Patent · US Active

Optical system and method for shaping a profile of a laser beam

US7944615B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

3References

48Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Carl Zeiss Laser Optics GmbH · DE

Inventors

Vitaliy Shklover · Heidenheim, DE
Holger Muenz · Aalen, DE
Michel Le Maire · Oberkochen, DE
Christian Hoess · Neu-Ulm, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 20, 2006
Grant date	May 17, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 27, 2027

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02B27/0977
WIPO fieldMachine tools
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An optical system for shaping an incoming beam having a divergence with an angular distribution at least in a first direction comprises at least one angle selective optical element for clipping the angular distribution in the at least first direction. The approach according to the present invention bases on using an angle-selective device operated by the principle of total internal reflection to reduce divergence of the incoming beam, in contrast to a spatially-selective device as for example a field-stop or slit. The method according to the present invention has the advantage that no physical sharp edges have to be exposed at high energy densities. Thus, thermal impact and demands on the optical elements to withstand a high power laser beam are significantly reduced.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.