Fiber laser coupled optical spark delivery system
First Claim
1. A system for generating a spark, comprising:
- a fiber laser for generating a laser beam, wherein said laser beam exits said fiber laser at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light; and
exit optics operatively associated with a spark plug interconnected to a combustion engine at a spark plug well, said exit optics for receiving said exit beam of laser light from said fiber exit, wherein said exit optics yields a focused beam generating a spark sufficient for igniting a fuel and air mixture.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spark delivery system for generating a spark using a laser beam is provided, and includes a laser light source and a laser delivery assembly. The laser delivery assembly includes a hollow fiber and a launch assembly comprising launch focusing optics to input the laser beam in the hollow fiber. The laser delivery assembly further includes exit focusing optics that demagnify an exit beam of laser light from the hollow fiber, thereby increasing the intensity of the laser beam and creating a spark. Other embodiments use a fiber laser to generate a spark. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to create a spark in an engine. Yet other embodiments include collecting light from the spark or a flame resulting from the spark and conveying the light for diagnostics. Methods of using the spark delivery systems and diagnostic systems are provided.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for generating a spark, comprising:
-
a fiber laser for generating a laser beam, wherein said laser beam exits said fiber laser at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light; and
exit optics operatively associated with a spark plug interconnected to a combustion engine at a spark plug well, said exit optics for receiving said exit beam of laser light from said fiber exit, wherein said exit optics yields a focused beam generating a spark sufficient for igniting a fuel and air mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for generating a spark, comprising:
-
a fiber laser for generating a laser beam, wherein said laser beam exits said fiber laser at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light; and
a means for focusing said exit beam of laser light generating a spark sufficient for igniting a fuel and air mixture. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of generating a spark, comprising:
-
providing a fiber laser for generating a laser beam through a fiber exit of the fiber laser;
generating the spark using exit optics in optical communication with the fiber exit, wherein the exit optics receives the laser beam from the fiber exit, and wherein the exit optics yields a focused beam for generating the spark. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification