Method and apparatus for optimizing the target intensity distribution transmitted from a fiber coupled array
US7283702B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/58
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Encircled far field energy is substantially increased by modifying the near field energy distribution of radiation from each fiber in an emitting array. Each beamlet output from a fiber is modified to have a generally uniform cross-sectional energy distribution, using a pair of aspheric optical elements selected for that purpose. The optical elements may be refractive or reflective. The modified beamlets combine to form a composite output beam with a generally uniform energy distribution. Preferably, the composite beam is subject to an array-wide inverse transformation to a near-Gaussian distribution, further enhancing the encircled far field energy and providing a more efficient high power laser source. Further gains in efficiency are achieved by selecting a fiber bundle pattern, lens array pattern and lens shape that together result in a high fill factor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.