Rugged passively cooled high power laser fiber optic connectors and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360643-B2
Application number	US-201213486795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2012
Priority date	Jun 3, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

There are provided high power laser connectors and couplers and methods that are capable of providing high laser power without the need for active cooling to remote, harsh and difficult to access locations and under difficult and harsh conditions and to manage and mitigate the adverse effects of back reflections.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A high power laser connector comprising:
a. an optical assembly;
b. the optical assembly comprising a back reflection chamber in optical association with an optical block; and,
c. the optical block having a launch face for propagating a high power laser beam along a laser beam path in a first direction away from the connector;
d. whereby, substantially all back reflections entering the launch face are redirected back out the launch face substantially along the laser beam path and in the first direction.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 10 kW.

3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein at least about 90% of all back reflections are redirected.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein at least about 95% of all back reflections are redirected.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the power is at least about 15 kW.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the back reflection chamber has a mating surface; wherein the optical block has a first and a second back surface; and wherein substantially all of the mating surface and the second back surface are optically associated.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block are integral.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block are separate components.

9. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block are opto-mechanically joined by chemical bonding.

10. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the optical block first back surface in optically associated with a core of an optical fiber.

11. The connector of claim 1 , comprising an optical fiber.

12. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the optical fiber passes through the back reflection chamber and is optically associated with the optical block.

13. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the optical fiber passes through the back reflection chamber and is optically associated with the optical block.

14. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the optical block comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

15. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

16. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the back reflection chamber comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

17. The connector of claim 16 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

18. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block comprise means for addressing back reflections utilizing total internal reflection.

19. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the optical block comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

20. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

21. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the back reflection chamber comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

22. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

23. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block comprise means for addressing back reflections utilizing total internal reflection.

24. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the optical block comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

25. The connector of claim 24 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

26. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the back reflection chamber comprises a means for addressing back reflections.

27. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the means for addressing back reflections comprises a means for utilizing total internal reflection.

28. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the back reflection chamber and the optical block comprise means for addressing back reflections utilizing total internal reflection.

29. The connector of claim 1 , comprising a housing, the housing defining a cavity and isolating the cavity from fluid flow; the optical assembly positioned within the cavity; wherein the connector is passively cooled.

30. The connector of claim 29 , comprising a pressure window in the laser beam path.

31. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 1,000 psi.

32. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 1,000 psi.

33. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 1,000 psi.

34. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 5,000 psi.

35. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 5,000 psi.

36. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the connector is capable of operating under pressures of at least about 5,000 psi.

37. The connector of claim 1 , comprising a means for monitoring a condition of the connector.

38. A high power laser beam transmission assembly comprising:
a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner housing surface is positioned toward a path of a laser beam through the transmission assembly and the outer housing surface is positioned away from the laser beam path; the housing defining a cavity and isolating the cavity from fluid flow; a high power optical fiber within the cavity and comprising a core and a cladding; the high power optical fiber in optical communication with a laser beam transmission optical surface; and a mode stripper positioned within the cavity and optically associated with the cladding and thermally associated with the housing.

39. The transmission assembly of claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the cavity contains an epoxy.

40. The transmission assembly of claim 38 , wherein the laser beam transmission optical surface is a surface of an optical block.

41. The transmission assembly of claim 40 , wherein the optical block is a quartz block.

42. The transmission assembly of claim 38 wherein the laser beam transmission optical surface is substantially planer.

43. The transmission assembly of claims 38 wherein the laser beam transmission optical surface is a lens.

44. The transmission assembly of claim 40 , wherein the optical block has a refractive surface.

45. The transmission assembly of claims 40 , wherein the optical block has a diffusing surface.

46. The transmission assembly of claims 38 , wherein the laser beam transmission optical surface is the distal end of the transmission assembly.

47. The transmission assembly of claim 38 , wherein the laser beam transmission optical surface is the proximal end of the transmission assembly.

48. The transmission assembly of claim 38 , wherein the laser beam transmissio

Assignees

• Rinzler Charles C
• Gray William C
• Fraze Jason D
• Faircloth Brian O
• Zediker Mark S
• Mckay Ryan P
• Foro Energy Inc

Inventors

• Rinzler Charles C
• Gray William C
• Fraze Jason D
• Faircloth Brian O
• Zediker Mark S
• Mckay Ryan P

Classifications

• G02B6/3813

  for transmission of high energy beam (coupling high energy sources and light guides G02B6/4296) · CPC title

• G02B6/4296 Primary

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

• G02B6/3818

  of a low-reflection-loss type (G02B6/3813 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3814 Primary

  with cooling or heat dissipation means · CPC title

• H01S3/042

  for solid state lasers {(H01S3/0401 takes precedence)} · CPC title