System and method of measuring and controlling temperature of optical fiber tip in a laser system
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining temperature of an optical fiber tip in a laser system at a desired temperature, comprising the following steps:
- (a) processing an optical stimulus and an optical response to determine a temperature for said optical fiber tip as a function thereof;
(b) comparing said determined temperature for said optical fiber tip to said desired temperature;
(c) generating an error signal as a function of any difference between said determined temperature and said desired temperature; and
(d) controlling power output to a laserdiode of said laser system in accordance with said error signal;
wherein the method further comprises the step of determining whether said determined temperature is within a defined control band having an upper and lower limit; and
wherein a maximum power output is provided to said laserdiode when said determined temperature is less than said lower limit.
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Abstract
A system and method of sensing temperature at an optical fiber tip, including the steps of positioning a slug of fluorescent material adjacent the optical fiber tip, providing an optical stimulus having a wavelength within a first predetermined range through at least one fiber optically linked to the optical fiber tip, wherein a desired optical fluorescent response having a wavelength within a second predetermined range from the fluorescent slug is generated, detecting a signal representative of the optical stimulus, detecting a signal representative of the optical fluorescent response, digitally processing the optical stimulus signal and the optical fluorescent response signal to determine a phase difference therebetween, and calculating a temperature for the optical fiber tip as a function of the phase difference. The phase difference between the optical stimulus signal and the optical fluorescent response signal may be determined directly or indirectly as a function of the phase difference between a reference signal and the optical stimulus signal and the phase difference between the reference signal and the optical fluorescent response signal.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining temperature of an optical fiber tip in a laser system at a desired temperature, comprising the following steps:
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(a) processing an optical stimulus and an optical response to determine a temperature for said optical fiber tip as a function thereof; (b) comparing said determined temperature for said optical fiber tip to said desired temperature; (c) generating an error signal as a function of any difference between said determined temperature and said desired temperature; and (d) controlling power output to a laserdiode of said laser system in accordance with said error signal; wherein the method further comprises the step of determining whether said determined temperature is within a defined control band having an upper and lower limit; and
wherein a maximum power output is provided to said laserdiode when said determined temperature is less than said lower limit.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for maintaining temperature of an optical fiber tip in a laser system at a desired temperature, said laser system including a laser diode for providing a laser beam to said optical fiber tip, comprising:
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(a) a processor for determining a temperature by processing an optical stimulus and an optical response; (b) a power amplifier for supplying power to said laser diode; and (c) a controller for providing a power output signal to said power amplifier, said controller containing an algorithm for calculating said power output signal which is a function of an error signal generated by a comparison of said determined temperature and said desired temperature;
wherein said controller provides a power output signal so that a maximum power is supplied to said laser diode by said power amplifier when said determined temperature is less than a lower limit of a defined control band for said desired temperature. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification