Polarization-controlled laser line-projector

US10247952B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Coherent LaserSystems GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Frank Simon · Oettingen, DE
• Thomas Wenzel · Hamburg, DE
• Ludwig Schwenger · Hannover, DE
• Paul Van Der Wilt · Oebisfelde, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 20, 2016
• Grant date: Apr 2, 2019
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L21/02686
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a laser line projection apparatus, six spaced-apart unpolarized laser-beams are plane-polarized with low loss by a combination of a thin-film polarizer, a reflector, and two polarization rotators. Two beams are polarized in each of three polarization-orientations. Two of the polarization-orientations are orthogonally aligned with each other in P and S orientations. The other polarization-orientation is non-orthogonally aligned in an intermediate orientation. The beams are intensity-homogenized and projected into a line of radiation. Any point on the line of radiation is formed from rays with an angular distribution of polarization-orientation from S to P through the intermediate orientation and back to S through the intermediate orientation.