US3740110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabrication method for gas lasers having integral mirrors
Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1971-05-10
•
Granted: 1973-06-19
•
Expires: 1991-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Attaching integral mirrors to the opposite ends of the laser tube with a sealant which remains soft for a given time, and then while the sealant is still soft operating a lasing discharge in the tube until mechanical equilibrium is reached, and thereafter in the presence of this lasing discharge adjusting the relative positions of the mirrors to substantially achieve peak output from the laser. Useful for mass production of laser tubes, where the peaking of the laser output is done at a remote station, after which the tube is returned to atmospheric pressure and can be stored until it can be finally processed by a conventional exhaust machine.
Inventors
- 👤 M Horton
- 👤 R Kutay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J9/00; H01J9/38; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for fabricating a sealed gas laser discharge device from a predetermined gas, first and second mirror members and a tube assembly comprising an envelope having respective first and second openings at opposite ends thereof and an evacuation port, said envelope also Having in cooperative relationship therewith suitable means required for establishing a discharge therein, said method comprising the steps of: 1. attaching said first and second mirror members respectively to said first and second openings of said envelope with a soft sealant which becomes hardened only after the elapse of a given time interval, 2. during said given time interval and without any baking out said device evacuating said device through said port and thereafter for the first time introducing the proper amount of said predetermined gas required for desired lasing operation, 3. during said given time interval establishing a certain discharge through said first-introduced predetermined gas, maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved, and then adjusting the relative positions of said first and second mirrors in said still soft sealant until the lasing output from said device is at least in the vicinity of peak output, 4. terminating said discharge, 5. after said given time interval when said sealant has hardened, removing said gas through said port while returning said discharge device to atmospheric pressure without disturbing the adjusted relative positions of said first and second mirrors, and 6. thereafter, said sealant has hardened, again evacuating said discharge device through said port, baking out said discharge device at a given temperature for a required time, introducing said proper amount of said predetermined gas for a second time, and permanently sealing said port in that order.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for fabricating a sealed gas laser discharge device from a predetermined gas, first and second mirror members and a tube assembly comprising an envelope having respective first and second openings at opposite ends thereof and an evacuation port, said envelope also Having in cooperative relationship therewith suitable means required for establishing a discharge therein, said method comprising the steps of: 1. attaching said first and second mirror members respectively to said first and second openings of said envelope with a soft sealant which becomes hardened only after the elapse of a given time interval, 2. during said given time interval and without any baking out said device evacuating said device through said port and thereafter for the first time introducing the proper amount of said predetermined gas required for desired lasing operation, 3. during said given time interval establishing a certain discharge through said first-introduced predetermined gas, maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved, and then adjusting the relative positions of said first and second mirrors in said still soft sealant until the lasing output from said device is at least in the vicinity of peak output, 4. terminating said discharge, 5. after said given time interval when said sealant has hardened, removing said gas through said port while returning said discharge device to atmospheric pressure without disturbing the adjusted relative positions of said first and second mirrors, and 6. thereafter, said sealant has hardened, again evacuating said discharge device through said port, baking out said discharge device at a given temperature for a required time, introducing said proper amount of said predetermined gas for a second time, and permanently sealing said port in that order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein step is carried out by an exhaust machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
during said given time interval and without any baking out said device evacuating said device through said port and thereafter for the first time introducing the proper amount of said predetermined gas required for desired lasing operation,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
during said given time interval and without any baking out said device evacuating said device through said port and thereafter for the first time introducing the proper amount of said predetermined gas required for desired lasing operation,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
during said given time interval when said sealant is still soft establishing a certain discharge through said gas,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
during said given time interval when said sealant is still soft establishing a certain discharge through said gas,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
during said given time interval establishing a certain discharge through said first-introduced predetermined gas, maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved, and then adjusting the relative positions of said first and second mirrors in said still soft sealant until the lasing output from said device is at least in the vicinity of peak output,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
during said given time interval establishing a certain discharge through said first-introduced predetermined gas, maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved, and then adjusting the relative positions of said first and second mirrors in said still soft sealant until the lasing output from said device is at least in the vicinity of peak output,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein step (1) includes the steps of employing an alignment laser to adjust the initial position of said first mirror in contacting relationship with said first opening of said tube assembly and to adjust the initial position of said second mirror in contacting relationship with said said opening of said tube assembly, to form with said first and second mirrors in their respective initial positions an optical resonant cavity for said laser, evacuating said device to thereby hold said first and second mirrors in their respective initial position under the force of external air pressure, and thereafter applying said soft sealant to said first mirror and one end of said tube assembly and to said second mirror and the other end of said tube assembly without moving said first and second mirrors from their respective initial positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
during said given time interval when said sealant is still soft maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
during said given time interval when said sealant is still soft maintaining said certain discharge until mechanical equilibrium is achieved,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein step (2) further includes the step occurring prior to the first introduction of said predetermined gas of introducing a given amount of oxygen into said device and establishing an oxygen glow discharge in said device for a given time while said device is evacuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
3 words
terminating said discharge,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
3 words
terminating said discharge,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
then during said given time intervaL when said sealant is still soft adjusting said relative positions of said mirrors in the presence of said certain discharge until said laser operates at least in the vicinity of peak output, and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
then during said given time intervaL when said sealant is still soft adjusting said relative positions of said mirrors in the presence of said certain discharge until said laser operates at least in the vicinity of peak output, and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
thereafter permitting said sealant to harden without disturbing the adjusted positions of said mirrors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
thereafter permitting said sealant to harden without disturbing the adjusted positions of said mirrors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
after said given time interval when said sealant has hardened, removing said gas through said port while returning said discharge device to atmospheric pressure without disturbing the adjusted relative positions of said first and second mirrors, and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
after said given time interval when said sealant has hardened, removing said gas through said port while returning said discharge device to atmospheric pressure without disturbing the adjusted relative positions of said first and second mirrors, and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined in claim 4, wherein step (6) further includes the step of introducing a given amount of oxygen into said device and establishing an oxygen glow discharge in said device for a given time said device is evacuated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
thereafter, said sealant has hardened, again evacuating said discharge device through said port, baking out said discharge device at a given temperature for a required time, introducing said proper amount of said predetermined gas for a second time, and permanently sealing said port in that order.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
thereafter, said sealant has hardened, again evacuating said discharge device through said port, baking out said discharge device at a given temperature for a required time, introducing said proper amount of said predetermined gas for a second time, and permanently sealing said port in that order.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the fabrication of a gas laser employing a predetermined gas, said laser having integral mirrors fixedly attached to opposite ends of the envelope thereof by a sealant which is initially soft but which hardens after a given time interval, a method for adjusting the relative positions of said mirrors to obtain peak output from said laser during operation thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the fabrication of a gas laser employing a predetermined gas, said laser having integral mirrors fixedly attached to opposite ends of the envelope thereof by a sealant which is initially soft but which hardens after a given time interval, a method for adjusting the relative positions of said mirrors to obtain peak output from said laser during operation thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3390351A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |