# US 2010/0166367 A1 · Beam coupler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166367 A1 - Document ID: US20100166367A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/319,070 - Filed: 2008-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Ipg Photonics Corporation - Inventors: Yuri Grapov; William D. Jones; Vladlen Ivshin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166367A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/32: having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} - G02B 6/422: {Active alignment, i.e. moving the elements in response to the detected degree of coupling or position of the elements (G02B6/4233, G02B6/4234 take precedence)} - G02B 6/4226: {Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A coupler assembly for a fiber laser is disclosed. The assembly includes a tubular housing having a sidewall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end. An input collimator unit is also included and configured to be received within the first end of the sidewall of the tubular housing. An output collimator unit received within the second end of the sidewall of the tubular housing. Further included is a compression mechanism configured and arranged to concentrically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common central axis. The assembly may further include an alignment mechanism configured and arranged to optically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common optical axis. Optionally, a fluid coolant system may also be included. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coupler assembly for a fiber laser, comprising: a tubular housing having a sidewall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end; an input collimator unit received within the first end of the sidewall of the tubular housing; an output collimator unit received within the second end of the sidewall of the tubular housing; and a compression mechanism configured and arranged to concentrically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common central axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one compression sleeve fitted about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit and against said interior surface of said sidewall of said housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein said compression mechanism further comprises a plurality of adjustable set screws mounted through said sidewall configured and arranged to compress said tubular housing about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein said compression mechanism further comprises a plurality of adjustable set screws mounted through said sidewall configured and arranged to compress said tubular housing about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an input collimator cooling mechanism configured and arranged to cool said input collimator unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an output collimator cooling mechanism configured and arranged to cool said output collimator unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein said input collimator cooling mechanism comprises: a first coolant fluid inlet; at least one fluid coolant chamber connected to said coolant fluid inlet; a second coolant fluid connected to said at least one fluid coolant chamber; a fluid coolant being circulated through said first coolant fluid inlet, said at least one fluid coolant chamber and said second coolant fluid inlet thereby substantially cooling said input collimator unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein said output collimator cooling mechanism comprises: a first coolant fluid inlet; at least one fluid coolant chamber connected to said coolant fluid inlet; a second coolant fluid connected to said at least one fluid coolant chamber; a fluid coolant being circulated through said first coolant fluid inlet, said at least one fluid coolant chamber and said second coolant fluid inlet thereby substantially cooling said output collimator unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an alignment mechanism configured and arranged to optically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common optical axis. ### Claim 10 A coupler assembly for a fiber laser, comprising: a tubular housing having a sidewall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end; an input collimator unit received within the first end of the sidewall of the tubular housing; an output collimator unit received within the second end of the sidewall of the tubular housing; and an alignment mechanism configured and arranged to optically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common optical axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein said alignment mechanism system is configured an arranged to optically tilt and pivot said output collimator unit relative to said input collimator unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10 further comprising an input collimator cooling mechanism and an output collimator cooling mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein said input and output collimator cooling mechanisms each comprises a first coolant fluid inlet; at least one fluid coolant chamber connected to said coolant fluid inlet; a second coolant fluid connected to said at least one fluid coolant chamber; wherein a fluid coolant is be circulated through said first coolant fluid inlet, said at least one fluid coolant chamber and said second coolant fluid inlet thereby substantially cooling said input and collimator units. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a compression mechanism configured and arranged to concentrically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common central axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, further comprising at least one compression sleeve fitted about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit and against said interior surface of said sidewall of said housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein said compression mechanism further comprises a plurality of adjustable set screws mounted through said sidewall configured and arranged to compress said tubular housing about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein said compression mechanism further comprises a plurality of adjustable set screws mounted through said sidewall configured and arranged to compress said tubular housing about said input collimator unit and said output collimator unit. ### Claim 18 A collimator unit for a fiber laser, comprising: an outer housing having a mount configured via a plurality of springs and arranged to secure an optical fiber thereto; an inner housing suspended within the outer housing and having a lens assembly optically aligned with the optical fiber; and an adjustment mechanism configured and arranged to tilt and pivot the inner housing relative to the outer housing, said adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of adjust screws threadably received through said outer housing and engaging said inner housing, said plurality of adjust screws being threadably extendable and retractable therefrom. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of claim 18, further comprising: a plurality of springs suspending said inner housing relative to said outer housing; a plurality of adjust screws threadably received through said outer housing and engaging said inner housing, said plurality of adjust screws being threadably extendable and retractable therefrom; whereby extending and retracting said plurality of adjust screws from the outer housing selectively tilts and pivots said inner housing relative to said outer housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The article of claim 18 further comprising a collimator cooling mechanism configured and arranged to cool said collimator unit, said collimator cooling mechanism comprises: a first coolant fluid inlet; at least one fluid coolant chamber connected to said coolant fluid inlet; a second coolant fluid connected to said at least one fluid coolant chamber; whereby a fluid coolant may be circulated through said first coolant fluid inlet, said at least one fluid coolant chamber and said second coolant fluid inlet thereby substantially cooling said collimator unit.