Patents by Inventor Derrek R. Drachenberg
Derrek R. Drachenberg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11460639Abstract: An all fiber wavelength selective coupler provides wavelength selective transfer of optical energy between two or more separated waveguides. The coupler includes signal cores that are separated enough that they can be fusion spliced to standard fibers as lead-in and lead-out pigtails. A bridge between the signal cores facilitates transfer of the optical energy through a process of evanescent coupling. In one example, the bridge is formed of a series of graded index cores.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Graham S. Allen, Diana C. Chen, Matthew J. Cook, Robert P. Crist, Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Victor V. Khitrov, Leily Kiani, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Nick Schenkel
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Patent number: 11340396Abstract: A class of fibers is described that have a non-circular cross section on one or both ends that can by optimized to capture the optical radiation from a laser diode or diode array and deliver the light in the same or different shape on the opposite end of the fiber. A large multimode rectangular waveguide may be provided which can accept the radiation from a high-power diode bar and transform it into a circular cross section on the opposite end, while preserving brightness.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Graham S. Allen, Diana C. Chen, Matthew J. Cook, Robert P. Crist, Jay W. Dawson, Leily Kiani, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Nick Schenkel, Charles X. Yu
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Patent number: 11269137Abstract: A non-radial array of microstructure elements provides enhanced wavelength selective filtering. The elements are arranged along a line that does not intersect the center of the core. In this configuration, the first coupling element in an array that is nearest to the core is a non-integer array unit spacing from the main waveguide where the array unit spacing is defined as the flat to flat distance of a hexagonal cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Leily S. Kiani, Jay W. Dawson, Derrek R. Drachenberg, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
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Publication number: 20210373229Abstract: A non-radial array of microstructure elements provides enhanced wavelength selective filtering. The elements are arranged along a line that does not intersect the center of the core. In this configuration, the first coupling element in an array that is nearest to the core is a non-integer array unit spacing from the main waveguide where the array unit spacing is defined as the flat to flat distance of a hexagonal cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Leily S. Kiani, Jay W. Dawson, Derrek R. Drachenberg, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
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Patent number: 10978849Abstract: A high-power laser beam with an arbitrary intensity profile is produced. Such beam has a variety of uses including for laser materials processing such as powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. Several challenges in additive manufacturing are mitigated with the present non-uniform intensity laser profiles. Nonuniform shapes include a set of intensity pixels in a line that could print a wide stripe area instead of just a single line. One example uses the multimode interference pattern from the output of a ribbon fiber which is imaged onto a work piece. The interference pattern is controlled to allow turning on or off of ‘pixels’ along a line which can be used to shape the beam and form the additively manufactured part.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Gabriel M. Guss, Paul H. Pax, Alexander M. Rubenchik, Manyilibo J. Matthews
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Patent number: 10897116Abstract: A uniform temperature profile is provided across the width of the core of a ribbon fiber laser or amplifier by the use of insulating elements at the core edges and a spatially variable gain in the fiber core. High average power ribbon fibers, enable a variety of applications such as practical laser cutting and beam combining.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
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Patent number: 10838149Abstract: A dual-core waveguide architecture provides two evanescently coupled waveguides where a first waveguide is doped with an active gain species to produce optical power and a second waveguide that runs parallel to the first waveguide is configured to collect the power produced by the first waveguide. Power is harvested from the second waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Paul H. Pax
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Publication number: 20200284983Abstract: A dual-core waveguide architecture provides two evanescently coupled waveguides where a first waveguide is doped with an active gain species to produce optical power and a second waveguide that runs parallel to the first waveguide is configured to collect the power produced by the first waveguide. Power is harvested from the second waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Paul H. Pax
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Publication number: 20200251872Abstract: A high-power laser beam with an arbitrary intensity profile is produced. Such beam has a variety of uses including for laser materials processing such as powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. Several challenges in additive manufacturing are mitigated with the present non-uniform intensity laser profiles. Nonuniform shapes include a set of intensity pixels in a line that could print a wide stripe area instead of just a single line. One example uses the multimode interference pattern from the output of a ribbon fiber which is imaged onto a work piece. The interference pattern is controlled to allow turning on or off of ‘pixels’ along a line which can be used to shape the beam and form the additively manufactured part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.Inventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Gabriel M. Guss, Paul H. Pax, Alexander M. Rubenchik, Manyilibo J. Matthews
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Publication number: 20200132925Abstract: A class of fibers is described that have a non-circular cross section on one or both ends that can by optimized to capture the optical radiation from a laser diode or diode array and deliver the light in the same or different shape on the opposite end of the fiber. A large multimode rectangular waveguide may be provided which can accept the radiation from a high-power diode bar and transform it into a circular cross section on the opposite end, while preserving brightness.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Graham S. Alien, Diana C. Chen, Matthew J. Cook, Robert P. Crist, Jay W. Dawson, Leily Kiani, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Nick Schenkel, Charles X. Yu, Victor V. Khitrov
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Publication number: 20190310420Abstract: An all fiber wavelength selective coupler provides wavelength selective transfer of optical energy between two or more separated waveguides. The coupler includes signal cores that are separated enough that they can be fusion spliced to standard fibers as lead-in and lead-out pigtails. A bridge between the signal cores facilitates transfer of the optical energy through a process of evanescent coupling. In one example, the bridge is formed of a series of graded index cores.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Graham S. Allen, Diana C. Chen, Matthew J. Cook, Robert P. Crist, Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Victor V. Khitrov, Leily Kiani, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax, Nick Schenkel
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Publication number: 20190199050Abstract: A uniform temperature profile is provided across the width of the core of a ribbon fiber laser or amplifier by the use of insulating elements at the core edges and a spatially variable gain in the fiber core. High average power ribbon fibers, enable a variety of applications such as practical laser cutting and beam combining.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Derrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
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Patent number: 9373928Abstract: Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Arun K. Sridharan, Paul H. Pax, John E. Heebner, Derrek R. Drachenberg, James P. Armstrong, Jay W. Dawson
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Publication number: 20150340835Abstract: Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Arun K. Sridharan, Paul H. Pax, John E. Heebner, Derrek R. Drachenberg, James P. Armstrong, Jay W. Dawson
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Patent number: 9124066Abstract: Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Arun K. Sridharan, Paul H. Pax, John E. Heebner, Derrek R. Drachenberg, James P. Armstrong, Jay W. Dawson
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Publication number: 20130294468Abstract: Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Arun K. Sridharan, Paul H. Pax, John E. Heebner, Derrek R. Drachenberg, James P. Armstrong, Jay W. Dawson