Flexible laser technology delivers customized solutions

Citation

(2001), "Flexible laser technology delivers customized solutions", Sensor Review, Vol. 21 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2001.08721cad.009

Flexible laser technology delivers customized solutions

Flexible laser technology delivers customized solutions

Keyword: Lasers

British company, Point Source, is a market leading authority on laser and fiber-optic beam delivery systems for challenging biomedical, semiconductor, reprographic and lithographic applications. Throughout the 1990s, the company pioneered the development of flexible laser technology and today retains a position of pre-eminence in the marketplace.

While the company has developed several core products, every Point Source solution is customized to be a precise match to the customer's needs in terms of targeting accuracy, beam delivery stability and control of fundamental laser parameters. Its enabling technology overcomes several limiting characteristics of conventional lasers. In particular, flexible laser technology does away with the need to incorporate cumbersome and expensive opto-mechanical assemblies to direct the line-of-site. It also overcomes laser cavity distortion and vibration that, in conventional lasers, results from the need for forced air or water cooling.

To meet these challenges, Point Source engineers have created a number of highly adaptable turn-key packages for OEMs. These include the kineFLEX kinematic singlemode fiber delivery system, the picoFLEX miniature singlemode fiber delivery system, and the iFLEX-1000 temperature controlled fiber-coupled laser diode (see Plate 9).

The kineFLEX system consists of a robust singlemode and potarization-maintaining fiber that incorporates pre-aligned and pre-focused optical assemblies at the fiber ends. Precise focusing and mode matching of the input optic provides launch efficiencies that exceed 70 per cent. Single wavelength options are available between 442nm and 830nm, white multi-wavelength systems can be supplied as either 458/488/514nm or 488/568 64/nm.

Plate 9 The iFLEX-200 fibre-coupled laser diode from Point Source

The system can be mounted directly on to the laser, using a purpose designed, easy-to-fit and easy-to-use manipulator or, alternatively, can be mounted in "free space" utilizing mounting accessories. The flexible fiber is protected in a 5mm (0.2in) stainless steel jacket that can be specified in lengths between 1m and 10m (3ft and 32ft). Output beam pointing error is less than 1rad/°C.

The miniaturized picoFLEX system is compatible with both the kineFLEX and iFLEX systems, and features output termination options that include high-precision polarization-maintaining connectors or miniature collimators. It shares the pre-focused and optimized input optics of the kineFLEX, the same coupling efficiency and beam pointing accuracy.

picoFLEX is designed as a stand-alone fiber delivery system that is ideally suited for integration into compact instrumentation systems where space is at a premium. Currently the standard operating wavelengths range from 635nm to 830nm, although customized wavelengths from 488nm to 635nm can be supplied.

The iFLEX-1000 system provides a laser-life-extending active temperature control to 0.1°C. It delivers a wavelength and power stable, high quality laser beam from flexible, single mode, polarization-maintaining fiber that is protected by a flexible stainless steel jacket. It can be specified with confidence even for the harshest environments and is supplied with a 5,000-hour continuous operation or 18-month warranty.

The system's fiber delivers a circular Gaussian beam with a divergence of less than 1.1mrad/°C and a pointing error of less than 1r. iFLEX-1000 does away with the need for costly and complicated additional components as it comes with a single, compact unit incorporating the drive electronics plus the diode control and the temperature control, both of which are powered by a single-ended 5V supply.

More detailed information on Point Source is available on the company's Web site at www.point-source.com