TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYA SYSTEM for CONTROLLING HIGH CURRENT LASER DIODE ARRAYS

 TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY A SYSTEM for CONTROLLING HIGH CURRENT LASER DIODE ARRAYS  Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license an innovative technology for commercialization.Background:The density of a state-of-the-art high power laser diode array is such that a single array, which is comprised of up to 50 diode tiles, has a frontal area of only about 400 square cm and requires pulse current of up to 1000 Amperes per tile to operate. Current technology, available in the industry, is based on very large rack mounted equipment with limited capabilities. If one were to use current technology to drive high power laser diode arrays, the power conditioning equipment (PCE) would be over 5 cubic feet in volume. The power conditioning equipment required to drive such a laser

diode array is 15x larger than the actual array. A second problem arises when one considers that with existing PCE being so much larger than the load that the load and the PCE now be separated by long cables that do not lend themselves to high current pulse operation. Description:   As diode pumped solid state lasers (DPSSL) become more common there is a need to drive these pump diode arrays in a compact, efficient and cost-effective manner. LLNL's system for controlling high current laser diode arrays is an integrated system for meeting the needs of driving laser diode arrays in a DPSSL. The system is comprised of technologies required to control the DPSSL that includes individual laser diode drivers, a method of communicating with those drivers, and a method of controlling the pulse shape of each diode driver. LLNL has demonstrated how these subsystems are put together in a system that also includes methods of mounting, cooling and controlling high average power diode arrays used for the purpose of pumping DPSSLs.Advantages:  LLNL's system for controlling high current laser diode arrays is a system that allows the compact and efficient operation of high peak power diode arrays. LLNL's system decreases the volume of the PCE by a factor of 10; allows the PCE to be located near the diode array, which allows for the use of shorter cabling which enable experimentalist to drive the diodes arrays to higher currents with better shaped pulses. In addition, the software system developed to control the PCE allows the experimentalist to precisely control the intensity, temporal shape and spatial flatness of the diode array.Potential ApplicationsApplications for this technology include: •1)    1) Driving and Controlling High Average Power Laser Diode Arrays•2)    2) Controlling the power for Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers DPSSL•3)     3) Realizing Compact, Efficient High Average Power DPSSLs Development Status: LLNL has filed a patent application for their system for controlling high current laser diode arrays.LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's system for controlling high current laser diode arrays technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:1.   Company Name and address.2.   The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.3.     A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.Written responses should be directed to:Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryIndustrial Partnerships OfficeP.O. Box 808, L-795Livermore, CA  94551-0808Attention:  FBO 352-17 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's system for controlling high current laser diode arrays technology.