Systems and methods for three-dimensional imaging include a light source to emit a light pulse. The divergence of the light pulse is configurable by the system. For example, the system also includes a receiving lens having a field of view and configured to receive a portion of the light pulse reflected or scattered by a scene. The system configures the light source so that the divergence of the light pulse matches or approximates the field of view of the receiving lens.
Disclosed are optical beam delivery devices and methods to modify an angular intensity distribution of an input beam so that it is converted to an output beam having an adjustable near-field transverse spatial intensity distribution. In some embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular offset in response to controllable perturbation. In some other embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular width (divergence) in response to controllable perturbation.
A fiber connector bulkhead adapter for coupling a fiber connector to bulkhead optics is configured to inhibit back reflections from damaging a laser system. The adapter includes a bore sized to receive a fiber ferrule of a fiber connector, a mounting base having a centrally located shroud, and an aperture between the end of the bore and the shroud.
A fiber connector bulkhead adapter for coupling a fiber connector to bulkhead optics is configured to inhibit back reflections from damaging a laser system. The adapter includes a bore sized to receive a fiber ferrule of a fiber connector, a mounting base having a centrally located shroud, and an aperture between the end of the bore and the shroud.
A fused fiber combiner combines outputs from multiple, separately controllable input fibers. At least one of the input fibers includes a portion to vary a transverse spatial intensity distribution in response to controllable perturbation, a portion to convert position to angle, and a portion to preserve the divergence distribution. An output of the combiner is coupled to a divergence-preserving fiber, which preserves a combined divergence distribution guided by the divergence-preserving fiber. An output GRIN lens maps the combined divergence distribution to an output transverse spatial intensity distribution defining a composite beam shape of an output beam, the output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing a superposition of individual channel output beams.
A fused fiber combiner combines outputs from multiple, separately controllable input fibers. At least one of the input fibers includes a portion to vary a transverse spatial intensity distribution in response to controllable perturbation, a portion to convert position to angle, and a portion to preserve the divergence distribution. An output of the combiner is coupled to a divergence-preserving fiber, which preserves a combined divergence distribution guided by the divergence-preserving fiber. An output GRIN lens maps the combined divergence distribution to an output transverse spatial intensity distribution defining a composite beam shape of an output beam, the output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing a superposition of individual channel output beams.
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
A method of generating adjustable composite beam shapes in response to controllable perturbation includes receiving, via inputs of multiple input fibers, different laser beams, combining the outputs from the multiple input fibers into a divergence-preserving fiber that preserves a combined divergence distribution of the intermediate beams; and converting at an output lens the combined divergence distribution to an output transverse spatial intensity distribution defining a composite beam shape of an output beam. The output transverse spatial intensity distribution includes a superposition of individual channel output beams. At least one of the multiple input fibers has a tunable fiber assembly with a series of first, second, and third portions that adjust an input transverse spatial intensity distribution in response to controllable perturbation, convert the input transverse spatial intensity distribution to an intermediate divergence distribution, and preserve the intermediate divergence distribution that is delivered to the fused fiber combiner.
A laser processing system has a laser source and a divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner configured to, in response to a control input, repetitively change a variable divergence laser beam between a first divergence and a second divergence that is different from the first divergence. The system also includes a process head having a collimating lens and a focusing lens. And the system includes a delivery fiber coupled to the divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner for guiding the variable divergence laser beam and launching it to the process head. The collimating lens is configured to receive the variable divergence laser beam and direct it as an intermediate beam to the focusing lens to focus the intermediate beam toward the workpiece at a first depth corresponding to the first divergence and at a second depth corresponding to the second divergence.
A laser processing system has a laser source and a divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner configured to, in response to a control input, repetitively change a variable divergence laser beam between a first divergence and a second divergence that is different from the first divergence. The system also includes a process head having a collimating lens and a focusing lens. And the system includes a delivery fiber coupled to the divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner for guiding the variable divergence laser beam and launching it to the process head. The collimating lens is configured to receive the variable divergence laser beam and direct it as an intermediate beam to the focusing lens to focus the intermediate beam toward the workpiece at a first depth corresponding to the first divergence and at a second depth corresponding to the second divergence.
Fiber assemblies include a first lens, a divergence-preserving fiber having a mode-distribution homogenization portion, and a second lens. The fiber assembly is configured to generate a flat-top divergence distribution. All embodiments can include a splice within the divergence-preserving fiber to provide manufacturing, serviceability, and/or performance advantages; one or both the core diameter and cladding diameter can be stepped up or down at this splice. In some embodiments, the structure is all-fiber (no free-space optics). In other embodiments, a fiber-to-fiber coupler or switch is employed.
An optical beam delivery system for image relaying has a source fiber configured to provide an input beam, the input beam defined by a beam parameter product (BPP) and an input transverse spatial intensity distribution that is azimuthally symmetric; a first GRIN lens configured to convert the input transverse spatial intensity distribution to an intermediate beam having a divergence distribution, the first GRIN lens having a first effective focal length; and a second GRIN lens, coupled to the first GRIN lens, configured to receive the intermediate beam from the first GRIN lens, map the divergence distribution to an output beam having an output transverse spatial intensity distribution representing an image of the input beam, and maintain the BPP for the output beam, the second GRIN lens having a second effective focal length that is different from the first effective focal length.
A fiber laser system monitor includes a fiber laser adapted to generate fiber laser light, a first light emitter adapted to generate first emitted light, a photodiode adapted to receive the first emitted light and the fiber laser light and to generate a received light signal responsive thereto, and a controller connected to the fiber laser, the first light emitter, and the photodiode. The controller receives the received light signal. The controller is configured to determine an acceptable operation for the fiber laser, the first light emitter, and the photodiode by comparing the received light signal with a predetermined maximum threshold and with a predetermined minimum threshold.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Fiber laser apparatus, namely, industrial fiber lasers that generate high power laser beams in gain fibers; fiber-coupled laser apparatus, namely, laser diode modules that generate laser beams with semiconductor lasers and couple the laser beams into optical fibers for pumping laser gain media, industrial fiber laser systems comprised of laser equipment for non-medical purposes that use laser diode modules to pump gain fibers, industrial fiber laser systems comprised of laser equipment for non-medical purposes that combine fiber laser beams; fiber laser apparatus with variable optical beam characteristics, namely, industrial fiber lasers that generate high power laser beams with adjustable beam characteristics, including cross-sectional beam shape and intensity profile; fiber-coupled laser apparatus with variable optical beam characteristics, namely, laser diode modules that generate laser beams with semiconductor lasers and couple the laser beams into optical fibers for pumping laser gain media and wherein the laser beams in the optical fibers have adjustable beam characteristics, industrial fiber laser systems comprised of laser equipment for non-medical purposes that use laser diode modules to pump gain fibers, industrial fiber laser systems comprised of laser equipment for non-medical purposes that combine fiber laser beams wherein the fiber laser beams have adjustable beam characteristics including cross-sectional beam shape and intensity profile; optical fiber couplers configured to vary beam characteristics of an optical beam propagating in an optical fiber; optical systems comprised of optical fibers and optical beam perturbation systems comprised of laser equipment for non-medical purposes that vary characteristics of a propagating laser beam; optical products for controlling, manipulating, or adjusting optical beam characteristics of fiber laser beams, namely, selectively bendable optical fibers, electroacoustic-optic transducers, electrically controlled devices that vary optical fiber refractive index profile; optical fiber products for varying beam spatial power distribution, namely, optical fibers with specialized refractive index profiles, optical confinement fibers,; optical fiber perturbation devices, namely, optical fiber fasteners specially adapted for use with optical fibers, optical fiber benders specially adapted for use with optical fibers, optical fiber perturbation device electric actuators, optical fiber electro-optic transducers, electroacoustic-optic transducers; apparatus for perturbing optical fibers to vary optical beam characteristics, namely, optical fiber fasteners specially adapted for use with optical fibers, optical fiber benders specially adapted for use with optical fibers, optical fiber perturbation device electric actuators, optical fiber electro-optic transducers, electroacoustic-optic transducers; fiber laser apparatus having optical fiber splices, namely, laser equipment for non-medical purposes in the nature of splices for optically transmissive fibers that are associated with varying fiber laser output beam characteristics; laser equipment for non-medical purposes, namely, fiber lasers having optical fibers and optical splices associated with variable output beam characteristics
14.
SYNCHRONIZERS TO REDUCE JITTER AND RELATED APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS
Synchronizers to reduce jitter and related apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed. An apparatus includes a processing circuitry to generate a first pulse train signal and a second pulse train signal responsive to a timing signal. The apparatus also includes a first synchronizer and a second synchronizer. The first synchronizer and the second synchronizer are to generate first and second reduced-jitter pulse train signals by locking trigger edges of the first and second pulse-train signals to edges of the timing signal.
Methods for producing a low-noise, multi-image sensor imaging system by generating a correlated measurement by sampling corresponding pixel values of first and second regions of, respectively, first and second image sensors (504, 508) during an active alignment process of the first and second regions; determining, based on the correlated measurement changing to a minimum or maximum value during the active alignment process, that the first and second regions are pixel aligned; and mounting the first and second image sensors (504, 508) so as to maintain alignment of the first and second regions. First and second image sensors (504, 508) may be mounted to first and second sides of a beamsplitter (502), respectively. Shot noise is noise that occurs when a photon field (512) is quantized on a sensor array. A photon would be detected on one or the other sensor creating a noise that is proportional to the square root of the number of the incoming photons. If the sensors (504, 508) are pixel aligned, shot noise becomes correlated. Alignment based on correlation can eliminate some of this shot noise and improve the measured signal noise. Each imager may include a focal plane array, FPA, of light-sensing pixels at a focal plane of a lens of optical system (500). Because imagers (504, 508) are coarsely aligned, light captured at central pixel N (526) is not entirely correlated with light arriving at central pixel M (524) with some light directed to peripheral pixel P (520).
A method includes producing a fiducial source beam with an optical source, and forming at least one transient optical fiducial on a laser processing target that is in a field of view of a laser scanner situated to scan a laser processing beam across the laser processing target, with an optical fiducial pattern generator that receives the fiducial source beam, to adjust a positioning of the laser processing beam relative to the at least one transient optical fiducial.
An apparatus may steer an optical beam provided by a collimating optical module to a selected one of receiving optical modules. The apparatus may comprise an optical component to receive the optical beam provided by the collimating optical module; and a motorized rotation stage including a base and a rotating section, wherein the rotating section is restricted to rotation, relative to the base, about a single axis; wherein the optical component is mounted to the rotating section, and the apparatus further includes circuitry to control the motorized rotation stage to rotate the platform or stage amongst different rotational positions that correspond to the receiving optical modules, respectively; and wherein the optical component guides (by reflection, refraction, or the like, or combinations thereof) the optical beam to the selected one of the receiving optical modules based on a current rotational position of the rotating section. Other embodiments may be disclosed/claimed.
G02B 6/35 - Optical coupling means having switching means
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
An optical system for generating a three dimensional, digital representation of a scene includes a nonvisible illumination source, a first camera to receive light from the scene and generate a first digital map therefrom, and a second camera to receive the nonvisible light from the scene, the nonvisible light having been generated by the illumination source, and to generate a second digital map therefrom. The first digital map concerns color and the second digital map concerns depth. The system also includes a processor that receives the first and second digital maps and generates a three dimensional, digital representation of a scene. The three dimensional, digital representation of the scene satisfies the following: (1) an image resolution with an image pixel count greater than or equal to 0.9 M (megapixels), (2) an image latency of 10 ms – 30 sec, and (3) a distance of 10 cm – 200 m.
A laser system may include a gain medium; and pump modules to energize the gain medium or a single pump emitter to energize the gain medium; and circuitry to: configure a pump emitter of the pump modules to activate at a first intensity at a first time, or configure a pump emitter of the single pump module to activate at a reduced intensity at the first time; and the circuitry to: configure one or more next pumps emitters of the pump modules to activate at one or more second intensities, respectively, and at one or more second times, respectively, or configure the single pump emitter to activate at one or more second intensities at the one or more second times, respectively, wherein the one or more second times are delayed by one or more delay amounts, respectively, relative to the first time.
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/131 - Stabilisation of laser output parameters, e.g. frequency or amplitude by controlling the active medium, e.g. by controlling the processes or apparatus for excitation
21.
SUPPRESSION OF UNDESIRED WAVELENGTHS IN LASER LIGHT
Some embodiments may include an apparatus usable in a laser system. The apparatus may include at least one optical filter to receive a laser beam or laser light along a first axis, the laser beam or laser light generated by the laser system, wherein the at least one optical filter is configured to reflect one of light having a selected wavelength or a remainder of the laser light along a second axis that is non-parallel with the first axis and pass the other of the light having the selected wavelength or the remainder along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
An optical combiner includes a fiber bundle with a plurality of input fibers, an output fiber with an inner core surrounded by an outer core, a splice fusing the fiber bundle to the output fiber, at least a first input fiber from the plurality of input fibers being aligned in register with the inner core, and at least a second input fiber from the plurality of input fibers being aligned in register with the outer core. A laser system combines the optical combiner with a plurality of lasers generating laser light.
G02B 6/28 - Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
23.
OPTICAL ASSEMBLY TO MODIFY NUMERICAL APERTURE OF A LASER BEAM
Some embodiments may include an optical assembly usable to process light output from a laser source. The apparatus may include a housing to receive a distal end of an optical fiber that outputs the laser light; one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps contained within the housing or coupled to the housing; and one or more optical apertures located inside the housing, at least one of the optical apertures to define a numerical aperture (NA) of a first portion of the laser light based on a radial dimension of the at least one optical aperture, the at least one optical aperture arranged to pass the first portion of the light and redirect a second different portion of the laser light to the one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Various embodiments provide apparatuses, systems, and methods related to a dual-sided optical package. The package may include a base plate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The base plate may have a coolant channel positioned between the first side and the second side. A first set of optics may be coupled with the first side of the base plate, and a second set of optics may be coupled with the second side of the base plate. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
Systems and methods for three-dimensional imaging are disclosed. A three-dimensional imaging system may include a light source to emit a light pulse. The divergence of the light pulse may be configurable by the system. For example, the system may also include a receiving lens having a field of view and configured to receive a portion of the light pulse reflected or scattered by a scene. The system may configure the light source so that the divergence of the light pulse matches or approximates the field of view of the receiving lens.
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser having an input end to receive source light from a light source and an output end including: a feeding optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein the interior emits a beam at an end of the feeding optic and the cladding layer receives process light at the end of the feeding optic, the process light generated by processing of a workpiece by the beam; and a notch or other discontinuity in an outer surface of a side of the cladding layer, the surface discontinuity to release a portion of the process light, the apparatus further comprising: a collection optic fiber having a first end to capture a sample of the released process light and a second end to provide the captured sample to a sensor. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
The disclosed diode laser packages include a carrier having an optics-mounting surface to which first and second sets of collimating and turning optics are mounted. The carrier includes a heatsink receptacle medially located between the first and second sets. A cooling plenum has a diode-mounting surface and includes heatsink material disposed in the heatsink receptacle. The cooling plenum further has an inlet, an outlet, and a coolant passageway defined between the inlet and the outlet. The coolant passageway is sized to receive the heatsink material disposed in heatsink receptacle. Multiple semiconductor laser diode devices are each mounted atop the diode-mounting surface and positioned for bidirectional emission toward the first and second sets of collimating and turning optics. The multiple semiconductor laser diode devices are thermally coupled to the heatsink material through which coolant is deliverable by the coolant passageway.
Angularly homogenizing gradient index optical fiber having a refractive index profile that is non-quadratic to a degree sufficient to enhance precession of light as it is propagated through the fiber. Deviation from the quadratic may be limited to avoid profoundly changing the radial boundary within the fiber. Beam asymmetry, for example, associated with small aperture sources launched into a fiber off axis, may be made more symmetric as the beam is propagated through the homogenizing gradient index optical fiber. A refractive index profile may be manufactured to avoid a pure quadratic profile, or a fiber having a refractive index profile that is quadratic in only some orientations about the fiber axis may be twisted during draw to induce a refractive index profile path that enhances propagation precession.
Some embodiments may include a power monitor to measure power of laser light propagating in a core of an optical fiber; the power monitor to generate a sensor signal using an optical sensor having a light sensitive section with no line of sight to part of the optical fiber; wherein the sensor signal is derived from light emerging laterally from the part of the optical fiber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a power monitor to measure power of laser light propagating in a core of an optical fiber; the power monitor to generate a sensor signal using an optical sensor having a light sensitive section with no line of sight to part of the optical fiber; wherein the sensor signal is derived from light emerging laterally from the part of the optical fiber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a semiconductor laser device comprising: an active layer to generate light; a front facet positioned at a first end of said active layer, with an AR coating or PR coating; a rear facet positioned on a second opposite end of said active layer thereby forming a resonator between said front facet and said rear facet; and a first order diffraction grating positioned within said resonator along only a portion of the length of said active layer, wherein the semiconductor laser device is arranged to emit light from both ends, and the diffraction grating has two non-contiguous segments each extending to one of the facets; or a single end, wherein the rear facet is a rear light reflecting facet with an HR-coating. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 5/32 - Structure or shape of the active regionMaterials used for the active region comprising PN junctions, e.g. hetero- or double- hetero-structures
Various embodiments provide apparatuses, systems, and methods related to a heat sink with one or more removable inserts. Respective inserts may include one or more fins that define one or more channels for flow of cooling fluid. The fins may be formed of a composite material that is different than a material of the heat sink body. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
F28F 9/26 - Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators
F28F 21/08 - Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of metal
F28F 21/04 - Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of ceramicConstructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of concreteConstructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of natural stone
F28D 15/02 - Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat-pipes
Various embodiments provide apparatuses, systems, and methods related to a heat sink with one or more removable inserts. Respective inserts may include one or more fins that define one or more channels for flow of cooling fluid. The fins may be formed of a composite material that is different than a material of the heat sink body. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
13 - Firearms; explosives
Goods & Services
Optical components, namely, lasers and related devices,
namely, laser diodes, laser diode modules, laser diode
assemblies, fiber-coupled laser diode modules, fiber, and
fiber amplifiers, to generate, maintain, route or amplify
signals for transmission from point to point via optical
fibers or waveguides, not for medical use; high energy
laser; high energy laser beam control; imaging systems;
adaptive optical systems; precision tracking systems;
optical communication systems; laser imaging and laser radar
systems; lasers for materials processing. Directed energy weapon systems; high energy laser weapon
systems.
In an example, a tandem pumped fiber amplifier may include a seed laser, a first section coupled to an output of the seed laser, and a second section coupled to an output of the first section. The first section may operate as an oscillator, and may receive pump light from one or more diode pumps, and may the first section may be arranged to convert the one or more diode pumps into a tandem pump. The second section may operate as a power amplifier, and may include a length of a single or plural active core fiber. The tandem pumped fiber amplifier may be arranged to mitigate spectral broadening related to four-wave mixing.
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
An optical component has a bottom part located in an opening defined by a surface, wherein a distance between a sidewall of the bottom part of the optical component and a sidewall of the opening is non-uniform in which a width of a first section of the opening or a first section of the bottom part of the optical component is narrower than a width of a second lower section of the opening or a width of a second lower section of the bottom part of the optical component; and an adhesive is located in the opening between sidewalls.
Optical fiber structures for generating a single mode, saddle shaped output beam include first and second lengths of fiber. The first length of fiber has a first input end configured to receive a single mode gaussian beam. The second length of fiber has a second input end coupled to an output end of the first length of fiber. The second length of fiber includes a centrally located anti-guiding core and an annular guiding region coaxially encompassing the centrally located anti-guiding core.
A mounting surface defines a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel. An optic fiber is affixed to the mounting surface, the optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein part of the optic fiber is suspended over the main channel. A clad light stripper includes one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light. The one or more subchannels include a first sub-channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof.
A capillary combiner housing for an optical fiber combiner has an inner combiner casing supporting optical fibers. The capillary combiner housing includes a non-metallic body defining a lumen between an input side and an output side, the lumen sized to receive the inner combiner casing, the non-metallic body having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matching that of the inner combiner casing. Also included is a first aperture in the input side, the first aperture having a first inside diameter sized to receive multiple input optical fibers, and a second aperture in the output side, the second aperture having a second inside diameter sized to receive an output fiber.
G02B 6/255 - Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
G02B 6/28 - Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed for reducing interference between an active illumination device and external radiation sources, for example, other active illumination devices operating within the vicinity. A disclosed system includes one or more active illumination devices, each configured to emit an illumination signal and also to receive a returned portion of its respective illumination signal with at least one sensor. At least one of the active illumination devices is capable of detecting interference caused by an external source, for example, an illumination signal emitted from another active illumination device. As a result of detecting the interference, the receiving active illumination device changes the timing of its subsequent illumination signals and sensor operation. By detecting collisions between illumination signals and consequently altering the timing of it operation, the active illumination device may reduce interference in congested environments where multiple active illumination devices are operating within range of each other.
Disclosed are optical beam delivery devices and methods to modify an angular intensity distribution of an input beam so that it is converted to an output beam having an adjustable near-field transverse spatial intensity distribution. In some embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular offset in response to controllable perturbation. In some other embodiments, adjustment of the angular intensity distribution is achieved by increasing an angular width (divergence) in response to controllable perturbation.
Some embodiments may include a method assessing whether a dynamic focus module in a three axis galvanometric scanning system (three-axis GSS) is associated with a focus calibration error. The method may include identifying a reference layer associated with a surface of the work piece and positive and negative offset distances each a difference distance above or below the reference layer, respectively, and selecting a target pattern based on the offset distances, wherein the pattern includes an individual line for each offset distance. The method may include commanding the three-axis GSS to draw the target pattern on the work piece, and then assessing whether the dynamic focus module is associated with the focus calibration error by correlating laser marking artifacts on the work piece to ones of the individual lines of the selected pattern. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Multi-clad optical fiber cladding light stripper (CLS) comprising an inner cladding with one or more recessed surface regions to remove light propagating within the inner cladding. A CLS may comprise such recessed surface regions along two or more azimuthal angles about the fiber axis, for example to improve stripping efficiency. One or more dimensions, or spatial distribution, of the recessed surface regions may be randomized, for example to improve stripping uniformity across a multiplicity of modes propagating within a cladding. Adjacent recessed surface regions may abut, for example, end-to-end, as segments of a recess that occupies a majority, or even an entirety, of the length of a fiber surrounded by a heat sink. One or more dimensions, or angular position, of individual ones of the abutted recessed surface regions may vary, according to a regular or irregular pattern.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Optical components, namely, lasers and related devices, namely, laser diodes, laser diode modules, laser diode assemblies, fiber-coupled laser diode modules, fiber, and fiber amplifiers, to generate, maintain, route or amplify signals for transmission from point to point via optical fibers or waveguides, not for medical use; high energy laser not for medical purposes; high energy laser beam controllers being electronic controllers for use with controlling high energy laser systems lasers; imaging systems being remote controlled thermal imaging systems, not for medical use; adaptive optical signal transmission systems; precision tracking systems comprising electronic devices for locating and tracking moving and static objects of interest using adaptive optics imaging systems; directed energy weapon systems comprising lasers, laser combiners, beam directors, adaptive optics systems, electronic control systems, precision tracking systems, thermal management systems; high energy laser weapon systems comprising lasers, laser combiners, beam directors, electronic control systems, precision tracking systems, thermal management systems; optical communication systems comprising lasers, laser modulators, beam directors, high-speed light detectors, optical modems, electronic control systems or onboard computer processors, electronic control systems, precision tracking systems, thermal management systems; non-medical laser imaging and laser radar systems comprising lasers, beam directors, light detectors, cameras, onboard computer processors; lasers for materials processing, namely, sensing and signaling devices for measurement and quality control of materials processing by lasers; High energy lasers for defense applications for disruption of moving and static objects purposes; high energy laser beam controller for use with defense application system lasers; imaging systems for use in optical communications
Disclosed is an optical fiber-based divergence-limiting device for limiting divergence from a first maximum divergence of input light to a second maximum divergence of output light, in which the second maximum divergence is less than the first maximum divergence.
Disclosed are optical beam delivery devices and methods to produce, from a singlemode input beam having a fundamental mode and an M2 beam quality of about 1.5 or less, an output beam having an adjustable spatial intensity distribution that is adjustable between near Gaussian and ring-shaped profiles, the near Gaussian profile corresponding to an M2 beam quality of about 1.5 or less. A first length of optical fiber is for adjusting the singlemode input beam to generate an adjustable beam based on controllable perturbation applied to the first length of optical fiber. A second length of optical fiber is for coupling the adjustable beam into one or both a central core confinement region and an annular higherindex confinement region. The second length of optical fiber is configured to provide at its output the output beam having the adjustable spatial intensity distribution.
Some embodiments may include an imaging optic having a first end to receive laser light, an exterior, and a second end; an acoustic transmitter acoustically coupled to a first side of the exterior of the imaging optic; an acoustic absorber acoustically coupled to a second opposite side of the exterior of the imaging optic; a waveguide having a first end to receive an output from the second end of the imaging optic, a first core section, a second section, and a second end, wherein acoustic waves output from the acoustic transmitter are arranged to diffract a first order beam from the laser light in the imaging optic; wherein the first order light is selectively output from the second end of the imaging optic into one of the sections of the waveguide. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
G02F 1/11 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on acousto-optical elements, e.g. using variable diffraction by sound or like mechanical waves
Disclosed are embodiments for multi-band pumping of a doped fiber source. The doped fiber source has a first absorption band and a second absorption band that is different from the first absorption band. In some embodiments, a first laser pump generates a first pump power in a first pump band corresponding to the first absorption band that is generated. A second laser pump generates a second pump power in a second pump band corresponding to the second absorption band. The second pump band is different from the first pump band. The first and second pump power is simultaneously applied to the doped fiber source.
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
Disclosed herein are laser scanning systems and methods of their use. In some embodiments, laser scanning systems can be used to ablatively or non-ablatively scan a surface of a material. Some embodiments include methods of scanning a multi-layer structure. Some embodiments include translating a focus-adjust optical system so as to vary laser beam diameter. Some embodiments make use of a 20-bit laser scanning system.
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
G21K 5/04 - Irradiation devices with beam-forming means
H05K 3/02 - Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which the conductive material is applied to the surface of the insulating support and is thereafter removed from such areas of the surface which are not intended for current conducting or shielding
G06F 3/044 - Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
G06F 3/041 - Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser including two or more input fibers and an output fiber to deliver a beam to a workpiece, the fiber laser comprising. The fiber laser may include a combiner having ends and a length, wherein the combiner is arranged to release, from its length, a portion of back-reflected light received from the output fiber at an output end of the ends from the combiner, the combiner including: a capillary tube to enclose part of the two or more input fibers at an input end of the ends of the combiner, the capillary tube having ends and a length located between the ends of the capillary tube; and a cladding light stripper (CLS) defined by part of the length of the capillary tube, wherein the CLS provides the release of the portion of the back-reflected light. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
A heat source package, comprising a housing having a metal base portion with one or more channels formed therein, the one or more channels having an inner surface, a coating of an anti-corrosive material adhered to a portion of the inner surface of the one or more channels wherein the anti-corrosive material is selected to have a thermal conductivity within a threshold range such that the coating changes the thermal resistance of a coated portion of the channel less than 25% with respect to an uncoated portion of the metal base portion. In examples, a heat source may be thermally coupled to the inner surface of the channels and the channels may be formed to conduct a liquid coolant from a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet to dissipate heat away from the heat source.
A magnetically-actuated laser beam control assembly may include a magnetically permeable cover arranged to sealingly couple to an optics housing to cover an opening of the optics housing, an interior sub-assembly, and an exterior sub-assembly. The interior sub-assembly may include includes a linkage having a first section and a second section; the first section of the linkage to receive an optical component; and a ferroelectric or ferromagnetic material on the second section of the linkage. The exterior sub-assembly may include an electromagnet energizable to impart a magnetic force to the ferroelectric or ferromagnetic material to move the optical component from one of a resting position and a different position to the other of the resting position and the different position to cause the optical component to selectively optically process a laser beam. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
G02B 7/182 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for prismsMountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for mirrors for mirrors
54.
CONTINUOUS WAVE OUTPUT IN A LASER SYSTEM ARRANGED FOR PULSED OUTPUT
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser system comprising: a pump combiner; a plurality of fiber laser pump modules arranged for pumping a pulsed output from the fiber laser system; and a pump controller to operate in a first operation mode to pump a pulsed output from the fiber laser system and to operate in a second different operation mode to pump a continuous wave (CW) output from the fiber laser system; the pump controller to, in the first operation mode, simultaneously activate individual fiber laser pump modules of the plurality of fiber laser pump modules; and the pump controller to, in the second operation mode, sequentially activate the individual fiber laser pump modules of the plurality of fiber laser pump modules. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
A method of processing by controlling one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam may include: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP and one or more confinement regions; modifying the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; confining the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam within the one or more confinement regions of the second length of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP may differ from the second RIP.
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
B23K 26/067 - Dividing the beam into multiple beams, e.g. multi-focusing
B23K 26/38 - Removing material by boring or cutting
B29C 64/153 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
G02B 6/028 - Optical fibres with cladding with core or cladding having graded refractive index
G02F 1/015 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on semiconductor elements having potential barriers, e.g. having a PN or PIN junction
B22F 12/44 - Radiation means characterised by the configuration of the radiation means
G02B 6/12 - Light guidesStructural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
56.
High brightness fiber coupled diode lasers with circularized beams
Apparatus include a plurality of laser diodes configured to emit respective laser diode beams having perpendicular fast and slow beam divergence axes mutually perpendicular to respective beam axes, and beam shaping optics configured to receive the laser diode beams and to circularize an ensemble image space and NA space of the laser diode beams at an ensemble coupling plane. In selected examples, beam shaping optics include variable fast axis telescopes configured to provide variable fast axis magnification and beam displacement.
Apparatus include a transmissive optical substrate configured to receive a plurality of laser beams propagating along respective parallel beam axes at respective initial beam displacements with respect to an optical axis of the transmissive optical substrate, and configured to produce laser output beams having reduced displacements, wherein the transmissive optical substrate includes first and second surfaces with respective first and second curvatures defined to increase an output beam magnification and to nonlinearly increase an output beam displacement from the optical axis for a linearly increasing input beam displacement from the optical axis.
An apparatus may steer an optical beam provided by a collimating optical module to a selected one of receiving optical modules. The apparatus may comprise an optical component to receive the optical beam provided by the collimating optical module; and a motorized rotation stage including a base and a rotating section, wherein the rotating section is restricted to rotation, relative to the base, about a single axis; wherein the optical component is mounted to the rotating section, and the apparatus further includes circuitry to control the motorized rotation stage to rotate the platform or stage amongst different rotational positions that correspond to the receiving optical modules, respectively; and wherein the optical component guides (by reflection, refraction, or the like, or combinations thereof) the optical beam to the selected one of the receiving optical modules based on a current rotational position of the rotating section. Other embodiments may be disclosed/claimed.
G02B 6/35 - Optical coupling means having switching means
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
G02B 6/42 - Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
59.
STRAIN-ENGINEERED CLADDING LAYER FOR OPTIMIZED ACTIVE REGION STRAIN AND IMPROVED LASER DIODE PERFORMANCE
Some embodiments may include a laser diode having a strain-engineered cladding layer for optimized active region strain and improved laser diode performance. In one embodiment, the laser diode may include a semiconductor substrate having a material composition with a first lattice constant; and a plurality of epitaxy layers form on the semiconductor substrate, with plurality of epitaxy layers including a waveguide layer and cladding layers, wherein the waveguide layer includes an active region having a material composition associated with a target optical wavelength, wherein a second lattice constant of the material composition of the active region is different than the first lattice constant; wherein a material composition and/or thickness of an individual cladding layer of the cladding layers is/are arranged to impart a target stress field on the active region to optimize active region strain. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 5/20 - Structure or shape of the semiconductor body to guide the optical wave
H01S 5/32 - Structure or shape of the active regionMaterials used for the active region comprising PN junctions, e.g. hetero- or double- hetero-structures
H01S 5/34 - Structure or shape of the active regionMaterials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers
60.
LASER DIODE SYSTEM WITH LOW NUMERICAL APERTURE CLAD LIGHT STRIPPING
Some embodiments may include a packaged laser diode assembly, comprising: a length of optical fiber having a core and a cladding layer, the length of optical fiber having a first section and a second section, the first section of the length of optical fiber including a tip of an input end of the optical fiber; one or more laser diodes to generate laser light; one or more optical components to direct a beam derived from the laser light into the input end of the length of optical fiber; a clad light stripper on the second section of the length of optical fiber; wherein, in the first section of the length of optical fiber, the cladding layer includes: a light scattering feature at the tip of the input end of the optical fiber and/or a void along a length of the optical fiber.
Some embodiments may include a packaged laser diode assembly, comprising: a length of optical fiber having a core and a polymer buffer in direct contact with the core, the length of optical fiber having a first section and a second section, the first section of the length of optical fiber including a tip of an input end of the optical fiber, wherein the polymer buffer covers only the second section of the first and second sections; one or more laser diodes to generate laser light; means for directing a beam derived from the laser light into the input end of the length of optical fiber; a light stripper attached to the core in the first section of the length of optical fiber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
Systems and methods for temporal amplitude modulation of an optical beam. An exemplary system may include a birefringent fiber positioned between two polarizers, or between a polarized input light source and an output polarizer. Light may enter the birefringent fiber as linearly polarized. Depending on birefringence and orientation of the birefringent fiber, the polarization state changes as the light propagates through the birefringent fiber. This changed polarization state then enters the output polarizer, for which transmission is a function of the polarization state and the relative orientation of the polarization axis. The polarization state emerging from the birefringent fiber may be changed by modulating the fiber birefringence, for example through application of an external stress. Net transmittance of the system may be varied according to a magnitude of an external force (e.g., pressure) to some or all of the birefringent fiber.
H01S 3/106 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating by controlling devices placed within the cavity
G02F 1/01 - Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulatingNon-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
63.
Method and system for reducing returns from retro-reflections in active illumination system
Systems and methods for reducing or eliminating undesired effects of retro-reflections in imaging are disclosed. A system for reducing the undesired effects of retro-reflections may include an illuminator and an optical receiver. The illuminator is configured to emit an illumination signal for illuminating a scene. The optical receiver is configured to receive returned portions of the illumination signal scattered or reflected from the scene. Return signals from retroreflectors present in the scene may oversaturate or otherwise negatively affect sensors in the optical receiver. To limit return signals from retroreflectors that may be present in the scene, the illuminator and optical receiver are physically separated from each other by an offset distance that limits or prevents retro-reflections from the retroreflectors from being received by the optical receiver.
H04N 13/254 - Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
H04N 13/239 - Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance
B60Q 1/04 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
64.
SUPPRESSION OF UNDESIRED WAVELENGTHS IN LASER LIGHT
Some embodiments may include an apparatus usable in a laser system. The apparatus may include at least one optical filter to receive a laser beam or laser light along a first axis, the laser beam or laser light generated by the laser system, wherein the at least one optical filter is configured to reflect one of light having a selected wavelength or a remainder of the laser light along a second axis that is non-parallel with the first axis and pass the other of the light having the selected wavelength or the remainder along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Methods include directing a laser beam to a target along a scan path at a variable scan velocity and adjusting a digital modulation during movement of the laser beam along the scan path and in relation to the variable scan velocity so as to provide a fluence at the target within a predetermined fluence range along the scan path. Some methods include adjusting a width of the laser beam with a zoom beam expander. Apparatus include a laser source situated to emit a laser beam, a 3D scanner situated to receive the laser beam and to direct the laser beam along a scan path in a scanning plane at the target, and a laser source digital modulator coupled to the laser source so as to produce a fluence at the scanning plane along the scan path that is in a predetermined fluence range as the laser beam scan speed changes along the scan path.
B23K 26/082 - Scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative to the laser head
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
B29C 64/153 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
B22F 12/41 - Radiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam
B22F 12/90 - Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
In an example, the disclosed technology includes a laser source, comprising a plurality of pump elements configured to generate laser light, a controller coupled to the plurality of pump elements, configured to select individual drive current levels to be provided to respective ones of the plurality of pump elements responsive to a request for a laser power level and at least one power supply coupled to one or more of the plurality of pump elements for driving individual pump elements at selected drive currents.
Disclosed are techniques for generating a laser output beam having a functionally homogenized intensity distribution. According to some embodiments, a population of few modes in a multi-mode confinement core is excited by application of a low-moded source beam to the multi-mode confinement core, such that the population exhibit an unstable intensity distribution. The unstable intensity distribution is functionally homogenized by providing one or both of modulation of phase displacement in the multi-mode confinement core and variation of launch conditions of the low-moded source beam into the multi-mode confinement core.
B22F 12/43 - Radiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam pulsedRadiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam frequency modulated
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
A laser assembly comprising a multi-clad fiber optically coupled to a light source configured to emit optical radiation at a first wavelength and a protective element disposed between the light source and the multi-clad fiber so as to prevent a portion of backward-propagating optical radiation at a second wavelength from coupling into the light source.
G02B 6/42 - Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
H01S 3/0941 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a semiconductor laser, e.g. of a laser diode
G02B 6/036 - Optical fibres with cladding core or cladding comprising multiple layers
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
69.
OPTICAL ASSEMBLY TO MODIFY NUMERICAL APERTURE OF A LASER BEAM
Some embodiments may include an optical assembly usable to process light output from a laser source. The apparatus may include a housing to receive a distal end of an optical fiber that outputs the laser light; one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps contained within the housing or coupled to the housing; and one or more optical apertures located inside the housing, at least one of the optical apertures to define a numerical aperture (NA) of a first portion of the laser light based on a radial dimension of the at least one optical aperture, the at least one optical aperture arranged to pass the first portion of the light and redirect a second different portion of the laser light to the one or more actively cooled or passively cooled beam traps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
In an example, a tandem pumped fiber amplifier may include a seed laser, a first section coupled to an output of the seed laser, and a second section coupled to an output of the first section. The first section may operate as an oscillator, and may receive pump light from one or more diode pumps, and may the first section may be arranged to convert the one or more diode pumps into a tandem pump. The second section may operate as a power amplifier, and may include a length of a single or plural active core fiber. The tandem pumped fiber amplifier may be arranged to mitigate spectral broadening related to four-wave mixing.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
H01S 3/094 - Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser having an input end to receive source light from a light source and an output end including: a feeding optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein the interior emits a beam at an end of the feeding optic and the cladding layer receives process light at the end of the feeding optic, the process light generated by processing of a workpiece by the beam; and a notch or other discontinuity in an outer surface of a side of the cladding layer, the surface discontinuity to release a portion of the process light, the apparatus further comprising: a collection optic fiber having a first end to capture a sample of the released process light and a second end to provide the captured sample to a sensor. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a semiconductor laser device comprising: an active layer to generate light; a front facet positioned at a first end of said active layer, with an AR coating or PR coating; a rear facet positioned on a second opposite end of said active layer thereby forming a resonator between said front facet and said rear facet; and a first order diffraction grating positioned within said resonator along only a portion of the length of said active layer, wherein the semiconductor laser device is arranged to emit light from both ends, and the diffraction grating has two non-contiguous segments each extending to one of the facets; or a single end, wherein the rear facet is a rear light reflecting facet with an HR-coating. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
An apparatus includes an optical source situated to produce a fiducial source beam, and an optical fiducial pattern generator situated to produce with the fiducial source beam at least one transient optical fiducial on a laser processing target that is in a field of view of a laser scanner situated to scan a laser processing beam across the laser processing target, so that a positioning of the laser processing beam on the laser processing target becomes adjustable relative to the at least one transient optical fiducial.
Systems and methods for reducing the deleterious effects of specular reflections (e.g., glint) on active illumination systems are disclosed. An example system includes an illuminator or light source configured to illuminate a scene with electromagnetic radiation having a defined polarization orientation. The system also includes a receiver for receiving portions of the electromagnetic radiation reflected or scatter from the scene. Included in the receiver is a polarizer having a polarization axis crossed with the polarization orientation of the emitted electromagnetic radiation. By crossing the polarizer with the polarization of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the polarizer may filter out glint or specular reflections in the electromagnetic radiation returned from the scene.
G01S 7/499 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group using polarisation effects
G02B 30/25 - Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer’s left and right eyes of the stereoscopic type using polarisation techniques
G01S 17/894 - 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
75.
OPTICAL FIBER DEVICES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING STIMULATED RAMAN SCATTERING (SRS) LIGHT INTENSITY IN SIGNAL COMBINED SYSTEMS
Signal combined optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for reducing signal spectrum pumping of Raman spectrum. Power of a Raman component in an output of a signal combined fiber laser system may be reduced by diversifying peak signal wavelengths across a plurality of signal generation and/or amplification modules that are input into a signal combiner. In some examples, fiber laser oscillators that are to have their output signals combined to reach a desired cumulative system output power are tuned to output signal bands of sufficiently different wavelengths that signal from separate ones of the oscillators do not collectively pump a single Raman band. With the combined signal component comprising different peak signal wavelengths, the Raman component of combined output may have multiple peak wavelengths and significantly lower power than in systems where signals of substantially the same signal peak wavelength are combined.
H01S 3/23 - Arrangement of two or more lasers not provided for in groups , e.g. tandem arrangement of separate active media
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
A laser diode package, comprising a housing having a metal base portion, an integrated heat spreader formed within the base, the integrated heat spreader comprising a first phase-change material (PCM) and configured to dissipate heat via phase-change cooling. A heat source may be disposed on a top surface of the base, the heat source may be thermally coupled to the integrated heat spreader so as to dissipate heat away from the heat source via phase-change cooling.
Spliced multi-clad optical fibers with a cladding light stripper (CLS) encapsulating the splice. The splice may facilitate conversion between two optical fibers having different architectures, such as different core and/or cladding dimensions. The CLS may comprise a first length of fiber on a first side of the splice, and a second length of fiber on a second side of the splice, encapsulating the splice within the lengths of the CLS. The splice may abut one or more of the lengths of the CLS, or may be separated from one or more lengths of the CLS by an intermediate length of a first and/or second fiber joined by the splice.
Apparatus include a first optical fiber including a core situated to propagate a signal beam at a signal wavelength and an unwanted stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) beam at an SRS wavelength associated with the signal wavelength, and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) situated in a core of a second optical fiber optically coupled to the core of the first optical fiber, the FBG having a selected grating reflectivity associated with the SRS wavelength and being situated to reflect the SRS beam back along the core of the second optical fiber and to reduce a damage associated with propagation of the SRS beam to power sensitive laser system components optically coupled to the second optical fiber. Methods are also disclosed.
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for separating Raman spectrum from signal spectrum. Once separated, the Raman spectrum may be suppressed (e.g., as a result of a reduction in gain from the signal spectrum, and/or through dissipation of the Raman spectrum energy), while the signal spectrum may be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. In some embodiments, a fiber system may include a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) or a long period fiber grating (LPFG), each configured to couple a core propagation mode into a cladding propagation mode with an efficiency that is higher for Raman spectrum than for signal spectrum. A fiber system further may include a cladding light stripper (CLS) configured to preferentially remove cladding modes containing the Raman component.
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
80.
Optical fiber devices and methods for reducing stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) light emissions from a resonant cavity
Fiber laser devices, systems, and methods for reducing Raman spectrum in emissions from a resonant cavity. A fiber laser oscillator that is to generate an optical beam may include a Raman reflecting output coupler that strongly reflects a Raman component pumped within the resonant cavity, and partially reflects a signal component to sustain the oscillator and emit a signal that has a reduced Raman component. A Raman filtering output coupler may comprise a superstructure fiber grating, and such a grating may be chirped or otherwise designed to have a desired bandwidth.
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
A laser diode, comprising a transverse waveguide comprising an active layer between an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer wherein the transverse waveguide is bounded by a lower index n-cladding layer on an n-side of the transverse waveguide and a lower index p-cladding layer on a p-side of the transverse waveguide a cavity that is orthogonal to the transverse waveguide, wherein the cavity is bounded in a longitudinal direction at a first end by a high reflector (HR) facet and at a second end by a partial reflector (PR) facet, and a first contact layer electrically coupled to the waveguide and configured to vary an amount of current injected into the waveguide in the longitudinal direction so as to inject more current near the HR facet than at the PR facet.
H01S 5/34 - Structure or shape of the active regionMaterials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers
82.
Optical fiber devices and methods for directing Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) light out of a fiber
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for coupling Raman spectrum out of an optical fiber selectively over a signal spectrum, which may be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. A fiber system may include a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) or a long period fiber grating (LPFG), each to unguide Raman light propagating in a core propagation mode of a fiber completely out of the fiber (through any surrounding cladding layer(s)) selectively over signal spectrum which is to remain in a guided mode of the fiber.
Optical fiber devices, systems, and methods for separating Raman spectrum from signal spectrum Raman spectrum may be suppressed as a result of a reduction in gain and/or through dissipation while the signal spectrum may Raman Components In be propagated in one or more guided modes of a fiber system. A fiber system may Length include a propagation mode coupler to couple a first guided mode into a second guided mode with an efficiency that varies as a function of wavelength of the propagated light. Mode coupling efficiency may be higher for Raman spectrum, and lower for signal spectrum so that Raman spectrum associated with a fundamental mode is preferentially coupled into a higher-order mode. A fiber system may include a mode filter operable to discriminate between first and second guided modes. Within the filter, guiding of the first mode may be superior to that of the second mode with Raman spectrum preferentially rejected.
Apparatuses, systems and methods for modulating returned light for acquisition of 3D data from a scene are described. A 3D imaging system includes a Fabry-Perot cavity having a first partially-reflective surface for receiving incident light and a second partially-reflective surface from which light exits. An electro-optic material is located within the Fabry-Perot cavity between the first and second partially-reflective surfaces. Transparent longitudinal electrodes or transverse electrodes produce an electric field within the electro-optic material. A voltage driver is configured to modulate, as a function of time, the electric field within the electro-optic material so that the incident light passing through the electro-optic material is modulated according to a modulation waveform. A light sensor receives modulated light that exits the second partially-reflective surface of the Fabry-Perot cavity and converts the light into electronic signals. Three-dimensional (3D) information regarding a scene-of-interest may be obtained from the electronic signals.
G01S 17/894 - 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
G01D 5/353 - Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing memberMeans for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for convertingTransducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible or ultraviolet light with attenuation or whole or partial obturation of beams of light the beams of light being detected by photocells influencing the transmission properties of an optical fibre
G02B 30/10 - Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images using integral imaging methods
An example apparatus includes an optical fiber including a core and cladding, the core being situated to propagate an optical beam along a propagation axis associated with the core, and at least one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) situated in the core of the optical fiber, the fiber Bragg grating including a plurality of periodically spaced grating portions situated with respect to the propagation axis so that light associated with Raman scattering is directed out of the core so as to reduce the generation of optical gain associated with stimulated Raman scattering (SRS).
H01S 3/30 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
G02B 6/25 - Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
Some embodiments may include an optical component having bottom part located in an opening defined by a surface, wherein a distance between a sidewall of the bottom part of the optical component and a sidewall of the opening is non-uniform in which a width of a first section of the opening or a first section of the bottom part of the optical component is narrower than a width of a second lower section of the opening or a width of a second lower section of the bottom part of the optical component; and an adhesive located in the opening between sidewalls Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments of optical fiber structures for generating a single mode, saddle shaped output beam. The embodiments include first and second lengths of fiber. The first length of fiber has a first input end configured to receive a single mode gaussian beam. The second length of fiber has a second input end coupled to an output end of the first length of fiber. The second length of fiber includes a centrally located anti-guiding core and an annular guiding region coaxially encompassing the centrally located anti-guiding core.
H01S 3/10 - Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
Some embodiments may include a mounting surface defining a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel; an optic fiber affixed to the mounting surface, the optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein part of the optic fiber is suspended over the main channel; and a clad light stripper including one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light; wherein the one or more sub-channels include a first sub -channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments of a capillary combiner housing for an optical fiber combiner having an inner combiner casing supporting optical fibers. A capillary combiner housing includes a non-metallic body defining a lumen between an input side and an output side, the lumen sized to receive the inner combiner casing, the non-metallic body having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matching that of the inner combiner casing; a first aperture in the input side, the first aperture having a first inside diameter sized to receive multiple input optical fibers; and a second aperture in the output side, the second aperture having a second inside diameter sized to receive an output fiber.
Beam combining optical systems include a fiber beam combiner having multiple inputs to which output fibers of laser diode sources are spliced. Cladding light stripping regions are situated at the splices and include exposed portions of fiber claddings that are at least partially encapsulated with an optical adhesive or a polymer. A beam combiner fiber that is optically downstream of a laser source has an exposed cladding secured to a thermally conductive support with a polymer or other material that is index matched to the exposed cladding. This construction permits attenuation of cladding light propagating toward a beam combiner from a splice.
G02B 6/28 - Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
G02B 6/42 - Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
G02B 6/255 - Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
H01S 3/00 - Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
G01M 11/00 - Testing of optical apparatusTesting structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
Systems and methods for three-dimensional imaging are disclosed. A three-dimensional imaging system may include a light source to emit a light pulse. The divergence of the light pulse may be configurable by the system. For example, the system may also include a receiving lens having a field of view and configured to receive a portion of the light pulse reflected or scattered by a scene. The system may configure the light source so that the divergence of the light pulse matches or approximates the field of view of the receiving lens.
Some embodiments may include an optical fiber assembly including an optical fiber having a first end, a second end, and a length, wherein light is released from part of a length of the optical fiber, the optical fiber assembly comprising: a heat sink; a housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the housing is thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein part of the second side of the housing defines a bottom or sides of a chamber, and wherein said part of the length of the optical fiber assembly is positioned in the chamber; and a cover thermally coupled to the second side of the housing, wherein part of an underside of the cover defines a top of the chamber. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Some embodiments may include a fiber laser including two or more input fibers and an output fiber to deliver a beam to a workpiece, the fiber laser comprising. The fiber laser may include a combiner having ends and a length, wherein the combiner is arranged to release, from its length, a portion of back-reflected light received from the output fiber at an output end of the ends from the combiner, the combiner including: a capillary tube to enclose part of the two or more input fibers at an input end of the ends of the combiner, the capillary tube having ends and a length located between the ends of the capillary tube; and a cladding light stripper (CLS) defined by part of the length of the capillary tube, wherein the CLS provides the release of the portion of the back-reflected light. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
Disclosed are embodiments for multi-band pumping of a doped fiber source. The doped fiber source has a first absorption band and a second absorption band that is different from the first absorption band. In some embodiments, a first laser pump generates a first pump power in a first pump band corresponding to the first absorption band that is generated. A second laser pump generates a second pump power in a second pump band corresponding to the second absorption band. The second pump band is different from the first pump band. The first and second pump power is simultaneously applied to the doped fiber source.
Disclosed is an optical fiber-based divergence-limiting device for limiting divergence from a first maximum divergence of input light to a second maximum divergence of output light, in which the second maximum divergence is less than the first maximum divergence.
An apparatus includes an optical gain fiber having a core, a cladding surrounding the core, the core and cladding defining an optical gain fiber numerical aperture, and a multimode fiber having a core with a larger radius than a radius of the optical gain fiber core, a cladding surrounding the core, the core and cladding of the multimode fiber defining a multimode fiber stable numerical aperture that is larger than the optical gain fiber numerical aperture, the multimode fiber being optically coupled to the optical gain fiber so as to receive an optical beam propagating in the optical gain fiber and to stably propagate the received optical beam in the multimode fiber core with low optical loss associated with the optical coupling.
Disclosed are embodiments of bidirectionally emitting semiconductor (BEST) laser architectures including higher order mode suppression structures. The higher order mode suppression structures are centrally located and extend from an inner transition boundary, which may be established by confronting high reflector (HR) facets in some embodiments or a central plane defining two sides of a unitary, bidirectional optical cavity in other embodiments. Examples of the higher order mode suppression structures include narrow regions of bidirectional flared laser oscillator waveguide (FLOW) devices, which are also referred to as reduced mode diode (REM) devices; high-index regions of bidirectional higher-order mode suppressed laser (HOMSL) devices; and non- or less-etched gain-guided lateral waveguides of bidirectional low divergence semiconductor laser (LODSL) devices. The aforementioned devices may also include scattering features, distributed feedback (DFB) gratings, distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) gratings, and combination thereof that also act as supplemental higher order mode suppression structures.
H01S 5/10 - Construction or shape of the optical resonator
H01S 5/026 - Monolithically integrated components, e.g. waveguides, monitoring photo-detectors or drivers
H01S 5/40 - Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups
H01L 33/04 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies with a quantum effect structure or superlattice, e.g. tunnel junction
H01S 5/20 - Structure or shape of the semiconductor body to guide the optical wave
H01S 5/34 - Structure or shape of the active regionMaterials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers
A heat source package, comprising a housing having a metal base portion with one or more channels formed therein, the one or more channels having an inner surface, a coating of an anti-corrosive material adhered to a portion of the inner surface of the one or more channels wherein the anti-corrosive material is selected to have a thermal conductivity within a threshold range such that the coating changes the thermal resistance of a coated portion of the channel less than 25% with respect to an uncoated portion of the metal base portion. In examples, a heat source may be thermally coupled to the inner surface of the channels and the channels may be formed to conduct a liquid coolant from a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet to dissipate heat away from the heat source.
Angularly homogenizing gradient index optical fiber having a refractive index profile that is non-quadratic to a degree sufficient to enhance precession of light as it is propagated through the fiber. Deviation from the quadratic may be limited to avoid profoundly changing the radial boundary within the fiber. Beam asymmetry, for example, associated with small aperture sources launched into a fiber off axis, may be made more symmetric as the beam is propagated through the homogenizing gradient index optical fiber. A refractive index profile may be manufactured to avoid a pure quadratic profile, or a fiber having a refractive index profile that is quadratic in only some orientations about the fiber axis may be twisted during draw to induce a refractive index profile path that enhances propagation precession.
Apparatus include a first laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet along an optical axis, the beam as emitted having perpendicular fast and slow axes perpendicular to the optical axis, a first fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the first laser diode, a second laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet of the second laser diode along an optical axis parallel to the optical axis of the first laser diode and with a slow axis in a common plane with the slow axis of the first laser diode, and a second fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet of the second laser diode and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the second laser diode.
