IP Library Granted Patent US 10,574,020
Granted Patent B2
US 10,574,020 · App. 15/842,441 · Granted Feb 25, 2020

Fiber laser packaging

Inventors: Aaron Ludwig Hodges (La Center, WA); Mitchell Ryan Reynolds (Vancouver, WA)
Assignee: NLIGHT, INC.
H01S3/06708H01S3/0405H01S3/0407
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,574,020
App. No.
15/842,441
Granted
Feb 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A packaged fiber laser may include a wound fiber laser spiral including a metal ribbon having ends, surfaces, and edges; a fiber laser on a first one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon; and a metal sheet coupled to a first one of the edges of the metal ribbon or a second one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon. Packaging for a fiber laser may include a cooling plate coupled to a second one of the edges of the metal ribbon or the second surface of the metal ribbon, the cooling plate including: a casing including a cover, a bottom, and an outer sidewall; flow channels formed inside the casing, the flow channels defined by inner sidewalls of the cooling plate, wherein the cover is coupled to a top of the inner sidewalls to enclose the flow channel; and an inlet to deliver coolant to the flow channels.

Claims (37)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a wound fiber laser spiral, including:

a metal sheet; and

a metal ribbon co-wound with an optical fiber into a co-winding, the metal ribbon having ends, surfaces, and edges, wherein the optical fiber is in contact with a first one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon;

wherein the co-winding is mounted on the metal sheet with at least a first one of the edges of the metal ribbon or a second one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon contacting the metal sheet; and

a cooling plate coupled to a second one of the edges of the metal ribbon or the second surface of the metal ribbon, the cooling plate including:

a cover to enclose flow channels formed inside the cooling plate, wherein the cover is coupled to a top of sidewalls of the flow channels; and

an inlet to deliver coolant to the flow channels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a potting compound between the optical fiber and the first surface of the metal ribbon.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metal sheet has a same thermal conductivity as the metal ribbon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the metal ribbon are planar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the metal ribbon are curved.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the metal ribbon defines an enclosure for the optical fiber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the edges of the metal ribbon are in direct contact with the second surface of the metal ribbon.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first surface of the metal ribbon is in direct contact with the second surface of the metal ribbon.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cooling plate further comprises an outlet for coolant discharge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the flow channels are formed from a same metal sheet as a bottom of the flow channels.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the flow channels are formed on a metal sheet that defines a bottom of the flow channels.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls are non-continuous adjacent to the inlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the cover is the same as a thermal conductivity of the metal ribbon.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a metal sheet;

a flat wire co-wound with an optical fiber into a co-winding, wherein the flat wire includes ends, surfaces, and edges and in the co-winding a first one of the surfaces of the flat wire is in direct contact with a portion of the optical fiber; and

the co-winding mounted on the metal sheet with at least a first one of the edges of the flat wire or a second one of the surfaces of the flat wire contacting the metal sheet.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the metal sheet is less than 0.2 inches thick.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a conductivity of the metal sheet is the same as a conductivity of the flat wire.

17. Fiber laser packaging, comprising:

a metal sheet; and

a metal ribbon co-wound with an optical fiber into a co-winding, the metal ribbon having ends, surfaces, and edges, wherein the optical fiber is in contact with a first one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon;

wherein the co-winding is mounted on the metal sheet with at least one of the edges of the metal ribbon or a second one of the surfaces of the metal ribbon contacting the metal sheet.

18. The fiber laser packaging of claim 17 , wherein the one of the edges of the metal ribbon comprises a first one of the edges of the metal ribbon, and the fiber laser packaging further comprises:

a cooling plate coupled to a second one of the edges of the metal ribbon or the second surface of the metal ribbon, the cooling plate including:

a cover to enclose flow channels formed inside the cooling plate, wherein the cover is coupled to a top of sidewalls of the flow channels; and

an inlet to deliver coolant to the flow channels.

19. The fiber laser packaging of claim 17 , further comprising a potting compound between the optical fiber and the first surface of the metal ribbon.

20. The fiber laser packaging of claim 17 , wherein the surfaces of the metal ribbon are planar.

21. The fiber laser packaging of claim 17 , wherein the metal ribbon comprises a copper ribbon.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: NLIGHT, INC.
To: PACIFIC WESTERN BANK
Reel/Frame 047291/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2017
From: HODGES, AARON LUDWIG; REYNOLDS, MITCHELL RYAN
To: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044474/0512 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 22, 2017
From: NLIGHT PHOTONICS CORPORATION
To: NLIGHT, INC.
Reel/Frame 044956/0585 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62434898 · Dec 15, 2016
Related Publication 20180175577A1 · Jun 21, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,695,265