Laser optic protection

摘要

The specification and drawings present an apparatus and a method for protecting lasers or other sources of high optical power from damage due to external sources of contamination using a concept of a sacrificial optical component and automatic laser shutdown based on a pressure indication of a substantial damage to the sacrificial optical component such as puncturing through that component.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing comprising one or more optical components where at least one of the one or more optical components is a sacrificial component, wherein in a working state the housing has a predefined one or more gas pressures in corresponding one or more portions of the housing; and one or more transducers configured, when the housing is in the working state, to automatically generate a shutdown command of a laser when a gas pressure parameter at least in one of the one or more portions of the housing is changed beyond a threshold level which is detected by at least one pressure transducer of the one or more transducers and caused by an external contamination.