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US3626326A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Time-variable reflectivity laser actuating circuit

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1969-12-08
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1989-12-08
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Abstract

Abstract In a time-variable reflectivity laser of the type having a cavity, total reflection mirrors at the ends of the cavity, a ruby rod in the cavity for emitting radiation, a xenon lamp for pumping the ruby rod, a Glan polarizer in the cavity, a cell having electrodes in the cavity for changing the polarity of light, and apparatus for energizing the energy source and for energizing and deenergizing the cell in a predetermined sequence to discharge light from the cavity. The energizing apparatus consists of a trigger generator and a voltage source connected to the trigger generator and the energy source for pumping the ruby rod in response to the output from the trigger generator to establish a condition of excited atoms in the rod. Provided also is a DC voltage source, and a series circuit arrangement including a pair of resistors, a capacitor, and a discharge resistor, connecting the DC voltage source to the cell electrodes for charging the electrodes to a DC voltage to change the polarization of light within the cavity and to establish reduced reflectivity within the cavity. A delay circuit connected to the trigger generator is provided for generating a delayed-output signal. A thyratron tube circuit, which is responsive to the delayed output of the delayed circuit is utilized to short a portion of the circuit and to discharge the cell electrodes through the discharge resistor to thus deenergize the cell and to establish light amplification within the cavity. A spark gap is utilized to short another portion of the circuit when exposed to energy leaking from the cavity at its peak amplified value to discharge the capacitor through the discharge resistor and to establish a DC voltage across the electrodes of the cell to change the polarization of light within the cavity and to discharge the light energy at its peak amplified value from the cavity. A roof assembly consisting of mirrors positioned for movement with respect to one of the total reflection mirrors of the cavity for varying the length of the path of light leaked from the cavity and its transit time to the spark gap.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ralph F Wuerker
  • 👤 Robert A Briones

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 10:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; H01S3/13; H01S3/1305

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 204 words
An actuating circuit for a time-variable reflectivity laser of the type having a cavity with total reflection members and a cell for rotating the polarization direction of radiation generated within the cavity, said actuating circuit comprising: a voltage source; circuit means connected to said voltage source and adapted for connection to the cell for applying voltage to rotate the polarization direction of radiation within the cavity to reduce reflectivity within the cavity; first shorting means connected to said circuit means for shorting a portion of said circuit means to eliminate the voltage applied to the cell in response to a trigger pulse to deenergize the cell and to establish radiation amplification within the cavity; second shorting means connected to said circuit means for shorting another portion of said circuit means in response to radiation leaked from the cavity at its peak amplified value to apply voltage to the cell to rotate the polarization direction of radiation within the cavity to discharge radiation at its peak amplified value from the cavity; and means adapted for positioning adjacent one of the total reflection members and said second shorting means for exposing said second shorting means to radiation leaked from the cavity at its peak amplified value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 204 words
An actuating circuit for a time-variable reflectivity laser of the type having a cavity with total reflection members and a cell for rotating the polarization direction of radiation generated within the cavity, said actuating circuit comprising: a voltage source; circuit means connected to said voltage source and adapted for connection to the cell for applying voltage to rotate the polarization direction of radiation within the cavity to reduce reflectivity within the cavity; first shorting means connected to said circuit means for shorting a portion of said circuit means to eliminate the voltage applied to the cell in response to a trigger pulse to deenergize the cell and to establish radiation amplification within the cavity; second shorting means connected to said circuit means for shorting another portion of said circuit means in response to radiation leaked from the cavity at its peak amplified value to apply voltage to the cell to rotate the polarization direction of radiation within the cavity to discharge radiation at its peak amplified value from the cavity; and means adapted for positioning adjacent one of the total reflection members and said second shorting means for exposing said second shorting means to radiation leaked from the cavity at its peak amplified value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means comprises: a series arrangement of a pair of resistors, a capacitor, and a discharge resistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said capacitor and said discharge resistor are of such valUe as to provide an RC time constant substantially greater than twice the radiation transient time between the total reflection members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said one portion of said circuit means includes one of said pair of resistors, and said capacitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said other portion of said circuit means includes said capacitor and said discharge resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said one portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors, capacitor, and discharge resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said other portion of said circuit means includes said capacitor and discharge resistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said one portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors, and capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said other portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors, and discharge resistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 71 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first shorting means comprises a thyratron circuit, and said one portion of said circuit means includes one of said pair of resistors and said capacitor; and said second shorting means comprises a gas-pressurized spark gap having a pair of electrodes one of said electrodes being exposed to the leaked energy, and said other portion of said circuit means includes said capacitor and discharge resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 70 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first shorting means comprises a thyratron circuit, and said one portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors, capacitor, and discharge resistor; and said second shorting means comprises a gas-pressurized spark gap having a pair of electrodes, one of said electrodes being exposed to the leaked energy, and said other portion of said circuit means includes said capacitor and discharge resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 70 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first shorting means comprises a thyratron circuit, and said one portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors, and capacitor; and said second shorting means comprises a gas-pressurized spark gap having a pair of electrodes, one of said electrodes being exposed to the leaked energy, and said other portion of said circuit means includes said pair of resistors and discharge capacitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first shorting means comprises a thyratron circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second shorting means comprises a gas-pressurized spark gap having a pair of electrodes, one of said electrodes being exposed to said leaked energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the other of said electrodes is provided with an aperture having a lens for focussing the leaked energy on said exposed electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exposing means comprises light reflecting means adapted for positioning for movement with respect to one of the total reflection members to vary the length of the path of radiation leaked from the cavity and its transient time to said second shorting means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3521069A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-12-06 1975-06-07 1975-12-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-12-06 1979-06-07 1979-12-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-12-06 1983-06-07 1983-12-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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