Patent US3605039A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3605039A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multicolor laser frequency selector
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-20
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A laser cavity is formed by a partially transmissive output mirror and a plurality of reflecting mirrors. An ionized gas laser having Brewster angle windows is placed in the cavity. Spaced from one of the windows is a polarizing quartz crystal, the faces of which are coated with antireflective coatings. Adjacent to the quartz crystal is a right triangular birefringent prism having antireflecting coatings on two of its faces. The combined effect of the crystal and the prism is to disperse one laser wavelength along a path through an electro-optical crystal to a reflecting mirror. In addition, other laser wavelengths are transmitted to another quartz crystal and another birefringent crystal whose combined effect is to disperse a second laser wavelength along a path through an electrooptical crystal to another reflecting mirror. Other laser wavelengths are transmitted by the second birefringent crystal to another quartz crystal and birefringent crystal and from there additional respective electro-optical crystals and mirrors. When none of the electro-optical crystals is energized, the laser output beam will contain those wavelengths incident on the several mirrors. All other wavelengths capable of being generated by the laser are suppressed because of the losses introduced by the action of the quartz crystals and birefringent crystals. One or more of the several wavelengths may be removed from the laser beam by energizing the corresponding electro-optical crystal.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J Harris
- 👤 Max Erhard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/107; H01S3/1075; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/082; H01S3/0823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A multicolor laser frequency selector as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a. means for polarizing the laser beam, said optical switch means comprising: b. a plurality of electro-optic phase delay plates each positioned to intercept different ones of said discrete wavelengths, and c. means to apply an electric signal to individual ones of said plates to operate them so that phase delays are introduced into the discrete wavelength corresponding thereto, whereby the delayed wavelengths suffer optical losses in passing through said polarizing means to inhibit lasing at the delayed wavelengths so that only the other discrete wavelengths appear at said output mirror.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
each is capable of selecting for lasing a different combination of some of said multiple wavelengths, and b. a digital light deflector in the path of said single laser beam between said negative temperature medium and said selectors for directing said laser beam to desired ones of said selectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
286 words
A multicolor laser selector including a negative temperature medium enclosed by a pair of Brewster angle windows which linearly polarize light in a preferred plane of polarization, a partially transmissive output mirror spaced from one end of the medium, said medium being capable of emitting a laser beam containing multiple discrete laser wavelengths and comprising: a. a plurality of mirrors spaced from the other end of said negative temperature medium and forming a laser cavity with the output mirror; b. first frequency dependent means in the laser cavity for rotating through a different angle the polarization direction of each of the discrete wavelengths, c. a first birefringent crystal positioned in said cavity between said first rotating means and a first one of said mirrors to totally reflect a first wavelength, substantially totally transmit at least second and third wavelengths, and partially reflect and partially transmit all other of said wavelengths. d. a first electro-optic phase plate pOsitioned between said first birefringent crystal and a first one of said plurality of mirrors, e. a second frequency dependent means in the laser cavity for rotating through a different angle the polarization direction of said second and third wavelengths, f. a second birefringent crystal in the cavity for reflecting said second wavelength to a second one of said mirrors and substantially totally transmitting said third transmitted wavelength to a third one of said mirrors, g. a second electro-optic phase delay plate positioned between said second birefringent crystal and said second mirror, and h. a third electro-optic phase plate positioned between said second birefringent crystal and said third mirror, whereby at least said first, second and third wavelengths appear at said output mirror and all other wavelengths are effectively extinguished.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A multicolor laser frequency selector as defined in claim 3 further comprising a first electro-optic rotator positioned between said negative temperature medium and said first frequency-dependent rotating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A multicolor laser frequency selector as defined in claim 4 further comprising a second electro-optic rotator positioned between said first birefringent crystal and said second frequency-dependent rotating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A multicolor frequency selector system including a negative temperature medium enclosed by a pair of Brewster angle windows which linearly polarize light in a preferred plane of polarization, a partially transmissive output mirror spaced from one end of the medium, said medium being capable of emitting a single laser beam containing multiple discrete laser wavelengths and comprising: a. a plurality of spaced individual multicolor laser frequency selectors wherein
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A laser frequency selector comprising: means for lasing at plural discrete frequencies within a cavity, means for dispersing the plural frequencies to spatially separated individual paths, fully reflecting means forming part of the cavity and terminating each of the paths, and means located in each individual path for selectively acting on predetermined ones of the spatially separated frequencies to provide a single laser output beam of at least two selected frequencies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
A multicolor frequency selector as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for polarizing comprises a pair of Brewster angle windows enclosing said negative temperature medium and which linearly polarize light in a preferred plane of polarization, said selector further comprising: a. a plurality of additional fully reflecting means spaced from said other end of said laser medium for forming with said output mirror a plurality of laser cavities and reflecting different individual ones of said discrete wavelengths, b. a digital light deflector in the path of said single laser beam between said negative temperature medium and all of said frequency dependent dispersion means for directing said single laser beam to desired ones of said frequency-dependent dispersion means.
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) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |