US3808553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermally stable laser resonator support assembly
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-21
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-11-21
Abstract
Abstract The optical cavity in a laser system is defined by mirrors held in a predetermined spacial relationship that is maintained in spite of thermal gradients and temperature variations in the parts of the laser system which hold and support the mirrors. The relative spacial relationship of the mirrors to each other is maintained by a plurality of spacer rods which are made of a material which has relatively low thermal expansion and these spacer rods connect directly to the plates or blocks that carry the mirrors. Shields or enclosures for these bodies are made of a material which has a relatively high thermal conductivity and which does not in any way fix or limit the spacial relationship of the mirrors and so the temperature of the spacer rods remains sufficiently uniform that the thermal expansion thereof does not cause an excessive deviation in the spacial relationship of the mirrors in spite of changing thermal conditions and gradients throughout and about the laser system.
Inventors
- 👤 E Locke
- 👤 J Zar
- 👤 R Hella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/086; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/041; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In a laser system, having a resonant optical cavity formed by mirrors, said optical cavity having an optical axis, means for holding said mirrors in spacial relationship comprising in combination, a plurality of spacer bodies, the dimensions of which define said spacial relationship between the mirrors, heat shielding means which does not mechanically define said spacial relationship enclosing said spacer bodies for minimizing thermal gradients in said spacer bodies, heat sink means in substantial thermal contact with said shielding means for removing heat therefrom, whereby the temperature of said spacer bodies remains sufficiently uniform that the thermal expansions and contractions thereof do not cause an excessive deviation in the spacial relationship of the mirrors, and first and second end blocks, said mirrors being attached to said end blocks, said spacer bodies are each attached to said end blocks holding them in spacial relationship, and said heat shielding means is fixedly connected to only one of the end blocks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a laser system, having a resonant optical cavity formed by mirrors, said optical cavity having an optical axis, means for holding said mirrors in spacial relationship comprising in combination, a plurality of spacer bodies, the dimensions of which define said spacial relationship between the mirrors, heat shielding means which does not mechanically define said spacial relationship enclosing said spacer bodies for minimizing thermal gradients in said spacer bodies, heat sink means in substantial thermal contact with said shielding means for removing heat therefrom, whereby the temperature of said spacer bodies remains sufficiently uniform that the thermal expansions and contractions thereof do not cause an excessive deviation in the spacial relationship of the mirrors, and first and second end blocks, said mirrors being attached to said end blocks, said spacer bodies are each attached to said end blocks holding them in spacial relationship, and said heat shielding means is fixedly connected to only one of the end blocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 wherein, the heat shielding means for the spacer bodies includes a separate shield enclosing each of the spacer bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a laser system as in claim 2 wherein, each of the separate shielding means is fixedly connected to only one of the end blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 additionally comprising, a base member defining a mechAnical reference plane, and support structure means for supporting said end blocks, said support structure means being carried by said base member and said end blocks being carried by said support structure means whereby only said first end block is moveable with respect to said reference plane in the direction of said optical axis, and said heat shielding means is fixedly attached to said second end block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 wherein: there are at least three spacer bodies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 wherein, there are four spacer bodies each having a longitudinal axis and each oriented with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to said optical axis and spaced from each other to permit direct access to the optical cavity from at least two opposite sides thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a laser system as in claim 6 wherein, means are provided for directing energy to the optical cavity from one side thereof between spacer bodies and means are provided for directing the laser gas medium through the optical cavity, said gas entering from one of two said opposite sides and leaving from the other of said two opposite sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 wherein, the spacer bodies are composed of a material selected for its relatively low thermal expansion and the heat shielding means is composed of a material selected for its relatively high thermal conductivity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a laser system as in claim 1 wherein, the means in thermal contact with the heat shielding means includes a coolant fluid and means for conducting said fluid against the heat shielding means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a laser system as in claim 8 wherein, the material selected for its relatively low thermal expansion is invar steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a laser system as in claim 8 wherein, the material selected for its relatively high conductivity is copper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a laser system including a structure having a bottom and opposed ends for supporting mirrors which form a resonant optical cavity having an optical axis in the system, means for supporting said structure with respect to a mechanical reference plane comprising in combination, first means defining two grooves at one end of the structure, said grooves being directed along lines that cross at a point lying in a vertical plane passing through the optical axis and which make equal angles with respect thereto, second means defining another groove at the other end of said structure said groove being directed along a line which lies in said plane, and three supports each of which contacts a different one of said grooves and upon which the structure moveably rests, whereby longitudinal expansions and contractions of the structure which are parallel to the optical axis and lateral expansions and contractions of the structure which are transverse to the direction of the optical axis cause said structure to move on said supports without substantial changes in the direction of the optical cavity with respect to the supports.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a laser system including a structure having a bottom and opposed ends for supporting mirrors which form a resonant optical cavity having an optical axis in the system, means for supporting said structure with respect to a mechanical reference plane comprising in combination, first means defining two grooves at one end of the structure, said grooves being directed along lines that cross at a point lying in a vertical plane passing through the optical axis and which make equal angles with respect thereto, second means defining another groove at the other end of said structure said groove being directed along a line which lies in said plane, and three supports each of which contacts a different one of said grooves and upon which the structure moveably rests, whereby longitudinal expansions and contractions of the structure which are parallel to the optical axis and lateral expansions and contractions of the structure which are transverse to the direction of the optical axis cause said structure to move on said supports without substantial changes in the direction of the optical cavity with respect to the supports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a laser system as in claim 12 wherein, the grooves open at the bottom of the structure and the supports are upstanding rounded pads which fit in the grooves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a laser system as in claim 12 wherein, the groove lines crossing point is within the length of the optical cavity.
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) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |