Optical horned lightpipe or lightguide
AssigneeBranson Ultrasonic Corporation
InventorsScott Caldwell, Hugh McNair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser welding apparatus having a laser source outputting a laser beam and a light transmitting device being positioned downstream from the laser source. The light transmitting device transmits the laser beam therethrough. The laser beam exiting the light transmitting device has at least a zero order light lobe and a first order light lobe, wherein the zero order light lobe and the first order light lobe together defining an initial beam width. An optical device positioned downstream from the light transmitting device converges the first order light lobe with the zero order light lobe to define a final beam width that is narrower than the initial beam width.
Claims10
A laser welding apparatus comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- a light transmitting device being positioned downstream from said laser source, said light transmitting device transmitting said laser beam therethrough, said laser beam exiting said light transmitting device having at least a zero order light lobe and a first order light lobe, said zero order light lobe and said first order light lobe together defining an initial beam width;
- and
- an optical device positioned downstream from said light transmitting device, said optical device converging said first order light lobe with said zero order light lobe to define a final beam width, said final beam width being narrower than said initial beam width.
A laser welding apparatus comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- a light transmitting device being positioned downstream from said laser source, said light transmitting device transmitting said laser beam therethrough, said laser beam exiting said light transmitting device having at least a zero order light lobe, a first order light lobe, and a second order light lobe;
- and
- an optical device positioned downstream from said light transmitting device, said optical device converging said first order light lobe with said zero order light lobe without converging said second order light lobe with said zero order light lobe.
A method of laser welding a first part to a second part, said method comprising:
- outputting a laser beam;
- passing said laser beam through a light transmitting device such that said laser beam exiting said light transmitting device defines at least a zero order light lobe, a first order light lobe, and a second order light lobe;
- and
- passing said laser beam exiting said light transmitting device through an optical device such that said optical device converges said first order light lobe with said zero order light lobe to define a combined light lobe without converging said second order light lobe with said zero order light lobe;
- and
- heating at least one of a first part and a second part with said combined light lobe to create a weld therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.