Laser assembly with active pointing compensation during wavelength tuning
An assembly ( 10 ) for generating a laser beam ( 12 ) includes a beam steering assembly ( 18 ); a laser assembly ( 16 ) that is tunable over a tunable range; and a controller ( 20 ). The laser assembly ( 16 ) generates a laser beam ( 12 ) that is directed at the beam steering assembly ( 18 ). The controller ( 20 ) dynamically controls the beam steering assembly ( 18 ) to dynamically steer the laser beam ( 12 ) as the laser assembly ( 16 ) is tuned over at least a portion of the tunable range. As a result thereof, the laser beam ( 12 ) is actively steered along a desired beam path ( 12 A) while the wavelength of the laser beam ( 12 ) is varied.
1 . An assembly comprising:
a beam steering assembly including a first beam steerer and a second beam steerer;
a laser assembly including a first laser module that is tunable over a first range, the first laser module including a first gain medium that generates a first beam that is directed at the beam steering assembly when power is directed to the first laser module, the first beam having a first wavelength that varies as the first laser module is tuned; and
a controller that dynamically controls the first beam steerer and the second beam steerer of the beam steering assembly as a function of wavelength to dynamically steer the first beam as the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range, the controller controlling the first beam steerer to dynamically steer the first beam in a first plane, and the controller controlling the second beam steerer to dynamically steer the first beam in a second plane that is different from the first plane.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller dynamically controls the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed along a desired beam path while the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the desired beam path is along a desired axis.
4 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the desired beam path varies over time.
5 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the desired beam path is varied relative to wavelength.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller dynamically controls the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed at a substantially constant target area while the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the controller dynamically controls the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed at the substantially constant target area while the first laser module is tuned over at least seventy percent of the first range.
8 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the controller dynamically controls the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed within less than fifty micrometers of the target area while the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plane is orthogonal to the second plane.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the beam steerers includes a reflector that is selective moved about a rotational axis to dynamically steer the first beam as a function of wavelength of the first beam.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beam steerer includes a first reflector that is selective moved about a first rotational axis and the second beam steerer includes a second reflector that is selectively moved about a second rotation axis to dynamically steer the first beam as the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
12 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller dynamically controls the beam steering assembly to dynamically steer the first beam so that an optical power of the first beam on a target area is optimized.
13 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the laser assembly includes a second laser module that generates a second beam that is tunable over second range and that is directed at the beam steering assembly when power is directed to the second laser module, the second beam having a second wavelength that varies as the second laser module is tuned; wherein the controller dynamically controls the first beam steerer to alternatively direct the first beam and the second beam at the second beam steerer.
14 . A method comprising:
providing a beam steering assembly including a first beam steerer and a second beam steerer;
generating a first beam that is directed at the beam steering assembly with a first laser module that is tunable over a tunable first range, the first beam having a first wavelength that varies as the first laser module is tuned; and
dynamically controlling the beam steering assembly as a function of wavelength with a controller to dynamically steer the first beam as the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range;
dynamically steering the first beam in a first plane with the first beam steerer; and
dynamically steering the first beam in a second plane that is different than the first plane with the second beam steerer.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the dynamically controlling includes controlling the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed along a desired beam path while the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the dynamically controlling includes controlling the beam steering assembly so that the first beam is directed at a substantially constant target area while the first laser module is tuned over at least a portion of the first range.
17 . The method of claim 14 further comprising generating a second beam that is directed at the beam steering assembly with a second laser module that is tunable over a tunable second range, the second beam having a second wavelength that varies as the second laser module is tuned; wherein the dynamically controlling includes (i) controlling the first beam steerer to alternatively direct the first beam and the second beam at the second beam steerer, and (ii) controlling the second beam steerer as a function of wavelength to dynamically steer the beam directed at the second beam steerer.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first beam steerer includes a first reflector that is selective moved about a first rotational axis to alternatively direct the first beam and the second beam at the second beam steerer; and the second beam steerer includes a second reflector that is selectively moved about a second rotation axis to dynamically steer the beam directed at the second beam steerer.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein the dynamically controlling includes controlling the beam steering assembly to dynamically steer the first beam so that an optical power of the first beam on a target area is optimized.
20 . An assembly comprising:
a beam steering assembly that includes a first beam steerer and a spaced apart second beam steerer;
a laser assembly including (i) a first laser module that is tunable over a tunable first range, the first laser module including a first gain medium that generates a first beam that is directed at the first beam steerer when power is directed to the first laser module, the first beam having a first wavelength that varies as the first laser module is tuned; and (ii) a second laser module that is tunable over a tunable second range, the second laser module including a second gain medium that generates a second beam that is directed at the first beam steerer when power is directed to the second laser module, the second beam having a second wavelength that varies as the second module is tuned, the second range being different from the first range; and
a controller that dynamically controls the first beam steerer to individually direct one of the first beam and the second beam at the second beam steerer, and that dynamically controls the second beam steerer as a function of wavelength to dynamically steer the beam that is incident on the second beam steerer, the controller controlling the first beam steerer to dynamically steer the one of the first beam and the second beam in a first plane, the controller controlling the second beam steerer to dynamically steer the beam that is incident on the second beam steerer in a second plane that is different than the first plane.
21 . The assembly of claim 20 wherein the first beam steerer includes a first reflector that is selective moved about a first rotational axis to individually direct one of the first beam and the second beam at the second beam steerer; and the second beam steerer includes a second reflector that is selectively moved about a second rotational axis as a function of wavelength; wherein the first rotational axis is different from the first rotational axis.