HEAT SPREADER WITH OPTIMIZED COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION AND/OR HEAT TRANSFER

Methods, systems and an apparatus relating to a heat spreader to be coupled to a heat source having a heat source coefficient of thermal expansion (HS CTE), the heat spreader comprising an anisotropic material having a high expansion axis. The heat spreader also including a surface to be coupled to the heat source, wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oblique to the surface of the heat spreader and wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oriented at a first angle of rotation about a first axis of the heat spreader wherein the first angle of rotation is selected to optimize a match of a first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE. 1. An apparatus comprising:a heat spreader having a heat source coefficient of thermal expansion (HS CTE), the heat spreader comprising an anisotropic material having a high expansion axis;a surface of the heat spreader to be coupled to a heat source, wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oblique to the surface of the heat spreader and wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oriented at a first angle of rotation about a first axis of the heat spreader wherein the first angle of rotation is selected to optimize a match of a first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE.2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oriented at a second angle of rotation about a second axis of the heat spreader wherein the second angle of rotation is selected to optimize the match of the first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE.3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the anisotropic material is oriented within the heat spreader such that high expansion axis is rotated through a third angle of rotation about a third axis of the heat spreader wherein the third angle of rotation is selected to optimize the match of the first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE.4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first ...

Cryogenic cooling of diode laser with coolant recovery

A laser system includes a plurality of diode lasers, a cryogenic cooling system circulating a cryogenic coolant and coupled to the plurality diode lasers to cool the plurality of diode lasers with the cryogenic coolant, and a fuel cell coupled to the plurality of diode lasers to power the plurality of diode lasers and situated to receive the cryogenic coolant from the cryogenic cooling system as fuel for the fuel cell. A method of operating a high power laser system includes cooling a plurality of diode lasers with a cryogenic cooling system circulating a cryogenic coolant, fueling a fuel cell with a portion of the cryogenic coolant circulating in the cryogenic cooling system, and powering the plurality of diode lasers with power generated by the fuel cell.

LIGHT TRAP FOR HIGH POWER FIBER LASER CONNECTOR

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. 1. A system , comprising:a fiber connector including a housing, the housing including a first section to terminate a fiber to generate 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 housing, wherein a wall of the chamber is optically non-transmissive; anda light trap including plurality of threads formed along the 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 claim 8 , chromium claim 8 , platinum or a combination thereof.10. ...

DOUBLE HELIX COOLANT PATH FOR HIGH POWER FIBER CONNECTOR

A fiber connector, comprising a housing having a chamber extending in a lengthwise direction from a first end configured to receive a fiber to a second end configured to connect the fiber to a laser processing head and a channel disposed on an exterior surface of the chamber, the channel comprising a double helical structure. 1. A fiber connector , comprising:a housing having a chamber extending in a lengthwise direction from a first end configured to receive a fiber to a second end configured to connect the fiber to a laser processing head; anda channel disposed on an exterior surface of the chamber, the channel comprising a double helical structure.2. The fiber connector of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a inflow helical channel connected by a return structure to an outflow helical channel claim 1 , wherein the inflow helical channel and the outflow helical channel are disposed adjacent to one another.3. The fiber connector of claim 2 , wherein the channel is further configured to circulate coolant fluid around the circumference of the chamber in a first flow direction through the inflow helical channel and in a second flow direction through the outflow helical channel.4. The fiber connector of claim 3 , wherein the first flow direction is clockwise and the second flow direction is counterclockwise.5. The fiber connector of claim 3 , further comprising an inlet port coupled to the inflow helical channel configured to receive the coolant fluid and an outlet port coupled to the outflow helical channel configured to discharge the coolant fluid.6. The fiber connector of claim 5 , wherein the inlet port receives the coolant fluid from a pump.7. The fiber connector of claim 3 , wherein the return structure is configured to change a direction the coolant fluid is flowing by up to about 180.0 degrees.8. The fiber connector of claim 6 , further comprising a sensor disposed in the inlet port claim 6 , the outlet port claim 6 , or the channel claim 6 , or any ...

LIGHT TRAP FOR HIGH POWER FIBER LASER CONNECTOR

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. 1. A fiber laser system , comprising:a fiber laser connector including a housing to terminate a fiber laser generating a laser beam;a chamber extending internally along a length of the housing; anda light trap including 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.2. The fiber laser system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a substantially cylindrical cross-section.3. The fiber laser system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are helically shaped around the wall of the chamber.4. The fiber laser 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 fiber laser 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 fiber laser system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially triangle sawtooth contour.7. The fiber laser system of claim 1 , further comprising:a reflective plating formed on the plurality of threads formed on the wall of the chamber.8. The fiber laser system of claim 7 , wherein the reflective coating comprises a partial reflector.9. The fiber laser system of claim 8 , wherein the reflective coating comprises nickel claim 8 , chromium claim 8 , platinum or a combination thereof.10. The fiber laser system of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray of the ...

Compact laser apparatus and method

A laser system includes an apparatus and method having a primary laser resonator having a laser medium therein for producing a laser beam of a first wavelength and a second laser resonator optically connected to the primary resonator to allow a portion of the laser energy from the primary laser resonator to pass into the secondary laser resonator. An optical parametric oscillator is located intracavity of the secondary laser resonator and includes a non-linear crystal for producing a laser beam of a second wavelength therefrom. The dual resonators combine a secondary laser cavity and an optical parametric oscillator to produce a predetermined output wavelength. The compact multiple resonator laser system has a substrate mirror system having four mirror surfaces thereon positioned to form two laser resonators. A multi-pass corner cube is mounted to fold the light beams between a pair of substrate mirrored surfaces while a transfer corner cube is positioned to transfer a laser beam from one resonator to the second resonator to form a very compact pair of laser resonators. A method of producing a coherent light beam of a predetermined output wavelength uses the compact laser system apparatus.

Apparatus and method for determining tissue characteristics

An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head (304) with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue (50). The probe head (304) is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices (317) arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head (304) is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue (50). In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a measurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.

Light trap for high power fiber laser connector

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.

Light trap for high power fiber laser connector

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.

Heat spreader with optimized coefficient of thermal expansion and/or heat transfer

Methods, systems and an apparatus relating to a heat spreader to be coupled to a heat source having a heat source coefficient of thermal expansion (HS CTE), the heat spreader comprising an anisotropic material having a high expansion axis. The heat spreader also including a surface to be coupled to the heat source, wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oblique to the surface of the heat spreader and wherein the high expansion axis of the anisotropic material is oriented at a first angle of rotation about a first axis of the heat spreader wherein the first angle of rotation is selected to optimize a match of a first CTE of the heat spreader with the HS CTE.

Double helix coolant path for high power fiber connector

A fiber connector, comprising a housing having a chamber extending in a lengthwise direction from a first end configured to receive a fiber to a second end configured to connect the fiber to a laser processing head and a channel disposed on an exterior surface of the chamber, the channel comprising a double helical structure.

Float for humidification chamber

A float (62) for a humidification chamber (60) has formed-in-place conformable seal (90), which may be accomplished by overmolding a thermoplastic elastomeric material to the float. The float may be comprised of sections (66, 68) sealingly joined together at an elevation above the water level defined by the buoyancy of the float and also above the water level within the humidifier chamber when filled.

Float for humidification chamber

Compact laser apparatus and method

Cryogenic cooling of diode laser with coolant recovery

A laser system includes a plurality of diode lasers, a cryogenic cooling system circulating a cryogenic coolant and coupled to the plurality diode lasers to cool the plurality of diode lasers with the cryogenic coolant, and a fuel cell coupled to the plurality of diode lasers to power the plurality of diode lasers and situated to receive the cryogenic coolant from the cryogenic cooling system as fuel for the fuel cell. A method of operating a high power laser system includes cooling a plurality of diode lasers with a cryogenic cooling system circulating a cryogenic coolant, fueling a fuel cell with a portion of the cryogenic coolant circulating in the cryogenic cooling system, and powering the plurality of diode lasers with power generated by the fuel cell.