Patent US3719829A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3719829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser beam techniques
Assignee: Versar Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-10
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1990-04-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods in which a laser beam or other light source of comparable steradiancy is employed to establish a lowlevel ionization trail through a gas medium, and then auxiliary means external to the optical source is employed to increase the ionization within that initial trail to a high level, whereby to form a more highly conductive path over which useful amounts of electrical energy can be conducted for the transmission of intelligence or power.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vaill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:10
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H13/00; F41H13/0012; F41H13/0043; F41H13/005; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/36; H01Q1/364; H01Q1/366; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/11; H04B10/112; H04B10/1121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized straight line conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an initial ionization trail having a first degree of concentration; b. an auxiliary high voltage output source coupled to discharge energy in the form of an electrical streamer tip along said ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a second higher degree to thereby establish said straight line conductive path through the medium; and c. the concentration of the initial ionization trail being at least as great as the minimal concentration of ionization necessary to guide the high voltage streamer tip over the length of the path in a straight line, but being less than an excessive concentration at which the ionization of the portion of the trail nearest the laser will attenuate the energy of the beam reaching the remaining portion of the trail and thereby reduce the concentration in the latter portion below said minimal concentration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized straight line conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an initial ionization trail having a first degree of concentration; b. an auxiliary high voltage output source coupled to discharge energy in the form of an electrical streamer tip along said ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a second higher degree to thereby establish said straight line conductive path through the medium; and c. the concentration of the initial ionization trail being at least as great as the minimal concentration of ionization necessary to guide the high voltage streamer tip over the length of the path in a straight line, but being less than an excessive concentration at which the ionization of the portion of the trail nearest the laser will attenuate the energy of the beam reaching the remaining portion of the trail and thereby reduce the concentration in the latter portion below said minimal concentration.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized straight line conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an initial ionization trail having a first degree of concentration; b. an auxiliary high voltage output source coupled to discharge energy in the form of an electrical streamer tip along said ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a second higher degree to thereby establish said straight line conductive path through the medium; and c. the concentration of the initial ionization trail being at least as great as the minimal concentration of ionization necessary to guide the high voltage streamer tip over the length of the path in a straight line, but being less than an excessive concentration at which the ionization of the portion of the trail nearest the laser will attenuate the energy of the beam reaching the remaining portion of the trail and thereby reduce the concentration in the latter portion below said minimal concentration.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized straight line conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an initial ionization trail having a first degree of concentration; b. an auxiliary high voltage output source coupled to discharge energy in the form of an electrical streamer tip along said ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a second higher degree to thereby establish said straight line conductive path through the medium; and c. the concentration of the initial ionization trail being at least as great as the minimal concentration of ionization necessary to guide the high voltage streamer tip over the length of the path in a straight line, but being less than an excessive concentration at which the ionization of the portion of the trail nearest the laser will attenuate the energy of the beam reaching the remaining portion of the trail and thereby reduce the concentration in the latter portion below said minimal concentration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a system as set forth in claim 1, conductive electrode means coupled to the initial ionization trail at positions spaced therealong, and said auxiliary high voltage source comprising a high-energy electrical power supply coupled to discharge along said trail between said electrode means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. a load intended to receive a power discharge through it; b. laser means operative to pass through said medium beams which intersect said load and lay down ionization trails of low concentration to the load; and c. an auxiliary high-energy output source comprising a high voltage electrical power supply coupled to the laser means such that the load and the laser beams and the auxiliary source form a series-circuit operative to discharge power therethrough and increase the ionization concentration in said trails to establish said highly conductive path.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. a load intended to receive a power discharge through it; b. laser means operative to pass through said medium beams which intersect said load and lay down ionization trails of low concentration to the load; and c. an auxiliary high-energy output source comprising a high voltage electrical power supply coupled to the laser means such that the load and the laser beams and the auxiliary source form a series-circuit operative to discharge power therethrough and increase the ionization concentration in said trails to establish said highly conductive path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a system as set forth in claim 1, said laser means comprising a periodically pulsed laser, and said auxiliary source comprising a pulse-discharge power supply, and said system including control means for discharging the source into the initial ionization trail produced by the laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a system as set forth in claim 4, conductive electrode means coupled to the laser trail, and said control means including means to actuate said auxiliary source to discharge into the laser-produced trail while it is present.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a system as set forth in claim 5, said laser means being on the ground and directing a beam into the air, and said auxiliary source being coupled between ground and said beam, and pulsing the latter periodically to form a more-highly conductive monopole radiator.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an Ionization trail of low concentration; and b. an auxiliary high energy output source coupled to discharge that energy along said low ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a high degree to thereby establish said highly conductive path through medium, said auxiliary source comprising a high-voltage high-energy power supply having alternating ripple components superimposed thereon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an Ionization trail of low concentration; and b. an auxiliary high energy output source coupled to discharge that energy along said low ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a high degree to thereby establish said highly conductive path through medium, said auxiliary source comprising a high-voltage high-energy power supply having alternating ripple components superimposed thereon.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an ionization trail of low concentration; b. an auxiliary high energy output source coupled to discharge that energy along said low ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a high degree to thereby establish said highly conductive path through the medium; and c. said laser means radiating at a relatively shorter wavelength and establishing a first ionization trail, and said auxiliary source comprising another laser radiating at a relatively longer wavelength and directed along said first trail and operative to augment its ionization.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for establishing a highly ionized conductive path in a gas medium, comprising: a. laser means operative to pass through said medium a beam of intensity sufficient to lay down an ionization trail of low concentration; b. an auxiliary high energy output source coupled to discharge that energy along said low ionization trail and increase the ionization concentration in the trail to a high degree to thereby establish said highly conductive path through the medium; and c. said laser means radiating at a relatively shorter wavelength and establishing a first ionization trail, and said auxiliary source comprising another laser radiating at a relatively longer wavelength and directed along said first trail and operative to augment its ionization.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a system as set forth in claim 8, means for coaxially superimposing said first and second trails.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of establishing in a gas medium a long highly conductive path having an initial portion and having a terminal portion, including the steps of passing through the medium an electromagnetic beam of energy density sufficient to establish an ionization trail having an ionization concentration approaching but less than such a degree that the ionization in the initial portion of the path will attenuate the beam energy and prevent it from ionizing the terminal portion of the path, and propagating energy along said trail when established at a very much higher level sufficient to greatly increase the degree of ionization in the trail and form said highly conductive path.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of establishing in a gas medium a long highly conductive path having an initial portion and having a terminal portion, including the steps of passing through the medium an electromagnetic beam of energy density sufficient to establish an ionization trail having an ionization concentration approaching but less than such a degree that the ionization in the initial portion of the path will attenuate the beam energy and prevent it from ionizing the terminal portion of the path, and propagating energy along said trail when established at a very much higher level sufficient to greatly increase the degree of ionization in the trail and form said highly conductive path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as set forth in claim 10, including the step of propagating electrical energy along the trail by discharging it through the trail between electrodes spaced therealong.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |