US Patent 11169386 Beam forming with focus location adjustment

An apparatus includes a beam source, beam forming optics, a first focusing lens having a focal length, a second focusing lens having a focal length similar to the focal length of the first lens, and a lens translator configured to move the second lens transversely relative to the beam forming optics and to the first lens, and thereby move the elongated focus transversely. In some embodiments, the beam forming optics are positioned between the beam source and the first focusing lens, the first focusing lens is positioned between the beam forming optics and the second focusing lens, and the beam forming optics, the first focusing lens, and the second focusing lens are arranged to receive a beam of laser radiation from the beam source and to form the beam into an elongated focus.