Stackable laser beam module assembly

Abstract

A stackable beam module assembly and system for combining laser beams by recursive coupling of one or more beam modules, wherein a central beam propagates through a central channel of each module and peripheral beams introduced through peripheral channels are directed in a direction parallel to the central beam, to thereby propagate a resultant beam having an increased power output directly correlated to the sum of the combined laser beams.

1 . A stackable beam module assembly for combining a plurality of beams, comprising:
 at least one beam module, including;   a housing having a central beam channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein an input port and an output port are disposed on opposing ends of the central beam channel whereby a central beam propagating into the input port travels along the central beam channel; and   at least one peripheral beam channel having a peripheral input port, wherein the peripheral input port is configured for directing a peripheral beam along a peripheral beam axis at a predetermined angle toward the central beam channel; and   an optical steering subsystem affixed within the central beam channel, spaced in a direction toward the input port at a distance predetermined by arrangement of the at least one peripheral beam channel and the properties of the optical steering subsystem;   whereby the at least one peripheral beam transmitted through the peripheral beam channel is propagated by the optical steering subsystem as a coherent beam substantially parallel to the central beam channel;   wherein a resultant beam propagates from the outlet end which includes the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam such that the power of the resultant beam is proportional to the sum of the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a telescopic subsystem affixed within the central beam channel, spaced in a direction toward the output port;
 whereby the at least one peripheral beam emanating from the optical steering subsystem is propagated by the telescopic subsystem as a coherent beam substantially coaxial with the central beam channel; and   whereby the circumscribed diameter of the at least one peripheral beam emanating from the telescopic subsystem is smaller than the circumscribed diameter of the at least one peripheral beam propagating into the telescopic subsystem; and   wherein a resultant beam propagates from the outlet end which includes the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam such that the power of the resultant beam is proportional to the sum of the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam.   
     
     
         3 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam module includes a plurality of beam modules, and further comprising:
 a connective structure disposed on an exterior surface of the housing proximal to the input port of another of the beam modules; and   a connective feature proximate to the output port of one of the beam modules, wherein engagement of the connective feature with the connective structure couples the output port of one of the beam modules with the input port of another of the beam modules such that the longitudinal axes of the housings of the beam modules are substantially collinear;   whereby the resultant beam from the output port of the one of the beam modules propagates as a central beam of the another of the beam modules to thereby connect the one of the beam modules and the another of the beam modules in a sequential configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one peripheral beam channel includes a plurality of peripheral beam channels and further comprising:
 a plurality of connective mechanisms disposed in radial arrangement on an exterior surface of the housing proximal to a corresponding plurality of peripheral input ports of the plurality of peripheral beam channels of another of the beam modules; and   a connective feature proximate to the output port of a one of the beam modules, wherein coupled engagement of the connective mechanisms and the connective feature portion couples the output port of one of the beam modules with a corresponding one of the peripheral input ports of another of the beam modules, positioning the one of the beam modules in a nested configuration such that the resultant beam of the one of the beam modules is directed into the peripheral input ports of the another of the beam modules as a peripheral beam.   
     
     
         5 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one adaptive housing, wherein the at least one adaptive housing includes a plurality of adaptive housings, including:   an adaptive inlet end and an adaptive outlet end, wherein the adaptive housings include an adaptive correcting subsystem oriented between the adaptive inlet end and the adaptive outlet end, and   wherein the adaptive inlet end is coupled with the connective feature proximate to the output port of the one of the beam modules and the adaptive outlet end is coupled with the connective mechanisms of corresponding peripheral input ports of the another of the beam modules whereby the adaptive correcting subsystem is spaced back at a predetermined distance according to the optical properties of the adaptive correcting subsystem and the optical properties of the optical steering subsystem such that the resultant beam of the one of the beam modules is directed into the peripheral input port of the another of the beam modules as a peripheral beam.   
     
     
         6 . The plurality of stackable beam module assemblies arranged in a sequential stack of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the beam modules is comprised of a plurality of stackable beam module assemblies arranged in a nested configuration, such that a plurality of beam modules are arranged in a nested-sequential hybrid configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The plurality of stackable beam module assemblies arranged in a nested configuration of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the beam modules is comprised of a plurality of stackable beam module assemblies arranged in a sequential stack, such that a plurality of beam modules are arranged in a sequential-nested hybrid configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral correcting subsystem mounted within the peripheral input port of the beam module such that the peripheral correcting subsystem refracts a peripheral beam whereby subsequent refraction of the peripheral beam through the optical steering subsystem propagates a coherent beam substantially parallel to the central beam channel. 
     
     
         9 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a central correcting subsystem mounted within the central beam channel of the beam module such that the central correcting subsystem refracts a central beam,
 whereby subsequent refraction of the central beam through the telescopic subsystem propagates a coherent beam substantially parallel to the central beam channel.   
     
     
         10 . The stackable beam module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arbitrary beam propagated by an external source, having a beam axis substantially collinear with the central beam channel, and having a circumscribed diameter less than the diameter of the input port;   where the arbitrary beam propagates into the input port as a central beam; and   wherein a resultant beam propagates from the outlet end which includes the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam such that the power of the resultant beam is proportional to the sum of the central beam and the at least one peripheral beam.   
     
     
         11 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1  wherein the optical steering subsystem is comprised of at least one refractive surface. 
     
     
         12 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1  wherein the optical steering subsystem is comprised of at least one reflective surface. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1  wherein the optical steering subsystem is comprised of at least one refractive surface and at least one reflective surface. 
     
     
         14 . The stackable beam module assembly of  claim 1  wherein the central beam is refracted by the optical steering subsystem,
 whereby subsequent refraction of the central beam through the telescopic subsystem propagates a coherent beam substantially parallel to the central beam channel.