US3838358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser arrangements including catadioptric elements made from graded-index optical fibers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A catadioptric element (which is equivalent in effect to a spherical mirror) is made by depositing a high-reflectivity coating on one of the flat ends of a cylindrical segment of a graded-index optical fiber. All of the usual laser configurations requiring cavity-defining spherical mirrors can be constructed by using one or two such segments.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vanderleeden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0612; H01S3/0627; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In combination, an active laser medium, and two mirror elements positioned to define therebetween a resonant cavity that includes said medium, at least one of said elements comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded-index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium, and wherein at least one additional Mirror element is aligned with said one element at one end of said medium to form a multiple resonator structure, said additional mirror element comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded-index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In combination, an active laser medium, and two mirror elements positioned to define therebetween a resonant cavity that includes said medium, at least one of said elements comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded-index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium, and wherein at least one additional Mirror element is aligned with said one element at one end of said medium to form a multiple resonator structure, said additional mirror element comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded-index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
200 words
In combination, an active laser medium, and two mirror elements positioned to define therebetween a resonant cavity that includes said medium, at least one of said elements comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium, and wherein said medium comprises a rod having one end thereof cut at the Brewster angle and wherein said one element is positioned adjacent to said Brewster-cut end and aligned such that the longitudinal axis of said element is disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said rod at the angle at which an axial ray from said rod is refracted upon propagation into a material that has the same index of refraction as that at the center of said graded-index material, and wherein a material exhibiting said same index of refraction is interposed between said Brewster-cut end and said one element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
In combination, an active laser medium, and two mirror elements positioned to define therebetween a resonant cavity that includes said medium, at least one of said elements comprising a cylindrical segment of a graded index material, said segment having two spaced-apart flat faces perpendicular to a main longitudinal axis of said segment, the index of refraction of said segment being radially graded with respect to said longitudinal axis so as to decrease with increasing distance from said axis, and a high-reflectivity material coated on the flat face of said segment that is farthest removed from said medium, and wherein said medium comprises a rod having one end thereof cut at the Brewster angle and wherein said one element is positioned adjacent to said Brewster-cut end and aligned such that the longitudinal axis of said element is disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said rod at the angle at which an axial ray from said rod is refracted upon propagation into a material that has the same index of refraction as that at the center of said graded-index material, and wherein a material exhibiting said same index of refraction is interposed between said Brewster-cut end and said one element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3680000A
Cited
US3718383A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |