Laser systems and optical devices for manipulating laser beams

• US 10,114,213 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idex Health & Science LLC (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: CVI Laser LLC
• Inventors: Hargis, David E., O'Shaughnessy, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Euncha
• Application Number:
  US15/067,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20160334618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 3592091-2102, 3592011, 3592021, 359641
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6402 Atomic fluorescence; Laser induced fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0875 by means of one or more refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/005 Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping shaping laser beam for working metal or other materials B23K26/06; optical elements, systems or apparatus in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0071 Beam steering, e.g. whereby a mirror outside the cavity is present to change the beam direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/027 comprising a special atmosphere inside the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0405 Conductive cooling, e.g. by heat sinks or thermo-electric elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2391 emitting at different wavelengths

Abstract

Various embodiments of a multi-laser system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the multi-laser system includes a plurality of lasers, a plurality of laser beams, a beam positioning system, a thermally stable enclosure, and a temperature controller. The thermally stable enclosure is substantially made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as at least 5 W/(m K). The thermally stable enclosure can help maintain alignment of the laser beams to a target object over a range of ambient temperatures. Various embodiments of an optical system for directing light for optical measurements such laser-induced fluorescence and spectroscopic analysis are disclosed. In some embodiments, the optical system includes a thermally conductive housing and a thermoelectric controller, a plurality of optical fibers, and one or more optical elements to direct light emitted by the optical fibers to illuminate a flow cell. The housing is configured to attach to a flow cell.

Claims

1. A multi-laser system, comprising:

a laser configured to output a laser beam; and

a beam adjusting system configured to adjust an angular position of the laser beam and direct the adjusted laser beam toward a target object, the beam adjusting system comprising at least one meniscus shaped optical element having a first surface and a second opposite surface,

wherein said meniscus shaped optical element is adjustable to adjust the angular position of the laser beam, and

wherein the target object comprises a flow cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces comprise a first curved surface and a second curved surface opposite the first curved surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first surface is convex and the second surface is concave, and wherein the convex surface receives the laser beam prior to the concave surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second surface of the meniscus shaped optical element are intersected by an optical axis.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to rotate the meniscus shaped optical element about two axes that are orthogonal to the optical axis.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the two axes are orthogonal to each other.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to move the meniscus shaped optical element along an axis orthogonal to the optical axis.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has less than about 1 dioptres optical power.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser beam is collimated at the target object.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein the first surface is concave and the second surface is convex, and wherein the concave surface receives the laser beam prior to the convex surface.

24. The system of claim 2, wherein a radius of curvature of the first curved surface is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

25. The system of claim 4, wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to rotate the meniscus shaped optical element about an axis that is orthogonal to the optical axis.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the axis about which the meniscus shaped optical element is rotated is the horizontal axis or the vertical axis.

27. The system of claim 6, wherein one of the two axes is horizontal and one of the two axes is vertical.

28. The system of claim 4, wherein the axis along which the meniscus shaped optical element is moved is the horizontal axis or the vertical axis.

29. The system of claim 4, wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to move the meniscus shaped optical element along two axes that are orthogonal to the optical axis.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the two axes are orthogonal to each other.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein one of the two axes is horizontal and one of the two axes is vertical.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has a low optical power.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has less than about 0.5 dioptres optical power.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has less than about 0.25 dioptres optical power.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has negligible optical power.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the radii of curvature and thickness of the meniscus shaped optical element can be optimized for the angular beam adjustment required.

37. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of lasers configured to output a plurality of respective laser beams.

10. A multi-laser system, comprising:

a laser configured to output a laser beam; and

a beam adjusting system configured to adjust an angular position of the laser beam and direct the adjusted laser beam toward a target object, the beam adjusting system comprising at least one meniscus shaped optical element having a first surface and a second opposite surface,

wherein said meniscus shaped optical element is adjustable to adjust the angular position of the laser beam,

wherein the first and the second surface of the meniscus shaped optical element are intersected by an optical axis, and

wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to rotate the meniscus shaped optical element about two axes that are orthogonal to the optical axis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second surfaces comprise a first curved surface and a second curved surface opposite the first curved surface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first surface is convex and the second surface is concave, and wherein the convex surface receives the laser beam prior to the concave surface.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the two axes are orthogonal to each other.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has less than about 1 dioptres optical power.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the target object comprises a flow cell.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the laser beam is collimated at the target object.

17. A multi-laser system, comprising:

a laser configured to output a laser beam; and

a beam adjusting system configured to adjust an angular position of the laser beam and direct the adjusted laser beam toward a target object, the beam adjusting system comprising at least one meniscus shaped optical element having a first surface and a second opposite surface,

wherein said meniscus shaped optical element is adjustable to adjust the angular position of the laser beam,

wherein the first and the second surface of the meniscus shaped optical element are intersected by an optical axis, and

wherein the beam adjusting system comprises a mechanical system configured to move the meniscus shaped optical element along an axis orthogonal to the optical axis.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first and second surfaces comprise a first curved surface and a second curved surface opposite the first curved surface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first surface is convex and the second surface is concave, and wherein the convex surface receives the laser beam prior to the concave surface.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the meniscus shaped optical element has less than about 1 dioptres optical power.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the target object comprises a flow cell.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the laser beam is collimated at the target object.