US3614658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas laser having means for maintaining a uniform gas mixture in a dc discharge
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1969-01-22
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1989-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A DC discharge gas laser in which the active medium is a mixture of gases having a low ionization potential component. This component is supplied to the plasma tube at a position adjacent the anode and flows by DC cataphoresis in the direction of the cathode where it is removed from the system, thereby providing a substantial length of uniform ratio gas mixture which is particularly significant in small diameter plasma tubes. In the detailed examples, the laser is a helium-cadmium laser with continuous-wave operation at 4,416 A and 3,250 A, the flowing component of the active medium being cadmium vapor. Means are provided in modified embodiments to stabilize the concentration of the flowing component.
Inventors
- 👤 John P Goldsborough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A gas laser according to claim 1 wherein said low ionization component is a metal vapor, and said supplying means comprises an appendage of said envelope containing a supply of the metal from which said vapor is evolved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gas laser according to claim 2 wherein said removing means comprises an appendage to said envelope having cool walls on which said metal vapor condenses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gas laser according to claim 2 including means positioned adjacent said appendage in the direction of said cathode for sensing a fraction of the voltage of said discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A gas laser according to claim 4 including means for heating said metal supply, and means responsive to said voltage-sensing means for controlling said heating means to thereby stabilize the concentration of said metal vapor in said active medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas laser according to claim 3 wherein said envelope is generally cylindrical, said appendage comprises an enlarged coaxial section of said envelope, and cathode is disposed in an appendage to said enlarged coaxial section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gas laser according to claim 2 wherein said envelope is generally cylindrical, and said appendage comprises an enlarged coaxial section of said envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A gas laser according to claim 7 wherein a reduced portion of said envelope reentrantly extends into said enlarged section in order to facilitate the maintenance of a discharge therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A gas laser according to claim 2 wherein said metal is cadmium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A gas laser according to claim 9 including an optical resonator for obtaining a laser output at approximately 4,416 A.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A gas laser according to claim 9 including an optical resonator for obtaining a laser output approximately 3,250 A.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A gas laser according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of said plasma tube over at least a substantial portion of said mixture length is less than 5 mm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3464025A
Cited
US3493892A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |