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US3581229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Face-pumped laser device with optical path folding
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-08-27
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A face-pumped laser device employs a prism with an index of refraction at least equal to the square root of two adjacent and optically contacted to the surface of the active laser medium. The prism provides for refraction and total internal reflection of the pumping radiation which is directed to and is substantially uniformly incident upon the surface of the active laser medium, thus increasing the pumping flux density by the square root of two over conventional techniques. A plurality of prisms positioned on the opposite side of the laser medium are utilized in conjunction with the first mentioned prism to fold the optical path in such a manner that a generated or input laser beam may be made to penetrate a different region of the laser medium on each pass.
Inventors
- 👤 William S Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/025; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0606; H01S3/07; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
The laser device of claim 1 wherein said optical collecting means is a right angle prism having an index of refraction of at least the square root of two.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
The laser device of claim 2 wherein said active laser medium comprises more than one planar laser element, each with major surfaces having transverse dimensions which are larger than the distance between major surfaces, said planar laser elements being separated by channels; and wherein a fluid coolant, having an index of refraction approximately the same as that of said planar elements flows through said channels and along said major surfaces of said planar elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
In the laser device of claim 1, optical reflecting means positioned adjacent said active laser medium on the opposite side thereof from said optical collecting means, wherein said optical collecting means and said optical reflecting means are adapted to receive a high energy beam of coherent radiation, to cause a plurality of discrete passages of the beam between said optical collecting and reflecting means by causing penetration of a different region of said active laser medium during each passage and to transmit the beam in amplified form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser device of claim 4 wherein said optical collecting means is a right angle prism having an index of refraction at least the square root of two and said optical reflecting means comprises at least one prism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser device of claim 4 wherein said optical collecting means is a right angle prism having an index of refraction at least the square root of two and said optical reflecting means comprises a plurality of prisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser device of claim 6 including a substrate separating said active laser medium and said optical reflecting means, wherein said substrate is optically transparent to the pumping and coherent radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The laser device of claim 7 including means positioned adjacent said optical reflecting means on the opposite side thereof from said active laser medium, said means having entrance and exit ports allowing a beam of high energy coherent radiation to enter and the amplified beam to exit respectively through said entrance and exit ports.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The laser device of claim 8 including first reflecting means which is substantially totally reflecting to coherent radiation and is positioned at an angle to said exit port on the opposite side thereof from said active laser medium wherein a coherent radiation beam traversing said active laser medium is reflected by said first reflecting means back through said exit port, retraverses said active laser medium as a result of the plurality of passages between said optical collecting and reflecting means, and exists through said entrance port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser device of claim 9 including second reflecting means which is partially reflecting to coherent radiation and is positioned adjacent said entrance port on the opposite side thereof from said active laser medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |