Lens to adapt laser intensity for uniform welding
AssigneeBranson Ultrasonics Corporation
InventorsScott Caldwell, Craig Birrittella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser welding lens assembly for welding a first article to a second article at a weld zone includes a laser source outputting a laser beam. An optical fiber is operably coupled to the laser source to receive and transmit the laser beam. A lens is then positioned to receive the laser beam from the optical fiber. The lens includes a contoured face that is shaped to refract the laser beam to produce a generally uniform temperature profile across the weld zone.
Claims33
A laser welding lens assembly for welding a first article to a second article at a weld zone, said laser welding lens assembly comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- an optical fiber being operably coupled to said laser source for receiving and transmitting said laser beam;
- and
- a lens being positioned to receive said laser beam from said optical fiber, said lens having a contoured face shaped to refract said laser beam to produce a generally uniform temperature profile across the weld zone.
A laser welding lens assembly for welding a first article to a second article at a weld zone, said laser welding lens assembly comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- an optical fiber being operably coupled to said laser source for receiving and transmitting said laser beam;
- and
- a lens being positioned to receive said laser beam from said optical fiber, said lens having a contoured face shaped to refract said laser beam, wherein the shape of said contoured face is determined by mapping input light ray positions to output light ray positions to yield a light intensity capable of achieving a generally uniform temperature profile at the weld zone.
A laser welding lens assembly for welding a first article to a second article at a weld zone, said laser welding lens assembly comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- a waveguide having a reflective inner surface;
- and
- a divergent lens disposed in said waveguide to define a downstream length of said reflective inner surface, said divergent lens being operable to receive said laser beam, said divergent lens having a contoured face shaped to refract said laser beam,
- wherein the shape of said contoured face and said downstream length of said reflective inner surface are selected to yield a light intensity distribution capable of achieving a generally uniform temperature profile at the weld zone.
A laser welding lens assembly for welding a first article to a second article at a weld zone, said laser welding lens assembly comprising:
- a laser source outputting a laser beam;
- and
- a lens being positioned to receive said laser beam from said laser source, said lens having a contoured face shaped to refract said laser beam to produce a generally uniform temperature profile across the weld zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.