Laser device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9899796-B1
Application number	US-201715666185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 18, 2016
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

To provide a laser device allowing the prevention of dew formation on a cooler of the laser device, while contributing to a longer lifetime of a humidity sensor to be used. A laser device includes a laser diode and a cooler for cooling the laser diode. The laser diode and the cooler are provided in a housing. The laser device includes: a humidity detector that detects humidity in the laser device while current is applied to the humidity detector; and a current application controller that controls the time of current application to the humidity detector. In one aspect of the laser device, the laser device further includes: a temperature detector that detects a temperature in the housing; and a dew point calculator that calculates a dew point based on the humidity detected by the humidity detector, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector. The current application controller controls the time of current application to the humidity detector based on the dew point calculated by the dew point calculator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser device comprising a laser diode and a cooler for cooling the laser diode, the laser diode and the cooler being provided in a housing, the laser device comprising:
a humidity detector that detects humidity in the laser device while current is applied to the humidity detector; and
a current application controller that controls the time of current application to the humidity detector.

2. The laser device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature detector that detects a temperature in the housing; and
a dew point calculator that calculates a dew point based on the humidity detected by the humidity detector, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector, wherein
the current application controller controls the time of current application to the humidity detector based on the dew point calculated by the dew point calculator.

3. The laser device according to claim 1 , further comprising a door open/close detector that detects an open/close state of a door of the housing, wherein
the current application controller controls the time of current application to the humidity detector in response to the open/close state of the door detected by the door open/close detector.

4. The laser device according to claim 1 , wherein the humidity detector is provided near the cooler.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Honda Masahiro
• Tanaka Yasuyuki

Classifications

• H01S5/06825

  Protecting the laser, e.g. during switch-on/off, detection of malfunctioning or degradation · CPC title

• H01S5/02415

  by using a thermo-electric cooler [TEC], e.g. Peltier element · CPC title

• H01S5/02469

  Passive cooling, e.g. where heat is removed by the housing as a whole or by a heat pipe without any active cooling element like a TEC · CPC title

• H01S5/02423

  Liquid cooling, e.g. a liquid cools a mount of the laser · CPC title

• G05D22/00

  Control of humidity · CPC title