser emitter itself.
In various embodiments, the beam parameter product and/or beam shape of a laser beam is adjusted by directing the laser beam across a path along the input end of a cellular-core optical fiber. The beam emitted at the output end of the cellular-core optical fiber may be utilized to process a workpiece.
In various embodiments, the beam parameter product and/or beam shape of a laser beam is adjusted by coupling the laser beam into an optical fiber of a fiber bundle and directing the laser beam onto one or more in-coupling locations on the input end of the optical fiber. The beam emitted at the output end of the optical fiber may be utilized to process a workpiece.
In one embodiment, laser devices include a thermal bonding layer, wherein the thermal bonding layer comprises an array of carbon nanotubes, a first metallic bonding material disposed between the array of carbon nanotubes and a beam emitter, and a second metallic bonding material disposed between the array of carbon nanotubes and a first electrode mount.
In various embodiments, a modular laser system features an enclosure having interfaces for accepting input laser beam modules, optical elements for combining beams from the modules into a combined output beam, and a heat-exchange manifold for interfacing with and cooling the modules during operation.
In various embodiments, workpieces are processed, e.g., via welding or cutting, while the shape and/or one or more other parameters of the laser processing beam are altered. The shape and/or one or more other parameters of the laser processing beam may be varied based on one or more characteristics of the workpiece.
In various embodiments, a laser emitter such as a diode bar is cooled during operation via jets of cooling fluid formed by ports in a cooler on which the laser emitter is positioned. The jets strike an impingement surface of the cooler that is thermally coupled to the laser emitter but prevents direct contact between the cooling fluid and the laser emitter itself.
In various embodiments, the beam parameter product and/or numerical aperture of a laser beam is adjusted utilizing a step-clad optical fiber having a central core, a first cladding, an annular core, and a second cladding.
In various embodiments, one or more prisms are utilized in a wavelength beam combining laser system to regulate beam size and/or to provide narrower wavelength bandwidth.
In various embodiments, laser delivery systems feature one or more optical elements for receiving a radiation beam and altering the spatial power distribution thereof, a lens manipulation system for changing a position of at least one optical element within the path of the radiation beam, and a controller for controlling the lens manipulation system to achieve a target altered spatial power distribution on a workpiece.
In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate optical cross-coupling mitigation systems and/or engineered partially reflective output couplers in order to reduce or substantially eliminate unwanted back-reflection of stray light.
H01S 3/105 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling the mutual position or the reflecting properties of the reflectors of the cavity
In various embodiments, a beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system alters a spatial power distribution of a radiation beam, via thermo-optic effects, before the beam is coupled into an optical fiber or delivered to a workpiece.
In various embodiments, a beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system alters a spatial power distribution of a radiation beams before the beam is coupled into an optical fiber or delivered to a workpiece.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
14.
STABILIZATION OF WAVELENGTH BEAM COMBINING LASER SYSTEMS IN THE NON-WAVELENGTH BEAM COMBINING DIRECTION
In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate optics having optical power along the non-WBC direction (and/or the slow-diverging axis) of the combined multi-wavelength beam proximate to or combined with the partially reflective output coupler in order to correct pointing variation in the non-WBC direction (and/or the slow-diverging axis).
In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate fast-axis collimation lenses and slow-axis collimation lenses (either separately or as portions of a single hybrid lens) optically upstream of an optical rotation system to thereby reduce or minimize cross- talk in the combined output beam.
In various embodiments, a wavelength beam combining laser system includes a fast-axis collimation lens that is rotated with respect to a plurality of emitters in order to converge the emitted beams onto a dispersive element and/or reduce the size of the multi- wavelength output beam of the system.
In various embodiments, a laser apparatus includes top and bottom electrode mounts, a beam emitter between the electrode mounts, a fast axis collimation lens, an optical rotator, and a lens holder or lens mount positioning the lens and the optical rotator to intercept one or more beams emitted by the beam emitter.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
B23K 26/064 - Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
18.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL MULTI-BEAM STABILIZER AND COMBINING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
19.
WAVELENGTH BEAM COMBINING BASED PUMP / PULSED LASERS
A system for producing a laser pulse includes a laser driver capable of direct modulation of a laser source comprising a plurality of lasers, and a wavelength beam combining cavity, comprising the directly modulated laser source, for producing a wavelength beam combining output of light from the plurality of lasers. The wavelength beam combining cavity may comprise a fast axis wavelength beam combining cavity. The laser source may comprise a multidimensional array of diode lasers disposed in a stack spatially interleaved or optically aligned. Each of the plurality of diode lasers may produce a distinct wavelength.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
20.
SELECTIVE REPOSITIONING AND ROTATION WAVELENGTH BEAM COMBINING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system and method for reconfiguring a plurality of electromagnetic beams to take advantage of various wavelength beam combining techniques. The reconfiguring of beams includes individual rotation and selective repositioning of one or more beams with respect to beam's original input position.
Systems and methods have been provided to increase output power, as well as spatial and/or spectral brightness when utilizing or combining a plurality of laser elements.
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