System for data transmission in optical systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11921335-B2
Application number	US-202217811800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical light guiding system, comprising an interface for coupling in and/or an interface for decoupling data and at least one data channel for transmitting data, and a method for transmitting data in optical systems, comprising the steps of coupling data into an interface of a beam guidance element; the transmission of the data by means of a first and/or a second data channel, which are arranged within the beam guiding element (or the casing), wherein the data channels can also be used for the fractional monitoring of the beam guiding element; and decoupling the data from an interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus to communicate high-power laser light for a laser processing operation in a high-power laser system, the apparatus comprising:
a cable having first and second ends;
a power fiber disposed inside the cable and configured to transport the high-power laser light between the first and second ends of the cable;
a first monitoring channel disposed inside the cable and being configured to conduct a first monitoring signal between the first and second ends of the cable;
a second monitoring channel disposed inside the cable and being configured to conduct a second monitoring signal simultaneously with the first monitoring signal between the first and second ends of the cable; and
an evaluation unit disposed in communication with the first and second monitoring channels, the evaluation unit being configured to redundantly monitor for interruption in the transport of the high-power laser light for the power fiber based on monitoring, redundantly, the first and second monitoring signals, the evaluation unit interfacing with user data associated with the high-power laser system, the evaluation unit being configured to transmit a user data signal having the user data as the at least one of the first and second monitoring signal in at least one of the respective first and the second monitoring channels, wherein the user data signal transmitted as the monitoring signal in the at least one first and second monitoring channels is used both to monitor for the interruption in the transport of the high-power laser light and to transmit the user data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user data transmitted in the user data signal is selected from the group consisting of a control signal, sensor data, a data transmission, a data stream, an intermodular communication, a serial number, and a type.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user data signal is transmitted electrically via the first monitoring channel; and wherein the user data signal is transmitted electrically, optically, or electromagnetically via the second monitoring channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user data signal is generated within the cable, outside the cable, and/or in a connector coupled to the cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least two subsystems of the high-power laser system, each having a connection configured to couple to one of the first and second ends of the cable, each connection being configured to connect in communication with the power fiber, the first monitoring channel, and the second monitoring channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein to transmit the user data signal between the at least two subsystems, the evaluation unit is configured to transport the user data in a data stream from a first of the at least two subsystems to a second of the at least two subsystems, the first subsystem being configured to passively execute the transport without manipulation of the data stream.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein to transmit the user data signal between the at least two subsystems, the evaluation unit is configured to exchange the user data in a data stream from a first of the at least two subsystems to a second of the at least two subsystems, the first subsystem being configured to actively execute the exchange.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein to transmit the user data signal between the at least two subsystems, the evaluation unit is configured to at least one of: transmit control data in the user data signal configured to operate one of the at least two subsystems; and transmit sensor data in the user data signal between the at least two subsystems.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least two subsystems comprises an active part used in the transfer of the user data signal, wherein at least one of the first and second monitoring channels is configured to supply power to the active part.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least two subsystems comprise an active participant being configured to transmit the user data signal in at least one of the first and second monitoring channels, the user data signal having payload data usable by at least one of the at least two subsystems, the payload data being used as at least one of the first and second monitoring signals for the redundant monitoring of the interruption.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the payload data comprises one or more of: user data, a serial number, a type, sensor data, a control signal, non-safety function data, data associated with at least one of the at least two subsystems, and data associated with a peripheral of the at least two subsystems.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second ends of the cable comprises a cable plug disposed on the respective end of the cable and being configured to connect to a socket of one of the at least two subsystems, the cable plug having transfer points for the power fiber, the first monitoring channel, and the second monitoring channel configured to connect to the socket.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to monitor the first and second monitoring signals for at least one of: a safety function, a cycle time, a short in transmission, and an interruption in transmission.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to redundantly monitor for the interruption in the transport of the high-power laser light for the power fiber based on the first and second monitoring signals, the evaluation is configured to detect the interruption as a plug-in interrupt of the power fiber, breakage damage of the power fiber, or a misconnection of either of the first and second monitoring channels, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to shut down the high-power laser system in response to the detected interruption.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second monitoring channels comprises an optical fiber, and wherein an absorption of a material of the optical fiber is within a wavelength range of the laser power transported in the power fiber.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first monitoring channel is an electrical line configured to conduct an electrical monitoring signal for the first monitoring signal; and wherein the second monitoring channel is an optical fiber configured to conduct an optical monitoring signal for the second monitoring signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the evaluation unit comprises a source disposed in communication with the optical fiber and the electrical line, the source being powered at least in part by the electrical monitoring signal of the electrical line and being configured to generate the optical monitoring signal for the optical fiber.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the source is arranged in a socket to which at least one of the first and second ends of the cable connects, in a cable plug disposed on at least one of the first and second ends of the cable, in the cable itself, or in a device connected to the cable.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the evaluation unit comprises a detector disposed in communication with the optical fiber and being configured to detect the optical monitoring signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the detector is arranged in a socket to which at least one of the first and second ends of the cable connects, in a cable plug disposed on at least one of the first and second ends of the cable, in the cable itself, or in a devi

Assignees

• Highyag Lasertechnologie Gmbh
• Ii Vi Delaware Inc

Inventors

• Armbruster Eduard
• Schulze Frank

Classifications

• G02B6/4296 Primary

  coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources · CPC title

• G01R31/083

  in cables, e.g. underground · CPC title

• G02B6/28

  having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals · CPC title

• G02B6/29391

  Power equalisation of different channels, e.g. power flattening · CPC title

• G02B6/38

  having fibre to fibre mating means · CPC title