IP Library Granted Patent US 10,109,978
Granted Patent B2
US 10,109,978 · App. 15/498,422 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Low size and weight, high power fiber laser pump

Inventors: Manoj Kanskar (Portland, OR); Johannes Boelen (Vaudreuil-Dorion, CA)
Assignee: NLIGHT, INC.
H01S5/02423H01S5/02284H01S5/02288H01S5/02469H01S5/4012H01S5/4025H01S3/09415H01S3/094003H01S5/02208H01S5/02236H01S5/02438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,109,978
App. No.
15/498,422
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for cooling a laser diode pump comprising a Low Size Weight Power Efficient (SWAP) Laser Diode (LSLD) assembly, including a laser diode coupled to a submount on a first surface, the submount comprising a first thermally conductive material and a heatsink coupled to a second surface of the submount, wherein the heatsink comprises a second thermally conductive material, the heatsink comprising one or more members formed on a side opposite the coupled submount. The device further comprising a housing coupled to the LSLD assembly, the housing comprising a carrier structure having an aperture configured to support the LSLD assembly on a first side and having a plurality of channels on a second side, a bottom segment configured to couple to the carrier segment to create an enclosure around the channels between a top side of the bottom segment and the second side of the carrier structure, an inlet and outlet formed in the housing for transporting a coolant into and out of the channels in the enclosure, wherein the members are disposed within the enclosure so as to expose the members to the coolant.

Claims (25)

1. A device for cooling a laser diode pump comprising:

a Low Size Weight Power Efficient (SWAP) Laser Diode (LSLD) assembly, including:

a laser diode coupled to a submount on a first surface, the submount comprising a first thermally conductive material; and

a heatsink coupled to a second surface of the submount, wherein the heatsink comprises a second thermally conductive material, the heatsink comprising one or more members formed on a side opposite the coupled submount; and

a housing coupled to the LSLD assembly, comprising:

a carrier structure comprising an aperture configured to support the LSLD assembly on a first side and having a plurality of channels on a second side;

a bottom segment configured to couple to the carrier structure to create an enclosure around the channels between a top side of the bottom segment and the second side of the carrier structure; and

an inlet and outlet formed in the housing for transporting a coolant into and out of the channels in the enclosure, wherein the members are disposed within the enclosure so as to expose the members to the coolant.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the channels are inline and the coolant flows in a single direction across the members.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the channels are configured to follow a serpentine path and to cause the coolant to flow across at least two different members in opposite directions.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one void formed on the backside of the bottom segment to reduce the weight of the housing.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of voids formed on the backside of the bottom segment.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the voids are rectangular and form a grid.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the voids are of various depths.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the carrier structure and the bottom segment are stepped.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members comprise a plurality of fins.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members comprise a microporous copper structure.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more members comprise a graphite foam.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein members comprise posts.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein members comprise a three-dimensional structure optimized for surface area to volume, turbulent flow and thermal transfer throughout the coolant in close proximity to the members.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the coolant comprises water, water and either ethylene glycol (EGW), water and propylene glycol (PGW), ammonia, or 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R134A) or any combination thereof.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heatsink comprises aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC), pyrolytic graphite, annealed pyrolytic graphite (APG), encapsulated APG, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), or any combination thereof.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the submount comprises silicon carbide (SIC), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond, copper (Cu), aluminum nitride (AlN), cubic boron nitride (c-BN), graphite, graphene, graphene-composites, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube composites, diamond, diamond composites or pyrolytic graphite or any combination thereof.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first thermally conductive material and the second thermally conductive material are the same.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first thermally conductive material and the second thermally conductive material are different.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2018
From: NLIGHT, INC.
To: PACIFIC WESTERN BANK
Reel/Frame 045676/0366 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2018
From: NLIGHT, INC.
To: PACIFIC WESTERN BANK
Reel/Frame 045019/0370 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2017
From: KANSKAR, MANOJ; BOELEN, JOHANNES
To: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043602/0259 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 15, 2017
From: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
To: NLIGHT, INC.
Reel/Frame 043867/0274 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62458569 · Feb 13, 2017
Provisional Application 62327971 · Apr 26, 2016
Related Publication 20170358900A1 · Dec 14, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,470,040