IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0126908
(2005-05-10)
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등록번호 |
US-7412129
(2008-08-12)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Yalin,Azer
- Willson,Bryan
- Defoort,Morgan
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Colorado State University Research Foundation
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
19 |
초록
▼
A spark delivery system for generating a spark using a laser beam is provided, the spark delivery system including 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 i
A spark delivery system for generating a spark using a laser beam is provided, the spark delivery system including 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. In addition, the laser delivery assembly 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. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the assembly may be used to create a spark in a combustion engine. In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a method of using the spark delivery system is provided. In addition, a method of choosing an appropriate fiber for creating a spark using a laser beam is also presented.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A system for generating a spark, comprising: a laser light source, wherein said laser light source generates a laser beam; launch optics for receiving said laser beam, wherein said launch optics yields a first focused beam of laser light; a laser transmission fiber comprising
What is claimed is: 1. A system for generating a spark, comprising: a laser light source, wherein said laser light source generates a laser beam; launch optics for receiving said laser beam, wherein said launch optics yields a first focused beam of laser light; a laser transmission fiber comprising a hollow bore and a wall surrounding said hollow bore, wherein said laser transmission fiber receives said first focused beam of laser light at a fiber entrance, wherein said laser transmission fiber transmits said first focused beam of laser light through said laser transmission fiber, and wherein said first focused beam of laser light exits said laser transmission fiber at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light; and exit optics for receiving said exit beam of laser light from said fiber exit, wherein said exit optics fields a second focused beam generating a spark. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a beam diameter of said first focused beam of laser light at the fiber entrance is smaller than a diameter of said hollow bore of said laser transmission fiber, and wherein said first focused beam does not form a spark at the fiber entrance. 3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wall comprises an inside surface comprising a coating. 4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coating comprises a plurality of layers of material. 5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said laser transmission fiber is flexible. 6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first focused beam of laser light has a launch angle of less than about 0.03 radians when entering said fiber entrance. 7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exit beam of laser light has an exit angle of less than about 0.03 radians when exiting said fiber exit. 8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said launch optics and said exit optics comprises at least one lens. 9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said launch optics and said exit optics comprises at least one curved mirror. 10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said launch optics and said exit optics are selected from the group consisting of diffractive optics, active optics, adaptive optics, and a combination thereof. 11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said laser transmission fiber comprises silica. 12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exit optics is operatively associated with a spark plug interconnected to a combustion engine. 13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said spark plug is interconnected to the combustion engine at a spark plug well. 14. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer and at least a second laser transmission fiber. 15. A system for generating a spark, comprising: a means for generating a beam of laser light, said means for generating consisting essentially of a single laser light source that generates said beam of laser light; a means for focusing said beam of laser light, wherein said means for focusing provides a first focused beam of laser light; a laser transmission fiber comprising a hollow bore and a wall surrounding said hollow bore wherein the wall comprises an inside surface that comprises one or more of an interior layer and an interior coating, wherein said laser transmission fiber receives said first focused beam of laser light at a fiber entrance, wherein said laser transmission fiber transmits said first focused beam of laser light through said laser transmission fiber, and wherein said first focused beam of laser light exits said laser transmission fiber at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light; and a means for demagnifying said exit beam of laser light, wherein said means for demagnifying generates a spark from said exit beam of laser light. 16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein a beam diameter of said first focused beam of laser light at the fiber entrance is smaller than a diameter of said hollow bore of said laser transmission fiber, and wherein said first focused beam does not form a spark at the fiber entrance. 17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said wall comprises an inside surface comprising a coating. 18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said coating comprises a plurality of layers of material. 19. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said laser transmission fiber is flexible. 20. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first focused beam of laser light has a launch angle of less than about 0.03 radians when entering said fiber entrance. 21. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said exit beam of laser light has an exit angle of less than about 0.03 radians when exiting said fiber exit. 22. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said laser transmission fiber comprises silica. 23. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said means for focusing and said means for demagnifying comprise at least one lens. 24. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said means for focusing and said means for demagnifying comprise at least one curved mirror. 25. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of said means for focusing and said means for demagnifying are selected from the group consisting of diffractive optics, active optics, adaptive optics, and a combination thereof. 26. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for demagnifying is operatively associated with a spark plug interconnected to a combustion engine. 27. The system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said spark plug is interconnected to the combustion engine at a spark plug well. 28. The system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a means for multiplexing the beam of laser light and at least a second laser transmission fiber. 29. A system for generating a spark, comprising: a laser light source, wherein said laser light source consists essentially of a single laser light source that generates a laser beam; launch optics for receiving said laser beam, wherein said launch optics yields a first focused beam of laser light; a flexible laser transmission fiber comprising a hollow bore and a wall surrounding said hollow bore wherein the wall comprises an inside surface that comprises at least one of an interior layer and an interior coating, wherein said laser transmission fiber receives said first focused beam of laser light at a fiber entrance, said first focused beam of laser light has a launch angle of less than about 0.03 radians when entering said fiber entrance, wherein said laser transmission fiber transmits said first focused beam of laser light through said laser transmission fiber, and wherein said first focused beam of laser light exits said laser transmission fiber at a fiber exit as an exit beam of laser light, wherein said exit beam of laser light has an exit angle of less than about 0.03 radians when exiting said fiber exit; 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 fields a second focused beam generating a spark sufficient for igniting a fuel and air mixture. 30. The system as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least one of said launch optics and said exit optics are selected from the group consisting of a lens, a plurality of lenses, a curved mirror, a plurality of curved mirrors, diffractive optics, active optics, adaptive optics, and a combination thereof. 31. The system as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a multiplexer and at least a second flexible laser transmission fiber. 32. A method of generating a spark, comprising: providing a laser light source, wherein said laser light source consists essentially of a single laser light source for generating a laser beam; providing launch optics for receiving the laser beam, wherein the launch optics fields a first focused beam of laser light; providing a laser transmission fiber comprising a hollow bore and a wall surrounding the hollow bore wherein the wall comprises an inside surface that comprises one or more of an interior layer and an interior coating, wherein the laser transmission fiber receives the first focused beam of laser light at a fiber entrance, wherein the laser transmission fiber transmits the first focused beam of laser light through the laser transmission fiber, and wherein the first focused beam of laser light exits the hollow fiber at a fiber exit as an exit beam; aligning the launch optics with the fiber entrance of the laser transmission fiber; and generating the spark using exit optics in optical communication with the fiber exit, wherein the exit optics receives the exit beam of laser light from the fiber exit, and wherein the exit optics fields a second focused beam for generating the spark. 33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said aligning comprises using a plurality of axes of control. 34. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said exit optics is operatively associated with a spark plug interconnected to a combustion engine. 35. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising directing the laser beam to a plurality of spark targets using a multiplexer. 36. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising at least partially purging ambient air at the fiber entrance. 37. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising at least partially purging ambient air at one or more of the fiber entrance and the hollow bore using a gas having a high ionization potential. 38. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising at least partially purging ambient air at one or more of the fiber entrance and the hollow bore by applying a vacuum. 39. A system for generating a spark in a combustion engine, the system including a laser light source, wherein said laser light source generates a beam of laser light, the system further comprising: a hollow fiber for conveying the beam of laser light to exit optics, the hollow fiber including a hollow bore and a wall surrounding said hollow bore, wherein the wall comprises an inside surface that comprises one or more of an interior layer and an interior coating, the exit optics for demagnifying the beam of laser light and generating the spark in the combustion engine. 40. The system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said beam of laser light comprises a launch angle of less than about 0.03 radians when entering said hollow fiber. 41. The system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said laser beam comprises an exit angle of less than about 0.03 radians when exiting said hollow fiber. 42. The system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said exit optics comprises at least one of diffractive optics, active optics, adaptive optics, and a combination thereof.
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