US 11,886,053 B2
Methods of and systems for processing using adjustable beam characteristics
Ken Gross, Vancouver, WA (US); Brian Victor, Camas, WA (US); Robert J. Martinsen, Portland, OR (US); Dahv A. V. Kliner, Portland, OR (US); and Roger Farrow, Vancouver, WA (US)
Assigned to NLIGHT, INC., Camas, WA (US)
Filed by NLIGHT, INC., Camas, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/854,933.
Application 17/854,933 is a continuation of application No. 17/127,746, filed on Dec. 18, 2020, abandoned.
Application 17/127,746 is a continuation of application No. 15/883,480, filed on Jan. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,877,220.
Application 15/883,480 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2017/034848, filed on May 26, 2017.
Application 15/883,480 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/607,399, filed on May 26, 2017, granted, now 10,423,015, issued on Sep. 24, 2019.
Application 15/883,480 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/607,410, filed on May 26, 2017, granted, now 10,663,767, issued on May 26, 2020.
Application 15/883,480 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/607,411, filed on May 26, 2017, granted, now 10,295,845, issued on May 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/401,650, filed on Sep. 29, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0404648 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G02F 1/01 (2006.01); B23K 26/067 (2006.01); B23K 26/38 (2014.01); G02B 6/14 (2006.01); B23K 26/21 (2014.01); B22F 3/11 (2006.01); B22F 3/24 (2006.01); B23K 26/03 (2006.01); G02B 6/02 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B23K 26/342 (2014.01); B29C 48/08 (2019.01); G02B 6/036 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); B23K 26/062 (2014.01); B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B29C 64/264 (2017.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); H01S 5/00 (2006.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B22F 10/31 (2021.01); B22F 10/36 (2021.01); B23K 26/064 (2014.01); B23K 26/073 (2006.01); G02B 6/255 (2006.01); G02B 27/09 (2006.01); G02B 26/10 (2006.01); G02B 6/028 (2006.01); G02F 1/015 (2006.01); B22F 12/44 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); G02B 6/26 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/0115 (2013.01) [B22F 3/1109 (2013.01); B22F 3/24 (2013.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B22F 10/31 (2021.01); B22F 10/36 (2021.01); B23K 26/032 (2013.01); B23K 26/034 (2013.01); B23K 26/0342 (2015.10); B23K 26/062 (2015.10); B23K 26/064 (2015.10); B23K 26/067 (2013.01); B23K 26/073 (2013.01); B23K 26/21 (2015.10); B23K 26/342 (2015.10); B23K 26/38 (2013.01); B23K 26/704 (2015.10); B29C 48/08 (2019.02); B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B29C 64/264 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); G02B 6/02 (2013.01); G02B 6/021 (2013.01); G02B 6/023 (2013.01); G02B 6/02042 (2013.01); G02B 6/02347 (2013.01); G02B 6/02371 (2013.01); G02B 6/02395 (2013.01); G02B 6/036 (2013.01); G02B 6/03611 (2013.01); G02B 6/03694 (2013.01); G02B 6/14 (2013.01); G02B 6/255 (2013.01); G02B 6/4203 (2013.01); G02B 6/4206 (2013.01); G02B 27/0927 (2013.01); G02B 27/0933 (2013.01); G02B 27/0994 (2013.01); H01S 5/0085 (2013.01); B22F 12/44 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); G02B 6/02004 (2013.01); G02B 6/0281 (2013.01); G02B 6/0288 (2013.01); G02B 6/0365 (2013.01); G02B 6/03616 (2013.01); G02B 6/03627 (2013.01); G02B 6/03633 (2013.01); G02B 6/03638 (2013.01); G02B 6/03688 (2013.01); G02B 6/262 (2013.01); G02B 6/4296 (2013.01); G02B 26/101 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12121 (2013.01); G02F 1/0151 (2021.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an optical fiber usable in an optical beam delivery system, the optical fiber including:
a confinement region having a refractive index arranged to maintain any selected beam characteristic from a set of two or more different beam characteristics; and
a perturbation region to, in accordance with the selected beam characteristic of the set of two or more different beam characteristics, modify one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam by a perturbation assembly coupled to the perturbation region or integral with the perturbation region;
wherein the confinement region preserves at least a portion of the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam modified by the perturbation assembly; and
wherein the perturbation assembly is selectively operable in a group of modes including: a first mode of operation that corresponds to a first beam characteristic of the set of two or more different beam characteristics and in which the optical beam modified by the perturbation assembly is arranged for generating a laser beam having a spot shaped beam profile, and a second different mode of operation that corresponds to a second different beam characteristic of the set of two or more different beam characteristics and in which an intensity distribution of the laser beam is moved radially outward relative to the first mode of operation.