US3739296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser systems and laser control systems
Assignee: CBS Broadcasting Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-18
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1990-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A laser resonator includes nodally-mounted, passive, refractive or reflective image-forming means separate from the lasing medium and conjugate reflective surfaces on which conjugate images are formed. Activation of a desired mode or modes of the laser is achieved by selective excitation.
Inventors
- 👤 L Beiser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/09707; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/09155; H01S3/10; H01S3/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In combination, a resonant cavity having optical-surface means, said surface means being partially reflective; imageforming means, there being a first optical path between said image-forming means and a first portion of said surface means and a second optical path between said image-forming means and a second portion of said surface means, said first and second portions being located at conjugate foci of said image-forming means; an active lasing medium in at least one of said optical paths, said lasing medium being separate from said image-forming means and capable of sustaining a plurality of angularly related modes, means for pumping said lasing medium to a level below the lasing threshold, and excitation means for pumping selected regions of said active medium to a level above the lasing threshold so that selected ones of said angularly related modes will resonate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In combination, a resonant cavity having optical-surface means, said surface means being partially reflective; imageforming means, there being a first optical path between said image-forming means and a first portion of said surface means and a second optical path between said image-forming means and a second portion of said surface means, said first and second portions being located at conjugate foci of said image-forming means; an active lasing medium in at least one of said optical paths, said lasing medium being separate from said image-forming means and capable of sustaining a plurality of angularly related modes, means for pumping said lasing medium to a level below the lasing threshold, and excitation means for pumping selected regions of said active medium to a level above the lasing threshold so that selected ones of said angularly related modes will resonate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lasing medium is in both of said optical paths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lasing medium is in only one of said optical paths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said excitation means comprises a beam scan tube positioned in the other of said optical paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image-forming means is a lens, said lens being corrected for spherical aberration by variation of its index of refraction in a radial direction so that said foci are substantially diffraction-limited in size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said surface means are of different curvature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said surface means are of equal radii.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surface means is cylindrical and spoils interferometric reinforcement at points on said surface means displaced from a scanning plane normal to the cylinder axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image-forming means is a mirror, said mirror and surface means being curved about equal radii and being spaced apart from each other a distance equal to their common radius.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surface means comprises two spherical mirrors, one mounted
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mirrors are of different curvature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mirrors are of equal curvature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said excitation means pumps said lasing medium at positions spaced from mode endings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said excitation means comprises means for injecting electrons into said lasing medium at a position to cause the selected modes to resonate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for injecting electrons into said lasing medium comprises an electron gun generating a beam of primary electrons and means for positioning and shaping said beam, said electron gun and said positioning means being mounted symmetrically along a given axis to permit scanning through 360* in a plane normal to said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said positioning and shaping means comprises a conical mirror electrode means and aberration corrector electrode means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said positioning and shaping means further comprises annular mirror electrode means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said beam of primary electrons penetrates the mode volume.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said beam of primary electrons is in spaced-apart relation to the lasing medium and by transfer process provides for excitation of the lasing medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for injecting electrons into said lasing medium comprises an electron gun generating a beam of primary electrons, means for shaping ane positioning said beam, secondary emission means, said beam of primary electrons striking said secondary emission means and causing emission of secondary electrons and said secondary electrons penetrating the mode volume, and means maintaining a harder vacuum in the region traversed by said primary electrons than in the region traversed by said secondary electrons.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for injecting electrons into said lasing medium comprises an electron gun generating a beam or primary electrons, means for positioning and shaping said beam, photoelectron emission means, said beam of primary electrons striking said photoelectron emission means and causing emission of photoelectrons and said photoelectrons penetrating the mode volume, and means maintaining a harder vacuum in the region traversed by said primary electrons than in the region traversed by said photoelectrons.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selected modes are reflected within said cavity by said surface means, and said image-forming means is passive and mounted nodally with respect to said surface 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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |