LASER COOLING SYSTEM

• US 20180062347A1
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nlight Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nlight Inc.
• Inventors: Hodges, Aaron Ludwig, Stephens, Rodney Mark
• Granted Patent: US 11,025,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/703 Cooling arrangements by using a fluid stream B23K26/14
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0435 Combination of units extending one behind the other F28D1/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0477 the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/04 with tubes having a capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0028 for cooling heat generating elements, e.g. for cooling electronic components or electric devices for cooling semiconductors H01L23/34, for cooling electric apparatus H05K7/20
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/22 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2210/10 Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0131 formed by plates F28F9/0138 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0402 for liquid lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02423 Liquid cooling, e.g. a liquid cools a mount of the laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02438 Characterized by cooling of elements other than the laser chip, e.g. an optical element being part of an external cavity or a collimating lens
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence

Abstract

A laser cooling system includes a first tubing, a second tubing, and a cold plate assembly including a first channel to receive the first tubing and a second channel to receive the second tubing. A joint removably couples the first tubing to the second tubing and at least one component mounted on the cold plate assembly over the first tubing or the second tubing. The inlet end of the first tubing receives a cooling fluid and an outlet end of the second tubing discharges the cooling fluid after the cooling fluid flows through the first tubing, the joint, and the second tubing to maintain uniform a temperature of the at least one component mounted on the cold plate assembly.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first plate having a first channel boustrophedonically formed thereon;

a second plate having a second channel boustrophedonically formed thereon;

a first tubing received by the first channel of the first plate;

a second tubing received by the second channel of the second plate; and

a joint to couple the first tubing to the second tubing.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first tubing includes an inlet end to receive a cooling fluid;

and

wherein the second tubing includes an outlet end to discharge the cooling fluid.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

first components mounted on the first plate over the first tubing; and

second components mounted on the second plate over the second tubing;

wherein the cooling fluid is configured to flow through the first tubing, the joint, and the second tubing to maintain uniform a temperature of the first components or the second components.

4. The system of claim 3,

wherein the first components or the second components includes a pump diode or a laser diode driver.

5. The system of claim 2,

wherein thermal crosstalk between the first plate and the second plate maintains substantially uniform a temperature of the first components and the second components.

6. The system of claim 2,

wherein the first tubing is pressed into the first channel;

and

wherein the second tubing is pressed into the second channel.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first cold plate or the second cold plate includes aluminum.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first tubing or the second tubing includes copper.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the joint is substantially u-shape;

and

wherein the joint includes rubber or plastic.

10. The system of claim 1,

wherein the joint is removably attached to the first tubing or the second tubing.

11. A cooling system, comprising:

a first tubing;

a second tubing;

a cold plate assembly including a first channel to receive the first tubing and a second channel to receive the second tubing;

a joint to removably couple the first tubing to the second tubing; and

at least one component mounted on the cold plate assembly over the first tubing or the second tubing;

wherein an inlet end of the first tubing receives a cooling fluid; and

wherein an outlet end of the second tubing discharges the cooling fluid after the cooling fluid flows through the first tubing, the joint, and the second tubing to maintain uniform a temperature of the at least one component mounted on the cold plate assembly.

12. The cooling system of claim 11,

wherein the first tubing or the second tubing include copper.

13. The cooling system of claim 11,

wherein the first tubing is pressed into the first channel;

and

wherein the second tubing is pressed into the second channel.

14. The cooling system of claim 11,

wherein the cold plate assembly includes a first plate and a second plate;

wherein the first plate has the first channel boustrophedonically formed thereon; and

wherein the second plate has the second channel boustrophedonically formed thereon.

15. The cooling system of claim 14,

wherein the first plate or the second plate includes aluminum.

16. The cooling system of claim 14,

wherein the joint is substantially u-shape;

and

wherein the joint includes rubber or plastic.

17. A method, comprising:

forming a continuous first channel on a first plate;

forming a continuous second channel on a second plate;

pressing a first tube into the first channel;

pressing a second tube into the second channel;

coupling the first tube with the second tube using a joint;

receiving a fluid at an inlet end of the first tube; and

discharging the fluid at an outlet end of the second tube after the fluid flows through the first tubing, the joint, and the second tubing.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

mounting a back end of the first plate to a back end of the second plate.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

mounting at least one component to a front end of the first plate or the second plate.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

maintaining substantially uniform a temperature of the least one component by allowing the fluid to flow through the first tubing, the joint, and the second tubing.