Method and apparatus for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam
First Claim
1. A process for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam, specifically a heavy-duty laser beam, comprising the steps of:
- a) introducing into the path of rays of a focused laser beam rotationally symmetric reflector which reproduces the laser beam on a focal line;
b) capturing the laser beam reflected on the reflector by way of at least one sensor which is fixedly coordinated with the reflector in the focal line;
c) determining a focal plane by way of a measured value captured in the sensor, in that the reflector along with the sensor is shifted in the direction of the laser beam, relative to the laser beam'"'"'s focusing optics;
d) determining the position of the focal point in the focal plane by way of the measured value captured in the sensor, and the reflector along with the sensor is shifted perpendicularly to the direction of the laser beam, relative to the laser beam'"'"'s focusing optics; and
e) determining the diameter of the focal point via the measured value captured in the sensor when the sensor is shifted relative to the reflector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a process and apparatus for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam, specifically for use in material processing with a heavy-duty laser beam. In a process for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam, specifically a heavy-duty laser beam, a rotationally symmetric reflector which reproduces a laser beam on a focal line is introduced in the path of rays of a focused laser beam. Reflected on the reflector, the laser beam is captured by way of at least one sensor which is fixedly coordinated with the reflector in the focal line, while the focal plane, the lateral position of the focal point and the diameter of the focal point are then determined by way of measured values captured in the sensor, with the sensor being shifted relative to the focusing optics of the laser beam or relative to the reflector. The output intensity of the laser is reduced to a point where the laser can be safely and unequivocally measured with the aid of sensors.
14 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A process for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam, specifically a heavy-duty laser beam, comprising the steps of:
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a) introducing into the path of rays of a focused laser beam rotationally symmetric reflector which reproduces the laser beam on a focal line; b) capturing the laser beam reflected on the reflector by way of at least one sensor which is fixedly coordinated with the reflector in the focal line; c) determining a focal plane by way of a measured value captured in the sensor, in that the reflector along with the sensor is shifted in the direction of the laser beam, relative to the laser beam'"'"'s focusing optics; d) determining the position of the focal point in the focal plane by way of the measured value captured in the sensor, and the reflector along with the sensor is shifted perpendicularly to the direction of the laser beam, relative to the laser beam'"'"'s focusing optics; and e) determining the diameter of the focal point via the measured value captured in the sensor when the sensor is shifted relative to the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A device for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a laser beam, specifically a heavy-duty laser beam, comprising:
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a) a highly reflective rotationally symmetric reflector whose reflection surface, impinged by the laser beam, is so fashioned that the laser beam will be reproduced in a complementary ring-shaped focal line, and b) a plurality of sensors disposed axially symmetric to the reflector, by means of which a focal plane and a focal point diameter can be determined. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a high intensity laser beam, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a rotationally symmetric reflector in the path of a focused laser beam to reproduce the laser beam on a focal line; measuring the intensity value of the laser beam reflected on the reflector by means of at least one sensor which is fixedly positioned adjacent the reflector and located on the focal line; determining the location of the focal plane according to the measured value of a sensor, by coaxially shifting the reflector in the direction of the laser beam and relative to the laser beam'"'"'s focusing optics; determining the lateral position of the focal point according to the measured value of the sensor, by shifting the reflector with respect to the sensor in the direction of the laser beam and relative to the focusing optics of the laser beam; and determining the diameter of the focal point according to the measured value of the sensor, by shifting the sensor relative to the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for determining the position and diameter of the focal point of a high intensity laser beam, comprising:
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means for reproducing the laser beam in a complementary ring-shaped focal line, said reproducing means including a highly reflective rotationally symmetric reflector having a reflective surface; and sensor means for determining a focal plane and a focal point diameter, said sensor means being axially symmetric to the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification