Laser beam directing system

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said light beam;
• means for supporting said optical fibers so that a tip of at least one said fiber is positioned proximate a focal point of each said lens;
• and
• reflector means for directing said light beam through each said lens to selectively focus said light beam separately onto each one of said fiber tips.

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a lens for focusing said light beam;
• means for supporting a group of said optical fibers with the tips thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said lens, said fiber tipes being substantially positioned in an array having two axis directions;
• first reflector means for scanning said light beam along a first one of said two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said light beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said light beam onto said second reflector means;
• said first and second reflector means independently orientable to direct said light beam through said lens for selectively focusing said light beam separately onto each of said fiber tips;
• and
• said lens being the only lens provided for the purpose of focusing said light beam onto each of said fiber tips.

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said light beam;
• means for supporting said optical fibers so that a tip of each said fiber is positioned proximate a focal point of one of said lenses;
• first reflector means for scanning said light beam along a first one of two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said light beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said light beam onto said second reflector means;
• and
• said first and second reflector means independently orientable to direct said light beam through each said lens to selectively focus said light beam separately onto each one of said fiber tips.

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a first lens;
• a second lens;
• a third lens;
• a fourth lens;
• first means for supporting at least one of said optical fibers with the tip thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said first lens;
• second support means for supporting at least one of said optical fibers with the tip thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said second lens;
• third support means for supporting at least one of said optical fibers with the tip thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said third lens;
• fourth support means for supporting at least one of said optical fibers with the tip thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said fourth lens;
• first reflector means for scanning said light beam along a first one of two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said light beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said light beam onto said second reflector means;
• and
• said first and second reflector means independently orientable to direct said light beam through a selected one of said lenses for selectively focusing said light beam separately onto each said fiber tip positioned proximate the focal point of said selected lens.

A laser workstation system, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers each adapted for the transmission therethrough of a laser beam;
• means for directing a laser beam into an input end of selected ones of said optical fibers for transmission of said laser beam therethrough;
• a plurality of workstations each coupled to an output end of at least one of said optical fibers to receive said laser beam transmitted thereto via said optical fiber by said beam directing means;
• said beam directing means including:
• a lens for focusing said laser beam;
• means for supporting said optical fibers with the tips at the respective input ends thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said lens;
• reflector means for directing said laser beam through said lens to selectively focus said laser beam separately onto each one of said fiber tips;
• and
• said lens being the only lens provided for the purpose of focusing said laser beam onto each of said fiber tips.

A laser workstation system, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers each adapted for the transmission therethrough of a laser beam;
• means for directing a laser beam into an input end of selected ones of said optical fibers for transmission therethrough of said laser beam;
• a plurality of workstations each coupled to an output end of at least one of said optical fibers to receive said laser beam transmitted thereto via said optical fiber by said beam directing means:
• said beam directing means including:
• a lens for focusing said laser beam;
• means for supporting said optical fibers with the tips at the respective input ends thereof positioned proximate a focal point of said lens, said fiber tips being positioned in an array having two axis directions;
• first reflector means for scanning said laser beam along a first one of said two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said laser beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said laser beam onto said second reflector means;
• said first and second reflector means independently orientable to direct said laser beam through said lens for selectively focusing said laser beam separately onto each of said fiber tips;
• and
• said lens being the only lens provided for the purpose of focusing said laser beam onto each of said fiber tips.

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said light beam;
• a plurality of means for supporting said optical fibers, each said support means supporting a different group of said optical fibers with the tips thereof positioned proximate a focal point of a different one of said lenses;
• reflector means for directing said light beam through each said lens to selectively focus said light beam separately onto each one of said fiber tips;
• said reflector means including:
• a mirror for reflecting said light beam;
• and
• positioning means for orienting said mirror to a plurality of predetermined positions each corresponding to said light beam being focussed by one of said lenses on a different one of said fiber tips;
• said fiber tips and a central axis of said light beam substantially disposed in a common plane;
• and
• each said lens disposed in a plane perpendicular to said common plane and equidistantly spaced from said mirror.

Apparatus for directing a beam of light into one of a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:

• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said light beam;
• a plurality of means for supporting said optical fibers, each said support means supporting a different group of said optical fibers with the tips thereof positioned proximate a focal point of a different one of said lenses, the fibers tips in each group being substantially positioned in an array having two axis directions;
• first reflector means for scanning said light beam along a first one of said two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said light beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said light beam onto said second reflector means;
• and
• said first and second reflector means being independently orientable to direct said light beam through each of said lenses for selectively focusing said light beam separately onto each of said fiber tips of the optical fiber group associated therewith.

A laser workstation system, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers each adapted for the transmission therethrough of a laser beam;
• means for directing a laser beam into an input end of selected ones of said optical fibers for transmission of said laser beam therethrough;
• a plurality of workstations each coupled to an output end of at least one of said optical fibers to receive said laser beam transmitted thereto via said optical fiber by said beam directing means;
• said beam directing means including:
• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said laser beam;
• a plurality of means for supporting said optical fibers, each said support means supporting a different group of said optical fibers with the tips at respective ends thereof positioned proximate a focal point of a different one of said lenses;
• and
• reflector means for directing said laser beam through each said lens to selectively focus said laser beam separately onto each one of said fiber tips;
• said reflector means including:
• a mirror for reflecting said laser beam;
• a galvanometer having a shaft on which said mirror is supported;
• and
• control means for controlling the movement of said galvanometer shaft to orient said mirror into a plurality of predetermined positions each corresponding to said laser beam being focussed by one of said lenses onto a different one of said fiber tips;
• said fiber tips and a central axis of said laser beam substantially disposed in a common plane;
• and
• each of said lenses disposed in a plane perpendicular to said common plane and equidistantly spaced from said mirror.

A laser workstation, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers each adapted for the transmission therethrough of a laser beam;
• means for directing a laser beam into an input end of selected ones of said optical fibers for transmission therethrough of said laser beam;
• a plurality of workstations each coupled to an output end of at least one of said optical fibers to receive said laser beam transmitted thereto via said optical fiber by said beam directing means;
• said beam directing means including:
• a plurality of lenses each for focusing said laser beam;
• a plurality of support means for supporting said optical fibers, each said support means supporting a different group of said optical fibers with the tips at the respective input ends thereof positioned proximate a focal point of a different one of said lenses, said fiber tips being positioned in an array having two axis directions;
• first reflector means for scanning said laser beam along a first one of said two axis directions;
• second reflector means for scanning said laser beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• said first reflector means positioned to direct said laser beam onto said second reflector means;
• and
• said first and second reflector means independently orientable to direct said laser beam through each one of said lenses for selectively focusing said laser beam separately onto each of said fiber tips;
• said first and second reflector means each comprising:
• a mirror for reflecting said laser beam;
• and
• a galvanometer having a shaft on which said mirror is supported;
• and
• said beam directing means further comprising control means for controlling the movement of said shaft of each said galvanometer to orient each said mirror into a plurality of predetermined positions, each pair of predetermined positions to which said mirrors are oriented corresponding to said laser beam being focussed by said lens onto a different one of said fiber tips.

A method for delivering a laser beam to a plurality of workstation locations, each said workstation location coupled to an output end of an optical fiber, said laser beam pulsing between an on state and an off state, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a plurality of groups of said optical fibers with a fiber tip at an input end of each said fiber proximate a focal point of an associated one of a plurality of focusing lenses;
• directing said laser beam separately through each said lens to selectively focus said laser beam separately onto said fiber tips so that said laser beam is delivered to the output end of each said optical fiber into which it is directed;
• said directing step comprising the substeps of:
• reflecting said laser beam off a first mirror and onto a second mirror, said first mirror being adapted to scan said laser beam along a first one of two axis directions;
• reflecting said laser beam off of said second mirror and through one of said lenses, said second mirror adapted to scan laser beam along a second one of said two axis directions;
• and
• orienting said first and second mirrors during each said off state of said laser beam to respective predetermined positions, each pair of predetermined positions to which said first and second mirrors are respectively oriented corresponding to said laser beam being focused by one of said lenses onto a different one of said fiber tips.