The present novel technology relates to the field of laser physics, and, more particularly, to a fiber optic laser assembly.
It has become increasingly useful in industrial and scientific applications to produce laser outputs that are complex and tailored to provide specific pulse profiles. These pulse profiles may have portions that resemble continuous waves (CW), quasi-CW (QCW), or pulsed profile, and other portions that resemble Q-switched high intensity short duration “delta function” pulses. Thus, a need persists for a more effective technique for generating custom laser output patterns. The present novel technology addresses this need.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates.
One embodiment of the novel technology as illustrated in
Each respective laser 105, 110, 115 is operationally connected to an electronic controller assembly 150 (typically a separate, physically spaced controller 155, 160, 165 for each respective laser 105, 110, 115; more typically the separate controllers 155, 160, 165 are connected in electric communication with one another; still more typically a master controller 170 is connected to the individual laser controllers 155, 160, 165; in some embodiments, a single controller 170 is connected to all respective lasers 105, 110, 115 for governing the firing of each respective laser to yield a combined or composite output pattern enjoying elements of the output characteristics of each respective laser 105, 110, 115.
In some embodiments, more than one of each type of laser 105, 110, 115 are operationally connected together to yield a composite signal, and in some cases, laser types may or may not be combined within the same illustrated laser: such as Q-SW/CW, Q-SW/QCW, and the like.
In some embodiments, the fiber optic assembly 120 is completely or partially made of a micro-structured, hollow core or holey fiber 180. The holey fiber 180 may have a single cylindrical hollow core 185 surrounded by a glass cladding 190, or may have multiple hollow tunnels 185 formed therethrough. The hollow core is usually filled with air, but may be filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, or may even be partially evacuated. In some embodiments, the central core 185 is hollow and is surrounded by multiple glass fibers 195 in a cladding or matrix material 195. While glass fibers have a maximum energy throughput beyond which they become damaged or destroyed, the hollow core 185 has a higher maximum energy throughput. This effectively allows smaller cores to be utilized which translate to smaller spot sizes at laser focus.
While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/993,797, filed on Mar. 24, 2020, which is incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62993797 | Mar 2020 | US |