EP0375216A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optically pumped Lasers
Assignee: Lumonics Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-12-07
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Various examples of an optically pumped laser are described. In each example, a laser member formed from active laser material in located in an optical cavity and a source of pumping light is arranged so that pumping light passes into the laser member through a side surface. A deflecting means is provided which ensures that the pumping light makes an initial pass followed by at least one, and preferably at least two, further passes across the laser member. In the further passes, the pumping light has a substantial component long the optical axis. Consequently, a relatively long absoption path for the pumping light is achieved. In one example, the laser member is an Nd:YAG bar (20), the pumping light source is an array (23) of laser diodes, and the deflecting means takes the form of a series of facets (27) formed along a side of the bar (20). In another example, the defelcting means is a diffraction grating.
Inventors
- 👤 Clive Lionel Michael Ireland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094084; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093; H01S3/094034; A; A61; A61K; A61K38/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An optically pumped laser comprising an optical cavity having an optical axis, a laser member located in the optical cavity and formed at least partly from active laser material, means for providing pumping light and arranged so that the pumping light passes into the laser member through at least one side surface thereof, and means for deflecting the pumping light so that pumping light initially travelling from the pumping light providing means towards the laser member in a direction normal to the optical axis is deflected and caused to make at least one pass across the laser member in a direction having a substantial component along the optical axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optically pumped laser comprising an optical cavity having an optical axis, a laser member located in the optical cavity and formed at least partly from active laser material, means for providing pumping light and arranged so that the pumping light passes into the laser member through at least one side surface thereof, and means for deflecting the pumping light so that pumping light initially travelling from the pumping light providing means towards the laser member in a direction normal to the optical axis is deflected and caused to make at least one pass across the laser member in a direction having a substantial component along the optical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 1, in which the deflecting means is arranged so that light initially travelling in a direction normal to the optical axis is caused to make at least two passes across the laser member in directions having substantial components along the optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the deflecting means comprises at least one optical device positioned between the pumping light providing means and the laser member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 1, in which the deflecting means comprises means for reflecting pumping light back into the laser member after the pumping light has made an initial pass across the laser member so as to cause the pumping light to make a reflected pass across the laser member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 4, in which the reflecting means is arranged to reflect the light in a direction which results in the light being totally internally reflected from the surface of the member after the light has made the first reflected pass, whereby the light makes a second pass across the laser member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the reflecting means comprises at least one series of undulations formed on the surface of the laser member, the or each series of undulations extending along the laser member in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the reflecting means comprises a diffraction grating of the reflection type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the active laser material is a solid material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the active laser material is a liquid material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser as claimed in Claim 9, in which the active laser material is an organic dye dissolved in a solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for providing pumping light comprises at least one array of laser diodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A laser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the means for providing pumping light comprises at least one array of light emitting diodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the means for providing pumping light is itself a laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the means for providing pumping light comprises at least one flashlamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.