Diode-laser illuminator with interchangeable modules for changing irradiance and beam dimensions
AssigneeCoherent, Inc.
InventorsKrishna Kuchibhotla, Xing Ming Zheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Projection apparatus for projecting a radiation spot on a working plane includes a plurality of stacks of diode-laser bars. Each stack provides a beam of laser radiation. The diode-laser bars in each stack are arranged one above another in the fast-axis direction of the diode-laser bars. A corresponding plurality of beam-expanders expands the beam from the corresponding diode-laser bar stack in the slow-axis direction of the diode laser bars only. A focusing lens collects the slow-axis expanded beams and projects the slow-axis expanded beams into the working plane to form the radiation spot.
Claims18
Optical apparatus for projecting radiation into a spot of predetermined length and width in a working plane, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of stacks of diode-laser bars, each stack arranged to provide a beam of laser radiation, the diode-laser bars having a length, a slow-axis aligned with the length, a fast-axis perpendicular to the slow-axis, and a propagation-axis perpendicular to the fast-axis and the slow-axis, the diode-laser bars in each stack thereof being arranged one above another in the fast-axis direction, with the diode-laser bar stacks spaced-apart and aligned in the slow-axis direction;
- a corresponding plurality of beam-expanders, one for each of the diode-laser bar stacks, each of the beam-expanders arranged to expand the beam from the corresponding diode-laser bar stack in the slow-axis direction only;
- and
- an optical arrangement, including a spherical focusing lens, arranged to collect the slow-axis expanded beams and project the slow-axis expanded beams into the working plane in the slow-axis to form the length of radiation spot.
Optical apparatus for projecting radiation into a spot of predetermined length and width in a working plane, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of stacks of diode-laser bars, each stack arranged to provide a beam of laser radiation, the diode-laser bars having a length, a slow-axis aligned with the length, a fast-axis perpendicular to the slow-axis, and a propagation-axis perpendicular to the fast-axis and the slow-axis, and the diode-laser bars in each stack thereof being arranged one above another in the fast-axis direction, with the diode-laser bar stacks spaced-apart and aligned in the slow-axis direction;
- a corresponding plurality of beam-expanders, one for each of the diode-laser bar stacks, each of the beam-expanders arranged to expand the beam from the corresponding diode-laser bar stack in the slow-axis direction only;
- a spherical focusing lens, arranged to collect the slow-axis expanded beams and project the slow-axis expanded beams into the working plane in the slow-axis to form the length of radiation spot;
- and
- wherein the beam-expanders are configured cooperative with the spherical focusing lens such that the slow-axis expanded beams are each brought to intermediate foci in the slow axis spaced apart and aligned in the slow-axis in an intermediate plane between the focusing lens and the working plane and then diverge to spread and overlap each other in the working plane in the slow-axis to form the length of the radiation spot.
Optical apparatus for projecting radiation into a spot of predetermined length and width in a working plane, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of stacks of diode-laser bars, each stack arranged to provide a beam of laser radiation, the diode-laser bars having a length, a slow-axis aligned with the length, a fast-axis perpendicular to the slow-axis, and a propagation-axis perpendicular to the fast-axis and the slow-axis, and the diode-laser bars in each stack thereof being arranged one above another in the fast-axis direction, with the diode-laser bar stacks spaced-apart and aligned in the slow-axis direction;
- a corresponding plurality of beam-expanders, one for each of the diode-laser bar stacks, each of the beam-expanders arranged to expand the beam from the corresponding diode-laser bar stack in the slow-axis direction only;
- an optical arrangement, including a spherical focusing lens, arranged to collect the slow-axis expanded beams and project the slow-axis expanded beams into the working plane in the slow-axis to form the length of radiation spot;
- and
- wherein the beam-expanders are configured cooperative with the optical arrangement such that the slow-axis expanded beams are each brought to a focus in the slow-axis overlapping each other about in the working plane in the slow-axis to form the length of the radiation spot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.