Optical fibre receiving and laser beam combining unit
US5029964A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/10
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A laser beam combining unit combines the output beams of a plurality of high power lasers after the beams have been transmitted along, for example, three optical fibres. The beam combining unit includes a holder arrangement for receiving the ends of the optical fibres, three collimating lenses, and a single focusing lens. The ends of the three optical fibres are located substantially in a common plane and circularly spaced at 120.degree. intervals. The three collimating lenses are also located substantially in a common plane and their axes are circularly spaced at 120.degree. intervals. Each of the collimating lenses is aligned with one of the optical fibres. The laser beams are directed by the collimating lenses, as collimated beams, onto the focusing lens with axes of the individual beams parallel to each other. The beams are focused by the focusing lens to a common point for performing a material processing operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.