JP2021073681A - Applications, methods and systems for laser deliver addressable array - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an assembly and system for combining various laser beam sources into a single or a plurality of laser beams while maintaining and strengthening desired beam quality such as brightness and power.SOLUTION: A laser system for executing laser operation comprises: a plurality of laser diode assemblies 210, each of which includes a plurality of laser diodes capable of generating an individual blue laser beam along a laser beam path; and means 228 for spatially combining individual blue laser beams to create a combined laser beam having a single spot in a far field and capable of being combined to an optical fiber for delivery to a target material. The means for spatially combining combines the individual blue laser beams on the laser beam path and is optically associated with the respective laser diodes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2D

Description

This application is
(I) Claims the benefits of US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 193,047, filing date July 15, 2015, under US Code Vol. 35, Article 119 (e) (1). , The entire disclosure of each is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to an array assembly for coupling laser beams, specifically in the fields of manufacturing, production, entertainment, graphics, imaging, analysis, surveillance, assembly, dentistry, and medicine. With respect to an array assembly capable of providing a bright laser beam for use in the systems and applications of.

Many lasers, especially semiconductor lasers such as laser diodes, provide a laser beam having a highly desirable wavelength and a highly desirable beam quality, including brightness. These lasers can have wavelengths in the visible range, wavelengths in the UV range, wavelengths in the IR range, and their couplings, and can even have higher and lower wavelengths. The technology of other laser light sources such as semiconductor lasers and fiber lasers is evolving rapidly, and new laser light sources are constantly being developed to provide existing laser wavelengths and new laser wavelengths. Many of these lasers have the desired beam quality, but have a lower laser power than the desired or required laser power for a particular application. Thus, these low powers have prevented these laser sources from finding more useful and commercial applications.

In addition, previous efforts to combine these types of lasers have, for some other reason, the difficulty of beam alignment, leaving the beams aligned throughout the application. It was generally inadequate due to difficulty in keeping, loss of beam quality, difficulty in special installation of laser sources, size considerations, and power management.

In use here, the terms "blue laser beam," "blue laser," and "blue" should be given their broadest meaning, and generally, unless expressly stated otherwise. A system that provides a laser beam, a laser beam, a laser light source, such as a laser and a diode laser, which provides a laser beam or light having a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 500 nm, such as propagating.

In general, in use here, the term "about", unless otherwise stated, is a variance or range of ± 10%, experimental or instrumental error associated with obtaining the stated value, and preferably. The larger of these shall be covered.

The technical background of the invention section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art that may be associated with embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the above discussion in this section provides a framework for a deeper understanding of the invention and should not be considered as an endorsement of the prior art.

US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 193,047 International Publication No. 2014/179345 U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 787,393

There is a particular need for assemblies and systems that combine a variety of laser beam sources, among others, into a single or multiple laser beams while maintaining and enhancing the desired beam quality such as brightness and power. It has existed for many years and has not yet been fulfilled. The present invention solves these needs by providing, among others, the manufactured articles, devices, and processes taught and disclosed herein.

Thus, a laser system for performing laser operation is provided, which is a plurality of laser diode assemblies; each laser diode assembly has an individual blue laser beam along the laser beam path. With multiple laser diode assemblies having multiple laser diodes that can be generated; a means of spatially coupling individual blue laser beams with a single spot in the farfield and the target material. A means of creating a coupled laser beam that can be coupled to an optical fiber for delivery to; and a means of spatially coupling the individual blue laser beams are spatially coupled on the laser beam path and each laser. Optically associated with a diode.

Further provided are methods and systems having one or more of the following features: That is, it has at least three laser diode assemblies; each laser diode assembly has at least 30 laser diodes; the laser diode assembly has a total power of at least about 30 watts and less than 20 mm mad. A laser beam with beam parameter characteristics can be transmitted; the beam parameter characteristics are less than 15 mm mrad; the beam parameter characteristics are less than 10 mm mrad; the means of spatially coupling are N times larger than the individual laser beams. Generate a coupled laser beam of intensity; where N is the number of laser diodes in the laser diode assembly; spatially coupled means increase the power of the composite laser beam while maintaining the brightness of the blue beam. The combined laser beam has at least 50 times the power of the individual laser beam, and the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is less than twice the beam parameter product of the individual laser beam; the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is The beam parameter product of the individual laser beams is less than 1.5 times the beam parameter product; the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is less than 1 times the beam parameter product of the individual laser beams; Increase the power of the laser beam while maintaining brightness; the combined laser beam has at least 100 times the power of the individual laser beam, and the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is 2 of the beam parameter product of the individual laser beam. Less than or equal to; the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is less than or equal to 1.5 times the beam parameter product of the individual laser beams; the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is less than or equal to 1 times the beam parameter product of the individual laser beams. The optical fiber is solarization resistant; the means of spatial coupling is selected from the group consisting of aligned plane parallel plates and wedges to correct at least one of the laser diode's positional or aiming errors. The spatially coupled means have a polarized beam combiner capable of increasing the effective brightness of the coupled laser beam over the individual laser beams; the laser diode assembly is individual. The laser beam paths are defined with a space between each path so that the individual laser beams have a space between each beam. Spatial coupling means include a collimator for collimating individual laser beams on the speed axis of the laser diode and a periodic mirror for coupling the collimated laser beams, the periodic mirror being the laser diode. It reflects the first laser beam from the first diode in the assembly and allows the second laser beam from the second diode in the laser diode assembly to pass through, thereby filling the space in the fast axis direction between the individual laser beams. The means of spatially coupling has a patterned mirror on the glass substrate; the glass substrate shifts the vertical position of the laser beam from the laser diode to the space between the laser diodes. Provided are methods and systems having one or more of which are thick enough to meet; have a stepped heat sink;

Furthermore, a laser system for providing a high-intensity, high-power laser beam is provided, the system being a plurality of laser diode assemblies; each laser ode produces a blue laser beam with initial brightness. Multiple laser diode assemblies having multiple laser diodes that can be made; and spatially coupled blue laser beams to form a single spot in the farfield with final brightness, optical fiber It has means for producing a coupled laser beam that can be coupled to; each laser diode is locked by an external cavity to a different wavelength so as to substantially increase the brightness of the coupled laser beam. Therefore, the final brightness of the combined laser beam is almost the same as the initial brightness of the laser beam from the laser diode.

Further provided are methods and systems having one or more of the following features: That is, each laser diode is locked to a single wavelength using an external cavity based on the diffraction grid, and each of the laser diode assemblies couples selected from a group consisting of narrowly spaced optical filters and a diffraction grid. It is coupled to a coupled beam using means; the Raman converter has a pure fused optic core to reveal a brighter light source and a fluorinated outer core to accommodate the blue pump light. And is an optical fiber; the Raman converter has a GeO2-doped central and outer core to reveal a brighter light source and an outer core larger than the central core to accommodate the blue pump light. Used to pump a fiber optic-like Raman converter with, and to accommodate a P2O5-doped core to reveal a brighter light source and a blue pump light. An optical fiber with an outer core that is larger than the central core; the Raman converter is a graded index core for revealing a brighter light source and a center for accommodating blue pump light. An optical fiber having an outer core larger than the core; the Raman converter is a graded index GeO2-doped core and an outer step index core; the Raman converter is a graded index P2O5 doped. Used to pump Raman converter fibers, which are graded cores and outer step index cores; Raman converters pump Raman converter fibers, which are graded index GeO2-doped cores. The Raman converter is a graded index type P2O5 doped core and an outer step index type core; the Raman converter is a diamond for revealing a higher brightness laser light source. The Raman converter is a KGW for revealing a higher brightness laser light source; the Raman converter is a YVO4 for revealing a higher brightness laser light source; the Raman converter is higher One or more of Ba (NO3) 2 for revealing a bright laser light source; and a Raman converter is a high pressure gas for revealing a brighter laser light source; Provide methods and systems that have.

Furthermore, a laser system for performing laser operation is provided, which is a plurality of laser diode assemblies; each laser diode assembly produces a blue laser beam along the laser beam path. Multiple laser diode assemblies with multiple laser diodes capable; spatially coupling the blue laser beam to have a single spot in the farfield and optically coupling to the Raman converter. It has means for creating a combined laser beam capable of producing and pumping a Raman converter to increase the brightness of the combined laser beam.

In addition, a method of providing a combined laser beam is provided, in which an array of Raman-converted lasers is operated to generate individual different wavelength blue laser beams, and the laser beams are combined. Then, it has a stage in which a light source having a higher power appears while maintaining the spatial brightness of the original light source.

Moreover, a laser system for performing laser operation is provided, which is a plurality of laser diode assemblies; each laser diode assembly emits a blue laser beam along the laser beam path. A plurality of laser diode assemblies having a plurality of laser diodes capable of generating; an optical element that collimates and couples a beam along a laser beam path and is capable of providing a coupled laser beam. It has an element; and an optical fiber for receiving a coupled laser beam.

In addition, methods and systems that have one or more of the following features, namely optical fibers, are optically communicative with rare earth-doped fibers, whereby the combined laser beam is rare-earth-doped. The fiber can be pumped to reveal a higher brightness laser source; and the optical fiber is optically communicated with the outer core of the brightness converter, whereby the coupled laser beam is A method and system having one or more of the higher brightness enhancement ratios can be provided by pumping the outer core of the brightness converter.

Furthermore, a Raman fiber is provided, in which one of the dual cores is a dual core with a high-brightness central core; and to suppress a secondary Raman signal at the high-brightness central core. The means selected from the group consisting of filters, fiber Bragg gratings, differences in V number for primary and secondary Raman signals, and differences in microbend loss.

In addition, a second harmonic generation system is provided, which is a Raman converter for producing light at the first wavelength and at half the wavelength of the first wavelength; and at half the wavelength. It has an external resonant doubled crystal that is configured to prevent light from transmitting through the optical fiber.

In addition, methods and systems that have one or more of the following features, i.e., the first wavelength is about 460 nm; the external resonant doubled crystal is KTP; the Raman transducer is the Raman transform. Methods and systems are provided that have a non-circular outer core with a structure that improves efficiency; one or more of them.

In addition, a third harmonic generation system is provided, which is a Raman converter for producing light at a second wavelength at the first wavelength and lower than the first wavelength; and at a lower wavelength. It has an external resonant doubled crystal that is configured to prevent light from transmitting through the optical fiber.

In addition, a second harmonic generation system is provided that is configured to prevent 57.5 nm light from being transmitted through the optical fiber to the 57.5 nm wavelength light. It has a Raman converter, which is produced using a resonant doubled crystal.

In addition, a second harmonic generation system is provided, which emits a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes and uses an external resonant doubled crystal to generate a light source laser. It has a rare earth-doped brightness converter with turium, which produces half-wavelength or 236.5 nm light and does not allow short wavelength light to travel through an optical fiber.

In addition, a third harmonic generation system is provided, which emits a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes and uses an external resonant doubled crystal to emit 118.25 nm. It has a rare earth-doped brightness converter with a thulium, which produces light of the same and does not allow light of short wavelengths to travel through an optical fiber.

In addition, a fourth harmonic generation system is provided, which emits a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes and uses an external resonant doubled crystal to emit 59.1 nm. It has a rare earth-doped brightness converter with a thulium, which produces light of the same and does not allow light of short wavelengths to travel through an optical fiber.

In addition, a laser system for performing laser operation is provided, the system being at least three laser diode assemblies; each of the at least three laser diode assemblies has at least 10 lasers. Having a diode, each of the at least 10 laser diodes can generate a blue laser beam along the laser beam path with a power of at least about 2 watts and a beam parameter product of less than 8 mm-mrad. Each laser beam path is essentially parallel, thereby defining a space between the laser beams traveling along the laser beam path, at least three laser diode assemblies; on all of at least 30 laser beam paths. Arranged means for spatially coupling the blue laser beam to maintain brightness, for the collimating optical element for the first axis of the laser beam and for the second axis of the laser beam. A means having a vertical prism array and a telescope; whereby the means for spatially coupling and maintaining brightness is the laser energy in the space between the laser beams. To provide a combined laser beam with a power of at least about 600 watts and a beam parameter product of less than 40 mm-mrad.

In addition, addressable array laser machining systems are provided. The addressable array laser processing system is at least three laser systems of the type currently described; so that each of the at least three laser systems couples its own coupled laser beam to a single optical fiber. It is configured; thereby allowing each of the at least three coupled laser beams to pass along their own coupled optical fiber; the at least three optical fibers are optically associated with the laser head, at least three. It has one laser system; and a control system; a control system having a program having a predetermined sequence for delivering each of the combined laser beams to a predetermined position on the target material.

Further provided are methods and systems for addressable arrays having one or more of the following features: That is, the default sequence for delivery involves individually turning the laser beam from the laser head on and off, thereby forming an image on the powder bed, melting the target material with the powder and fusing it into the component. The fibers in the laser head are composed of an array selected from the group consisting of linear, non-linear, circular, rhombic, square, triangular, and hexagonal; the fibers in the laser head are 2x5, Consists of a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5x2, 4x5, at least 5x at least 5, 10x5, 5x10, and 3x4; the target material has a powder bed; and a laser across the powder bed. With an xy motion system that can move the head, thereby melting and fusing the powder bed; powder positioned behind the laser source to provide an additional powder layer behind the fused layer. Has a delivery system; has a z-motion system that can move the laser head to increase and decrease the height of the laser head above the surface of the powder bed; has a delivered laser beam. Has a two-way powder placement device that allows the powder to be placed directly behind the laser beam as it travels in the positive x or negative x direction; it has a powder feeding system that is coaxial with multiple laser beam paths. Has a gravity powder feeding system; has a powder feeding system in which the powder is accompanied by a stream of inert gas; in a transverse powder feeding system with respect to the N laser beam There is a powder feeding system where N ≧ 1 and the powder is placed in front of the laser beam by gravity; and a transverse powder feeding system with respect to the N laser beam. And here N ≧ 1, the powder has a powder feeding system that is accompanied by a stream of inert gas that intersects the laser beam; an addressable array with one or more of them. Methods and systems for are provided.

Furthermore, a method of providing a coupled blue laser beam having high brightness is provided, which is a step of operating a plurality of Raman conversion lasers to provide a plurality of individual blue laser beams; and an individual blue. It has a step of combining the laser beams to reveal a higher power light source while maintaining the spatial brightness of the original light source; where the individual laser beams of the multiple laser beams have different wavelengths. ing.

Also provided is a method of laser processing the target material, which operates an addressable array laser processing system having at least three laser systems of the type of system currently described, three individual. The stage of generating the combined laser beam of the above into three individual optical fibers; the stage of transmitting each combined laser beam through the laser head along the individual optical fiber; and the stage of transmitting the three individual combined laser beams from the laser head Has a step of orienting the laser to a predetermined position on the target material in a predetermined sequence;

It is a graph which shows the laser performance of embodiment by this invention. It is the schematic of the laser diode and the axial focusing lens by this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser diode spot after fast-axis and slow-axis focusing according to the present invention. It is a prediction figure of a certain embodiment of the laser diode assembly by this invention. It is a prediction figure of a certain embodiment of the laser diode module by this invention. FIG. 2C is a partial view of the embodiment of FIG. 2C, showing the laser beam, the laser beam path, and the space between the laser beams according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the laser beam, the laser beam path, and the space between the laser beams of FIG. 2E. FIG. 5 is a predictive view of certain embodiments of a laser beam, beam path, and optical device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a coupled laser diode beam after a patterned mirror according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a laser diode beam after a beam folder with an even split of the beam according to the present invention. It is a figure of the laser diode beam after the beam folder which has a 3-2 row split by this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of a starting or scanning of a laser diode array according to the present invention. It is a table which provides the processing parameter by this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser array system and process according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser array system and process according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser array system and process according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a laser fiber bundle array for use in an embodiment of a laser array system according to the present invention.

In general, the present invention relates to the coupling of laser beams, the system for creating these couplings, and the process of utilizing the combined beams. In particular, the present invention relates to arrays, assemblies, and devices for coupling laser beams from several laser beam light sources into one or more combined laser beams. These coupled laser beams preferably have various modes and properties of maintained, enhanced, or maintained and enhanced laser beams from individual light sources.

The embodiments of the array assembly and the coupled laser beams they provide can be found to have wide applicability. Embodiments of this array assembly are compact and robust. The array assembly includes laminating modeling including welding, 3D printing; laminating modeling-milling systems such as delamination manufacturing; astronomy; meteorology; imaging; entertainment, to name a few. Applicable to projection; and medical use including dentistry.

Although this specification focuses on blue laser diode arrays, this embodiment merely illustrates the types of array assemblies, systems, processes, and coupled laser beams envisioned by the present invention. I want you to understand. Thus, embodiments of the present invention combine laser beams from various laser beam sources, such as solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, semiconductor lasers, and other types of lasers, and their combined and modified types. Includes an array assembly for. Embodiments of the present invention combine laser beams over all wavelengths, eg, from about 380 nm to 800 nm (eg visible light), from about 400 nm to about 880 nm, from about 100 nm to 400 nm, from about 700 nm to 1 mm. Includes coupling laser beams with different wavelengths, and coupling and variants of specific wavelengths within these various ranges. Embodiments of this array will also find applicability for microwave coherent radiation (eg, wavelengths greater than about 1 mm). Embodiments of this array can combine beams from one, two, three, tens, or hundreds of laser sources. These laser beams can range from a few mil watts to a few watts and a few kilowatts.

Embodiments of the present invention consist of an array of blue laser diodes, preferably combined in a configuration that reveals a high-intensity laser light source. This high-intensity laser light source could be used to process materials directly, i.e., engrave, cut, weld, braze, heat treat, anneal. The material to be processed, for example, the starting material or the target material, may contain any material or component or composition, and to name a few examples, semiconductor devices such as TFTs (thin film transistors). 3, 3D printing starting materials, metals including gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, and copper, plastics, textures, and semiconductor wafers can be included. Direct processing can include, for example, melting gold from electronic devices, projection displays, and laser light shows, to name a few.

This high-intensity laser light source embodiment can also be used to pump a Raman or anti-Stokes laser. The Raman medium may be a fiber optic or crystals such as diamond, KGW (potassium nitrate gadolinium, KGd (W04) 2), YVO4, and Ba (NO3) 2. In certain embodiments, the high-intensity laser light source is a blue laser diode light source, a semiconductor device operating in the wavelength range of 400 nm to 500 nm. The Raman medium is a brightness transducer and can increase the brightness of a blue laser diode light source. The brightness enhancement extends to the emergence of a single mode diffraction-limited light source, i.e. the beam will have M2 values of about 1 and 1.5, and the beam parameter product will depend on the wavelength. It is less than 1 mm-mrad, less than 0.7 mm-mrad, less than 0.5 mm-mrad, less than 0.2 mm-mrad, and less than 0.13 mm-mrad.

In certain embodiments, "n" or "N" (eg, two, three, four, etc., tens, hundreds, or more) laser diode light sources can be configured in a bundle of optical fibers. , And then used to perform engraving, melting, welding, melting, annealing, heat treatment, cutting, and bonding and deformation of these, as a few examples of laser operation and procedure. A light source that can be addressed can be specified.

An array of blue laser diodes can also be combined with an optical assembly to reveal a high brightness direct diode laser system capable of providing a high brightness coupled laser beam. FIG. 1 shows the laser performance (beam parameter product pair) of an embodiment in the range of beam parameter products when using a fiber combiner technique with brightness ranging from 8 mm-mrad at 200 watts to 45 mm-mrad at 4000 watts. Table 100 shows the laser power W (watt). Line 101 depicts the performance of a laser diode array for certain embodiments. Line 102 depicts the performance of a dense wavelength beam coupled array. Line 103 depicts the performance of the luminance conversion technique when scaled using the fiber combiner technique. Line 104 depicts the performance of the luminance conversion technique when using the dense wavelength coupling of the output of the luminance transducer. This allows the coupled beam to remain in single space mode or near single space mode when the power level is scaled. The step of combining dense wavelengths uses a diffraction grating to control the wavelength of each individual luminance converting laser, followed by a diffraction grating to combine those beams into a single beam. The diffraction grating can be an engraved diffraction grating, a holographic diffraction grating, a fiber Bragg diffraction grating (FBG), or a volume Bragg diffraction grating (VBG). Further, although a preferred embodiment is supposed to use a diffraction grating, it is also feasible to use a prism.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a laser diode 200 in which a laser beam is transmitted to a fast-axis collimating lens 201 (FAC) along a laser beam path. To capture the fast axis power, maintain brightness, and produce a diffraction-limited beam with the correct height to allow coupling of the beam to the optical chain, 1.1 mm, 1. Cylindrical aspherical lenses of 2 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, or 4 mm are used. The collimating lens 202 is for collimating the slow axis of the laser diode (the axis having a smaller divergence angle, typically the x-axis). A cylindrical aspheric lens with a focal length of 15 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm, or 21 mm captures the slow axis power and collimates the slow axis to maintain the brightness of the laser light source. The focal length of the slow axis collimator results in an optimized coupling of the laser beamlet to the target fiber diameter by the optical system. In a preferred embodiment of the array, both the slow axis collimating lens and the fast axis collimating lens are arranged along each laser beam path and are used to form individual laser beams.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view of a laser beam spot 203 formed by passing a laser beam from a laser diode through both a fast-axis focusing lens and a slow-axis focusing lens. This simulation takes into account the maximum divergence of the light source across the full aperture of the light source. We understand that it is possible to reveal laser beam spots of many different shapes, such as square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, linear, and combined and modified forms of these and other shapes. For example, the combined laser beam uses blue laser light to reveal a spot 203 focused to a spot size of 100 μm with a lens with a focal length of 100 mm and an NA of 0.18.

Looking at FIGS. 2C and 2D, a laser diode module 220 having a laser diode subassembly 210 (eg, diode module, bar, plate, multi-die package) and four laser diode assemblies 210, 210a, 210b, 210c. Embodiments are shown.

FIG. 2E shows a detailed view showing a part of the laser beams 250a, 251a, 252a along the respective laser beam paths 250, 251, 252. FIG. 2F is a cross-sectional view of the laser beam of FIG. 2E, showing the horizontal direction 260 and the vertical direction 261 (based on the orientation of the figure) of the open space. The beam-coupling optics bring these beams together so as to eliminate the open space at the final spot 203 (FIG. 2B), such as 260, 261.

The laser diode module 220 can generate a coupled laser beam, preferably a coupled blue laser beam having the performance of curve 101 in FIG. The laser diode assembly 210 has a base plate 211 that is a thermally conductive material such as copper, and the base plate has a power lead (eg a wire) such as 212 that enters to provide electrical power to the diode such as 213. doing. In this multi-die package embodiment, 20 laser diodes, eg, 213, are arranged behind the cover plate in a 5x4 configuration. Other configurations for providing nxn diodes in the assembly, such as 4x4, 4x6, 5x6, 10x20, 30x5, and configurations under development today, and combinations and variants thereof are also envisioned. Each diode has a planar parallel plate for translating the position of the beam on the slow axis, eg 214, when using a single slow axis collimating (SAC) lens across multiple rows, eg, 216. You may. A planar parallel plate is not required if individual slow-axis lenses are used for each laser diode, as is the preferred embodiment. As a result of the assembly process, the planar parallel plate corrects the position of the laser beam path on the slow axis as the laser beam path propagates from each of the individual laser diodes. A flat parallel plate is not required if a separate FAC / SAC lens pair is used for each laser diode. The SAC position compensates for any assembly error in the package. The results of both of these techniques are that the beamlets are aligned when using individual lens pairs (FAC / SAC) or when using shared SAC lenses after individual FAC / planar parallel plates. It is to be parallel, resulting in parallel and spaced laser beams such as 251a, 252a, 250a and beam paths such as 251, 252, 250.

Synthetic beams from each of the laser diode subassemblies, such as 210, 210a, 210b, 210c, are redirected from the four laser diode subassemblies into a single beam as shown in FIG. 2G. Propagate to a patterned mirror used to combine, eg 225. The four rows of collimated laser diodes are interlaced with the four rows of the other three packages to reveal a composite beam. FIG. 2H shows the position of the beam, eg, 230, from the laser subassembly 210. The aperture diaphragm 235 scrapes off any unwanted scattered light from the coupled beamlet, reducing the heat load on the fiber input surface. The polarized beam fold assembly 227 folds the beam in half on the slow axis to double the brightness of the synthetic laser diode beam (FIG. 2I). The beam may either be folded by splitting the central central emitter to give the pattern shown in FIG. 21, in which case the beam 231 is polarized in the slow axis direction. The beam 232 is a split beamlet that does not overlap any other emitter. If the beam is split between the second beamlet and the third beamlet (FIG. 2J), the beam folds are more efficient, with two of the beams, eg, rows of 233, superimposed, while the beam's first. Three rows, for example 234, simply pass through as they are. The telescope assembly 228 extends the slow axis of the coupled beam or compresses the fast axis to allow the use of smaller lenses. The telescope 228 shown in this example (FIG. 2G) extends the beam at a magnification of 2.6x and increases its size from 11mm to 28.6mm, yet at the same magnification of 2.6x. The divergence of the slow axis is reduced. If the telescope assembly compresses the speed axis, then it is a double telescope that pulls the speed axis from a height of 22 mm (comprehensive beam) to a height of 11 mm to give a composite beam of 11 mm x 11 mm. become. This is a preferred embodiment due to its low cost. The aspheric lens 229 focuses the synthetic beam into an optical fiber 245 (FIG. 2D) having a diameter of at least 50 μm, 100 μm, 150 μm, or 200 μm. The fiber outputs of the multiplex laser diode module 220 are combined using a fiber combiner to generate a laser with a higher output power level as shown in FIG. 1 (line 101). The laser diode module is an optical combination in which an aspheric lens 229 and a fiber combiner 240 are replaced with a set of shear mirrors, which in turn couple to the aspheric lens and eject a synthetic beam into the end of the optical fiber. Combined using the method. In this way, one, two, three, tens, and hundreds of laser diode modules can be optically associated and their own laser beams coupled. In this way, the coupled laser beam itself can also be further coupled or coupled to a stack to form a multiple bond laser beam.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 2C and 2D, the configuration makes it feasible to emit, for example, 200 watts of laser beam power into a single 50 μm, 100 μm, 150 μm, or 200 μm core optical fiber. The embodiments of FIGS. 2C and 2D show typical components for creating a 200 W diode array assembly, eg, a 200 W coupling module, which uses up to four 50 watt individual diode assemblies, eg, 50 watt modules. ..

We understand that multiple configurations, powers, and combined beam counts are feasible. The embodiments of FIGS. 2C and 2D minimize the electrical connection from the power supply to the laser diode.

Thus, individual modules, combination modules, and both may be configured to provide a single combined laser beam, or multiple combined laser beams, such as 2, 3, 4, tens, numbers. It can also be configured to provide a hundred or more coupled laser beams. Each of these laser beams may be emitted into a single fiber, or they may be further combined so that they are emitted into a smaller number of fibers. Thus, as an example, 12 coupled laser beams can be ejected into 12 fibers, or a combination of 12 beams can be combined to produce less than 12 fibers such as 10, 8, 6, 4, or It can also be injected into three fibers. This coupling step can be a beam of different powers to balance or disproportionate the power distribution between the individual fibers, and can be a beam of different wavelengths or the same wavelength. Please understand that it can be done.

In certain embodiments, the brightness of the array of laser diodes can be improved by operating each array at different wavelengths and then coupling them with a grating or a series of narrowband dichroic filters. The luminance scaling of this technique is shown in FIG. 1 as line 102, which is close to a straight line. The starting point is the same brightness that can be achieved by a single module, and since each module is spatially superposed on the previous module in a linear fashion, the fiber diameter does not change, but the power emitted is In fact, it provides higher brightness from the wavelength beam coupling module.

In certain embodiments, an array of blue laser diodes can be converted to a nearly single-mode or single-mode output with the help of a luminance transducer. The brightness transducer can be an optical fiber, a crystal, or a gas. The conversion process proceeds via induced Raman scattering, which is achieved by ejecting the output from the array of blue laser diodes into an optical fiber, crystal, or gas using a resonator cavity. The power of the blue laser diode is converted to gain via induced Raman scattering, and the laser cavity oscillates on a first Stokes Slaman line offset by the Stokes shift from the pump wavelength. For example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 of the specification of U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 787,393 and the associated disclosure is based on WO 2014/179345, the entire disclosure of which is hereby. Incorporated as a reference. The performance features of this technique are shown in line 103 of FIG. 1, where when combining multiple high-intensity laser beams using a fiber combiner, the intensities are 0.3 mm-mrad for a 200 W laser. For a 4000W laser, it will be 2mm-mrad.

The brightness of the blue laser light source can be further increased by combining the outputs of the brightness-converted light sources. The performance of this type of embodiment is shown by line 104 in FIG. Here the brightness is defined by the starting module to 0.3 mm-mrad. The gain-bandwidth of the Raman wire is substantially wider than that of a laser diode, thus allowing more lasers to be coupled over a wavelength than with laser diode technology alone. The result is a 4kW laser with the same 0.3mm-mrad as a 200W laser. This is shown by the flat line 104 in FIG.

The techniques of the invention described herein include welding, cutting, brazing, heat treatment, engraving, molding, forming, joining, annealing, and melting, as well as combinations of these and various other material processing operations. It can be used to construct a laser system for a wide range of applications. Although suitable laser sources have relatively high brightness, the present invention also provides the ability to configure systems that meet lower brightness requirements. You can also combine these groups of lasers into long lines that can be used to blunt a large area semiconductor device, such as a TFT in a flat panel display. It will be possible to perform laser operation on a larger area.

Create your own individually addressable printing machine using the output of a laser diode, laser diode array, wavelength coupled laser diode array, brightness conversion laser diode array, or wavelength coupled laser diode array You can also do it. Since the laser power from each module is sufficient to melt and fuse metal powders as well as plastics, these light sources are used for laminating-removal manufacturing as well as laminating-removal manufacturing applications (ie, the laser's laminating molding system). Is also ideal for CNC machines or other types of milling machines and traditional removal manufacturing techniques such as laser removal or melting). The system and laser configurations have the ability to provide small spot sizes, precision, and other factors, so micro and nanoscale stacking, removal, and stack-removal manufacturing techniques. You will also find uses. By imaging an array of individually connected lasers onto a powder surface, objects can be created n times faster than a single scanning laser light source. The speed can be further increased by using a higher power laser for each of the n spots. When using a brightness conversion laser, nearly diffraction-limited spots can be achieved for each of the n spots, and as a result, thanks to the submicron nature of the individual spots formed using the blue high brightness laser source. , It becomes feasible to create parts with higher resolution. This smaller spot size of the configuration and system provides a substantial improvement in processing speed and resolution of the printing process compared to prior art 3D printing techniques. When the embodiment of this system is combined with the portable powder feeder, the layers can be continuously printed one after another at a speed exceeding 100 times the printing speed of the prior art laminated molding machine. By allowing the system to deposit powder as the positioning device moves in either the positive or negative direction directly behind the laser fusion spot (eg, Figure 5, powder device 508, powder device 508b). The system can print continuously without the need to stop to apply or level the powder required for the next layer.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the laser process in the case of a laser system having two rows of staggered spots, such as spots 303a and, for example, spots 303b. Laser spots such as 303a and 303b are moved in the direction of arrow 301 across the target material and scanned, for example. Assuming the target material is in powder form 302, the material is then melted by the laser spot 304 and then solidified approximately along the transition line 305 to form the fusion material 306. The power of the beam, the irradiation time of the beam, the velocity of motion, and combinations thereof can be changed in a predetermined manner that results in a predetermined shape of the melting transition line 305. The distances at which the beams can be staggered are 0 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm apart, as required by the fixtures required to hold the fibers and their optics. Can be made to. Further, the step difference may be a position where the step size is monotonically increased or decreased at the set step size, or a position where the step difference may be increased or decreased at the variable stage size. The advantage of accurate speed will depend on the target material and composition of the parts being manufactured.

FIG. 4 summarizes the performance that can be achieved for embodiments of the laser system and configuration as depicted for the 20 beam system in FIGS. 5-7, where the velocity is each time an additional beam is applied to the system. Increase to.

FIG. 5 provides a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser system having an addressable laser delivery configuration. The system has an addressable laser diode system 501. System 501 independently provides addressable laser beams to a plurality of fibers 502a, 502b, 502c (larger or smaller numbers of fibers and laser beams are also envisioned). The fibers 502a, 502b, 502c are combined into a fiber bundle 504 housed in a protective tube 503 or cover. The fibers 502a, 502b, and 502c of the fiber bundle 504 are integrally fused to form the print head 505, which is an optical element that focuses the laser beam along the beam path and directs it to the target material 507. Includes assembly 506. The print head and the powder hopper move integrally as the print head moves in the positive direction according to 510. Additional material 509 is placed on the fusion material 507 with each passage of the printhead or hopper. The printhead is bidirectional, causing the material to fuse in both directions as the printhead moves, so that the powder hopper operates behind the printhead and fuses on the next pass of the laser printhead. To provide a laminated material.

An "addressable array" is one or more of power; duration of irradiation; sequence of irradiation; position of irradiation; power of beam; shape of beam spot and focal length, eg, penetration depth in the z direction. More than that can be independently modified, controlled, and pre-defined, or precise and pre-defined delivery that allows each laser beam of each fiber to reveal a high precision final product (eg, shaping material) from the target material. It means that the pattern can be provided. Embodiments of addressable arrays also have the ability to allow individual beams and the laser spots exposed by those beams to perform variable, default, and precise laser movements such as annealing, melting, and melting. Can have.

FIG. 6 provides a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser system having an addressable laser delivery configuration. The laser system can be a laser diode array system, a brightness conversion system, or a high power fiber laser system. This system has an addressable laser system 601. The system 601 independently provides addressable laser beams to a plurality of fibers 602a, 602b, 602c (larger or smaller numbers of fibers and laser beams are also envisioned). The fibers 602a, 602b, 602c are combined into a fiber bundle 604 housed in a protective tube 603 or cover. The fibers 602a, 602b, and 602c of the fiber bundle 604 are integrally fused to form the print head 605, which is an optical element that focuses the laser beam along the beam path and directs it to the target material 607. Includes assembly 606. The target material 607 can be annealed to form the annealed material 609. The direction of movement of the laser head is indicated by arrow 610.

FIG. 7 provides a schematic representation of certain embodiments of a laser system having an addressable laser delivery configuration. The system has an addressable laser diode system 701. System 701 independently provides addressable laser beams to a plurality of fibers 702a, 702b, 702c (larger or smaller numbers of fibers and laser beams are also envisioned). The fibers 702a, 702b, 702c are combined into a fiber bundle 704 housed in a protective tube 703 or a cover. The fibers 702a, 702b, and 702c of the fiber bundle 704 are integrally fused to form the print head portion powder distribution head 720. The powder distribution head 720 can deliver the powder coaxially with the laser beam or in a direction across the laser beam. When the powder distribution head 720 provides a layer 709 of additional material, the layer is fused to and over the target material 707. The direction of movement of the laser head is indicated by arrow 710.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a bundle 800 of fibers, eg, 801 that are integrally fused and used in the laser head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-7. The configuration will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 1x5 linear configuration with 5 fibers in a single linear row. The 1xn linear line of fiber is the ultimate laser print head, where n depends on the physical spread of the product being printed.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a bundle 900 of fibers, eg, 901, that are integrally fused and used in the laser head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-8. In this configuration, two linear rows 902 and 903 of the fiber are arranged in a diamond-shaped arrangement in a staggered manner. The fiber will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to that of the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 2x5 linear configuration with two linear rows consisting of five fibers in each row.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a bundle (1000) of fibers, eg, 1001, which are integrally fused and used in the head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-8. The configuration has three linear rows 1002, 1003, 1004 of the fiber arranged in a diamond-shaped arrangement in a staggered manner. The fiber will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to that of the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 3x5 linear configuration with three linear rows consisting of five fibers in each row.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of a bundle 1100 of fibers, eg 1101, that are integrally fused and used in the head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-8. The configuration has three linear rows 1102, 1103, and 1104 of the fiber arranged in a triangular arrangement in a staggered manner. The fiber will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to that of the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 3x5 linear configuration with three linear rows consisting of five fibers in each row.

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a bundle 1200 of fibers eg 1201 that are integrally fused and used in the head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-8. The configuration has four linear rows 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205 of the fiber arranged in a square array without staggering. The fiber will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to that of the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 4x4 linear configuration with four linear rows consisting of four fibers in each row.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of a bundle 1300 of fibers, eg 1301, which are integrally fused and used in the head of a system such as the system shown in FIGS. 5-8. The configuration has five linear rows 1302 of fibers. The fibers are not staggered and are arranged in a square array. The fiber will deliver a laser spot with a configuration similar to that of the fiber array. In this embodiment, there is a 5x4 linear configuration with five linear rows consisting of four fibers in each row.

FIG. 14A shows the configuration of a bundle 1401 consisting of five (n = 5) fibers, for example 1401a, arranged in a circular configuration.

FIG. 14B shows the configuration of a bundle 1402 composed of nine fibers (n = 9) of fibers arranged in a circular configuration, for example 1402a, and fibers 1402b located at the center of a circle. The central fiber 1402b will be held in place by the medium or holding device or otherwise fused.

FIG. 14C shows the configuration of a bundle 1403 consisting of 19 (n = 19) fibers, eg 1403a, having an inner circular fiber 1405 and a central fiber 1403b.

FIG. 15A shows a bundle 1501 consisting of seven (n = 7) fibers, eg 1501a, having a hexagonal array with triangular space.

FIG. 15B shows a bundle 1502 consisting of 19 (n = 19) fibers, eg 1502a, having a hexagonal array with triangular space.

16A, 16B, and 16C show the configurations of fiber bundles arranged in any geometric arrangement. These configurations provide different levels of fiber density within the configuration. FIG. 16A is a bundle 1601 of n = 16 bundles of fibers having a quarter circle structure, for example, 1601a. FIG. 16B shows n = 8 bundles 1602 of square fibers, eg 1602b. FIG. 16C is a bundle of 1604 n = 6 bundles of triangular fibers, for example 1604a. FIG. 16D is a bundle 1603 of n = 9 bundles of semi-circular fibers, for example 1603a.

The following examples are provided to illustrate various embodiments of the laser arrays, systems, devices, and methods of the present invention. These examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, nor are they otherwise limiting the scope of the invention.

Example 1
An array of blue laser diodes that are spatially coupled to form a single spot in the furfield and can be coupled into a solarization resistant optical fiber for delivery to the workpiece.

Example 2
The array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1, which is a polarized beam coupled to increase the effective brightness of the laser beam.

Example 3
An array of blue laser diodes having a space between each of the collimated beams on the fast axis of the laser diode, reflecting the first (s) laser diode and the second (s). An array of blue laser diodes combined with a periodic plate to allow the laser diodes to pass through and fill the space between the laser diodes in the fast axis direction of the first array.

Example 4
A patterned mirror on a glass substrate used to achieve the space filling of Example 3.

Example 5
A patterned mirror on one surface of a glass substrate to achieve the space filling of Example 3, the glass substrate shifting the vertical position of each laser diode to allow space between the individual laser diodes. A patterned mirror that is thick enough to fill the space.

Example 6
A stepped heat sink that achieves the space filling of Example 3 and is the patterned mirror described in Example 4.

Example 7
In the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1, each of the individual lasers has an external cavity to a different wavelength that substantially increases the brightness of the array to the same brightness as a single laser diode light source. An array of blue laser diodes that are locked.

Example 8
In the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1, the individual arrays of laser diodes are locked to a single wavelength using an external cavity based on a diffraction grating, and each of the laser diode arrays has narrowly spaced optics. An array of blue laser diodes combined into a single beam using either a filter or a grating.

Example 9
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1, wherein a pure molten quartz core revealing a higher brightness light source and a fluorinated outer core for accommodating blue pump light. An array of blue laser diodes used to pump a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber.

Example 10
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1, a GeO2-doped central and outer core for revealing a brighter light source, and a central core for accommodating blue pump light. An array of blue laser diodes used to pump a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber, with a larger outer core.

Example 11
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1, a P2O5-doped core for revealing a brighter light source and an outer core larger than the central core for accommodating blue pump light. An array of blue laser diodes used to pump a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber, with and.

Example 12
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1, a graded index core for revealing a brighter light source and an outer core larger than the central core for accommodating blue pump light. An array of blue laser diodes used to pump a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber, with and.

Example 13
The blue laser used to pump the graded index GeO2-doped core and the outer step index core Raman converter fiber of the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1. Array of diodes.

Example 14
The blue laser used to pump the graded index P2O5-doped core and the outer step index core Raman converter fiber of the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1. Array of diodes.

Example 15
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump Raman converter fibers that are graded index type GeO2-doped cores.

Example 16
The blue laser used to pump the graded index P2O5-doped core and the outer step index core Raman converter fiber of the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1. Array of diodes.

Example 17
Other embodiments of Example 1 and variants of the first embodiment are envisioned. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a diamond-like Raman converter to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a Raman converter such as a KGW to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a Raman converter such as the YVO4 to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. The blue laser used to pump a Raman converter such as Ba (NO3) 2 for the array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1 to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. Array of diodes. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a Raman converter, which is a high pressure gas for revealing a higher brightness laser light source. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a rare earth-doped crystal to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump a rare earth-doped fiber to reveal a higher brightness laser light source. An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that is used to pump the outer core of a luminance converter to reveal a higher luminance enhancement ratio.

Example 18
An array of Raman conversion lasers that operates at individual wavelengths and is combined to reveal a higher power light source while maintaining the spatial brightness of the original light source.

Example 19
A filter, fiber Bragg grating, difference in V number for the primary and secondary Raman signals, or microbend to suppress the secondary Raman signal of the dual core and the high-brightness central core of the Raman fiber. The difference in loss, is the means of using, and has Raman fiber.

Example 20
An N laser diode with N ≧ 1, which can be turned on and off individually and can be imaged onto a powder bed to melt the powder and fuse it into a unique component.

Example 21
The N laser diode array of Example 1 with N ≧ 1, the output of which can be fiber coupled, each fiber being imaged or focused onto the powder into a stack of unique shapes. A laser diode array that can be arranged in a linear or non-linear fashion to reveal an addressable array of high power laser beams that can be melted or fused.

Example 22
One or more laser diode arrays combined via a Raman converter, the output of which can be fiber coupled, with each fiber imaging or focusing on the powder to make the powder unique. One that can be arranged in a linear or non-linear fashion to reveal an array of addressable Ns that can be melted or fused into a stack of shapes, where N ≥ 1. Or more laser diode arrays.

Example 23
An xy motion system capable of melting and fusing the powder bed while moving an N blue laser light source across the powder bed with N ≧ 1, with an additional powder layer behind the fused layer. An xy motion system with a powder delivery system positioned behind a laser light source to provide.

Example 24
A z-motion system capable of increasing / decreasing the height of the part / powder bed of Example 20 after a new powder layer has been placed.

Example 25
A z-motion system capable of increasing / decreasing the height of the component / powder of Example 20 after the powder layers have been fused by a laser light source.

Example 26
In the bidirectional powder placement capability for Example 20, a bidirectional powder placement capability in which powder is placed directly behind a laser spot (s) as it travels in the positive x or negative x direction.

Example 27
In the bidirectional powder installation capacity for Example 20, a bidirectional powder installation capacity in which powder is placed directly behind a laser spot (s) as it travels in the positive y or negative y directions.

Example 28
A powder feeding system coaxial with a laser beam of N with N ≧ 1.

Example 29
In a powder feeding system, a powder feeding system in which powder is fed by gravity.

Example 30
In a powder feeding system, a powder feeding system in which the powder is accompanied by a stream of inert gas.

Example 31
A powder feeding system in which the powder is transverse to the N laser beam with N ≧ 1 and the powder is placed immediately in front of the laser beam by gravity.

Example 32
A powder feeding system in which the powder is transverse to the N laser beam with N ≧ 1 and the powder is accompanied by a flow of inert gas intersecting the laser beam.

Example 33
For example, a second harmonic generation system that uses the output of a 460 nm Raman converter to generate light at half the wavelength of a light source laser, ie 230 nm, and consists of an external resonant doubled crystal such as KTP. A second harmonic generation system that does not allow light of short wavelengths to propagate through an optical fiber.

Example 34
A third harmonic generation system, for example using the output of a 460 nm Raman converter, produces 115 nm light using an external resonant doubled crystal, but short wavelength light passes through an optical fiber. A third harmonic generation system that does not allow transmission.

Example 35
A fourth harmonic generation system that uses, for example, the output of a 460 nm Raman converter to generate 57.5 nm light using an external resonant doubled crystal, while short wavelength light produces an optical fiber. A fourth harmonic generation system that does not allow transmission through.

Example 36
A second harmonic generation system that uses the output of a rare earth-doped brightness converter such as turium to emit a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes, half of the source laser. A second harmonic generation system that produces light of wavelength or 236.5 nm using an external resonant doubled crystal, but does not allow light of short wavelengths to propagate through an optical fiber.

Example 37
A third harmonic generation system, using the output of a rare earth-doped brightness converter such as turium that emits a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes, 118.25 nm light. A third harmonic generation system that produces light using an external resonant doubled crystal, but does not allow light of short wavelengths to propagate through the optical fiber.

Example 38
4th harmonic generation system, 59.1 nm light using the output of a rare earth-doped brightness converter such as turium that emits a 473 nm laser when pumped by an array of 450 nm blue laser diodes. A fourth harmonic generation system that produces light using an external resonant doubled crystal, but does not allow light of short wavelengths to propagate through the optical fiber.

Example 39
All other rare earth-doped fibers and crystals that can be pumped by a high power 450 nm light source to produce a visible or near visible output can be used in Examples 34-38.

Example 40
High power visible light emission into a non-circular outer core or clad for pumping the inner core of Raman or rare earth doped core fibers.

Example 41
Use of polarized sustained fiber to enhance the gain of Raman fiber by aligning the polarization of the pump with the polarization of the Raman oscillator.

Example 42
The blue laser diode array of the blue laser diode described in Example 1 used to pump a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber, having a structure that reveals a higher brightness light source of a particular polarization. Array of.

Example 43
An array of blue laser diodes according to Example 1 that pumps a Raman converter, such as an optical fiber, with a structure that reveals a higher brightness light source of a particular polarization and maintains the polarization state of the pump light source. An array of blue laser diodes used to do this.

Example 44
The array of blue laser diodes described in Example 1 pumping a Raman transducer, such as an optical fiber, for revealing a high brightness light source with a non-circular outer core of structure that improves Raman conversion efficiency. Array of blue laser diodes used in.

Example 45
Embodiments 1 through 44 further include one or more of the following components or assemblies, i.e., at the end of each passage prior to the step of the laser scanning across the powder bed. A device for leveling powder; a device for scaling the output power of a laser by combining multiple low power laser modules via a fiber combiner to reveal a beam of higher power output; multiple low A device for scaling the output power of a blue laser module to reveal a beam of higher power output by combining power laser modules through free space; multiple lasers on a single base plate with embedded cooling. A device for combining modules; one or more of them may be included.

Requirements for providing or working on the theory underlying the novel and groundbreaking performance or other beneficial features and properties that are the subject of the embodiments of the invention or associated with the embodiments of the invention. It should be pointed out that there is no such thing. Nonetheless, the present specification provides various theories for further advancing technology in this important area, specifically in lasers, laser machining, and important areas of laser applications. Unless expressly stated otherwise, these theories set forth herein will by all means limit, limit, or narrow the scope of the invention described in the claims to be protected. is not it. These theories may or may not be needed to utilize the present invention. It should be further understood that the present invention is a new theory and a previously unknown theory for explaining the operation, function, and features of embodiments of the methods, articles, materials, devices, and systems of the present invention. Such a latecomer theory does not limit the scope of the invention to which protection should be given.

Various embodiments of lasers, diodes, arrays, modules, assemblies, activities, and operations described herein can be used in the fields specified above and in various other fields. In addition, these embodiments include, for example, existing lasers, laminated modeling systems, operations, and activities, and other existing equipment; future lasers, laminated modeling systems, operations, and activities; and herein. It can also be used with such items; which have been partially modified based on the teachings. Moreover, the various embodiments presented herein may be used in various combinations that are integrally different from each other. Thus, for example, the configurations provided in the various embodiments herein may be used integrally with each other, and the scope of the invention to be protected is a particular embodiment, a particular embodiment. It should not be limited to the particular embodiment, configuration, or arrangement shown in the examples or embodiments shown in the particular figure.

The present invention can also be embodied in other forms other than those specifically disclosed herein, without departing from its spiritual or essential properties. The embodiments described should be considered in all respects to be exemplary only and not to impose restrictions.

100 Laser Performance Graph 101 Performance of One Embodiment of Laser Diode Array 102 Performance of Dense Frequency Beam Coupling Array 103 Performance of Brightness Conversion Technology When Scaled Using Fiber Combiner Technique 104 Dense Wavelet Coupling of Power of Brightness Converter Performance of brightness conversion technology when using 200 Laser diode 201 Fast axis collimating lens 202 Collimating lens 203 Laser beam spot 210, 210a, 210b, 210c Laser diode subassembly 211 Base plate 212 Power lead 213 Diode 214 Slow axis 216 rows 220 Laser diode module 225 Patterned mirror 227 Polarized beam fold assembly 228 Telescope assembly 229 Aspherical lens 230, 231, 232, 233, 234 Beam 235 Aperture aperture 240 Fiber combiner 245 Optical fiber 250a, 251a, 252a Laser beam 250, 251, 252 Laser beam path 260 Horizontal direction of open space 261 Vertical direction of open space 301 Direction of movement of laser spot 303a, 303b, 304 Laser spot 305 Melting transition line 306 Fusion material 500 Laser system 501 Addressable laser diode system 502a, 502b, 502c Fiber 503 Protective tube 504 Fiber bundle 505 Printhead 506 Optical element assembly 507 Target material 508, 508b Powder device 509 Additional material 510 Printhead direction of movement 600 Laser system 601 Addressable laser system 602a, 602b , 602c Fiber 603 Protective Tube 604 Fiber Bundle 605 Print Head 606 Optical Element Assembly 607 Target Material 609 Burning Material 610 Print Head Moving Direction 700 Laser System 701 Addressable Laser Diode System 702a, 702b, 702c Fiber 704 Fiber Bundle 707 Material 709 Layer of additional material 710 Direction of movement of printhead 720 Powder distribution head 800 Fiber bundle 801 Fiber 900 Fiber bundle 901 Fiber 902, 903 Linear row 80 1 Fiber 1000 Fiber bundle 1002, 1003, 1004 Linear line 1100 Fiber bundle 1101 Fiber 1102, 1103, 1104 Linear line 1200 Fiber bundle 1201 Fiber 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205 Linear line 1300 Fiber bundle 1301 Fiber 1302 Linear line 1401 Fiber bundle 1401a Fiber 1402 Fiber bundle 1402a, 1402b Fiber 1403 Fiber bundle 1403a, 1403b, 1405 Fiber 1501 Fiber bundle 1501a Fiber 1502 Fiber bundle 1502a Fiber 1601 Fiber bundle 1601a Fiber 1602 Fiber bundle 1602a Fiber 1603 Fiber bundle 1603a Fiber bundle 1603

Claims (17)

A laser system for performing laser operations,
a. Multiple laser diode assemblies
b. With multiple laser diode assemblies, each laser diode assembly comprises multiple laser diodes capable of generating individual blue laser beams along the laser beam path.
c. A means of spatially coupling the individual blue laser beams to create a coupled laser beam that has a single spot in the farfield and can be coupled to a single optical fiber for delivery to a target material. , With
d. The spatially coupled means are optically associated with each laser diode to spatially couple the individual blue laser beams on the laser beam path.
e. The spatially coupled means further increases the power of the combined laser beam while maintaining the brightness of the individual blue laser beam so that the combined laser beam is at least about 30 watts and said of the individual blue laser beam. A laser system having a power of at least 50 times the power and having a beam parameter product of no more than twice the beam parameter product of the individual blue laser beam. In the system of claim 1, each laser diode assembly comprises at least 3 laser diode assemblies, each laser diode assembly comprising at least 30 laser diodes, said at least 3 laser diode assemblies having at least about 200 watts. A system capable of transmitting a laser beam with total power and beam parameter characteristics of less than 20 mm mad. In the system of claim 1 or 2, the spatially coupled means is adapted to generate a coupled laser beam that is N times as bright as the individual blue laser beam; where N is the laser diode assembly. The system, which is the number of laser diodes in the body. In the system of claim 3, the spatially coupled means increases the power of the combined laser beam while maintaining the brightness of the individual blue laser beam; thereby the combined laser beam is said to be said. It has at least 100 times the power of the individual blue laser beam and the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is less than or equal to twice the beam parameter product of the individual blue laser beam; system. The system according to claim 4, wherein the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is 1.5 times or less the beam parameter product of the individual blue laser beam. The system according to claim 4, wherein the beam parameter product of the combined laser beam is one or less times the beam parameter product of the individual blue laser beam. The system according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 5, wherein the system has one optical fiber that receives the single spot of the combined laser beam, and the optical fiber is solarization resistant. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the spatially coupled means is an aligned plane parallel plate for correcting at least one of a laser diode position error or aiming error. A system with an assembly selected from the group consisting of wedges. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the spatially coupled means comprises a polarized beam combiner capable of increasing the effective brightness of the coupled laser beam over the individual blue laser beam. It has a system. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the laser diode assembly defines individual laser beam paths with a space between each of the individual laser beam paths. The individual blue laser beams have a space between each beam; the spatially coupled means are collimated with a collimator for collimating the individual blue laser beams along the speed axis of the laser diode. A periodic mirror for coupling the laser beam is provided, and the periodic mirror reflects the first laser beam from the first diode in the laser diode assembly and the second from the second diode in the laser diode assembly. A system that is adapted to transmit a laser beam, thereby filling the space between the individual blue laser beams in the direction of the speed axis. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the spatially coupled means comprises a patterned mirror on a glass substrate. In the system of claim 11, the glass substrate is thick enough to shift the vertical position of the laser beam from the laser diode to fill the empty space between the laser diodes. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a stepped heat sink. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, each laser diode is locked to a single wavelength using an external cavity based on a diffraction grating, and each of the laser diode assemblies is narrowly spaced optics. A system that is coupled to a coupled beam using a coupling means selected from the group consisting of filters and gratings. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the optical fiber has one optical fiber that receives the single spot of the combined laser beam, and the optical fiber is optically communicated with a rare earth-doped fiber. Thus, the combined laser beam can pump the rare earth-doped fiber to reveal a higher brightness laser light source, a system. In the system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the optical fiber has one optical fiber that receives the single spot of the combined laser beam, and the optical fiber communicates optically with the outer core of the Raman converter. The combined laser beam is capable of pumping the outer core of the Raman converter to reveal a higher brightness enhancement ratio. A method of laser machining a target material, in which an addressable array laser machining system comprising at least three of the systems of claim 1 is operated to generate three separate coupled laser beams of three separate optical fibers. The step of generating into; the step of transmitting each coupled laser beam through its own optical fiber to the laser head; the step of transmitting the three individual coupled laser beams from the laser head to a predetermined position on the target material in a predetermined sequence. A method that has a directional step and;

Images