Ram Photonics Industrial, LLC

Mike Cinquino

Joseph Lawson

Jordan P Leidner

Per Adamson

A method for profiling a laser beam includes receiving the laser beam at a thermochromic interface of a detector. A temperature set point for the detector can be selected. The temperature set point can correspond to an equilibrium temperature at the thermochromic interface. The method can also include capturing an image of the thermochromic interface and using the image to determine a partial intensity profile corresponding to at least a portion of the beam intensity profile. A reconstructed beam profile can be assembled using the partial intensity profile. If the reconstructed beam profile is not complete, the method can include iterating over additional temperature set points to determine additional partial intensity profiles. The method can also include determining that the reconstructed beam profile is complete and outputting the reconstructed beam profile.

Techniques for laser beam sensing and profiling using temperature-sensitive structures

A system for determining the profile of a laser beam includes a detector having a thermochromic liquid crystal film (TLCF) in thermal communication with a heat spreader and a thermoelectric cooler. The liquid crystal film has a thermochromic response such that heating of the film by a received laser beam creates a detectable color response at the film. The system also includes an image sensor and a controller configured to output an operating current for the TEC and receive images from the sensor. The system can selectively vary the temperature set point of the TEC to change the steady state temperature of the TLCF to examine the full intensity profile of the received beam even when the temperature response bandwidth of the TLCF is too narrow to display the full beam profile in a single color spot.

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Conesus, NY, United States of America

Mike Cinquino