IP Library Granted Patent US 10,141,707
Granted Patent B2
US 10,141,707 · App. 15/596,924 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

Light trap for high power fiber laser connector

Inventors: Scott R. Karlsen (Battle Ground, WA); Walter R. Sanders (Vancouver, WA)
Assignee: NLIGHT, Inc.
H01S3/06704G02B6/24H01S3/0621H01S3/0407H01S3/0941
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,141,707
App. No.
15/596,924
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fiber laser system includes a fiber laser connector having a housing to terminate a fiber that generates a laser beam. A chamber extends internally along a length of the housing. A light trap includes a plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber laser connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece.

Claims (35)

1. A system, comprising:

a fiber connector including a metal housing, the metal housing including a first section to terminate a fiber generating a laser beam and a second different section to encase at least a portion of the fiber;

a chamber extending internally along a length of the second section of the metal housing; and

a light trap including plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are helically shaped around the wall of the chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially non-uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially triangle sawtooth contour.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a reflective plating or coating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises a partial reflector.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises nickel, chromium, platinum or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray of the light reflected back to the fiber connector multiple times.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the chamber absorbs a portion of each ray of the light reflected back to the fiber connector with each of the multiple times the at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section of the metal housing comprises an end cap.

13. A fiber connector, comprising:

a metal housing including a section to enclose at least a portion of a fiber arranged to generate a laser beam;

a chamber extending internally along a length of the section of the metal housing; and

a plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece.

14. The fiber connector of claim 13 ,

wherein the chamber has a substantially cylindrical cross-section; and

wherein the plurality of threads are helically shaped around the wall of the chamber.

15. The fiber connector of claim 13 ,

wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads; and

wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially triangle sawtooth contour.

16. The fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially non-uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads.

17. The fiber connector of claim 13 , further comprising:

a reflective plating or coating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber; and

wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises nickel, chromium, platinum, or a combination thereof.

18. The fiber connector of claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray at least twice.

19. The fiber connector of claim 13 , further comprising:

a reflective plating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber; and

wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises reflective materials having a reflection in the range of about 50% to 90%.

20. The fiber connector claim 13 , wherein the section of the metal housing comprises a first section of the metal housing, and wherein the metal housing includes a second different section, the second section comprising an end cap.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: NLIGHT, INC.
To: PACIFIC WESTERN BANK
Reel/Frame 047291/0833 →
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 Oct 4, 2017
From: KARLSEN, SCOTT R; SANDERS, WALTER R
To: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043782/0857 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2017
From: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
To: NLIGHT, INC
Reel/Frame 044127/0090 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62336871 · May 16, 2016
Related Publication 20170331244A1 · Nov 16, 2017