US3848203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tea laser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A TEA gas laser operated by condenser discharge of substantially more than 30 kilovolts directly across a multiplicity of pin electrodes and opposing electrode means to increase uniformity of the shower discharges therebetween and drastically reduce bright arc occurrences while exciting a greater volume of gas per pin and allowing a pin current of up to 10 amperes per pin. In a gas mixture of at least carbon dioxide and helium, less helium is required to sustain the shower discharges, providing for a greater carbon dioxide concentration, all of which results in greater energy output possibilities and greater efficiency possibilities in excess of 2 joules and over 11 percent respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 M Hale
- 👤 K Laurie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A pulsed TEA laser comprising: an elongated cavity having a longitudinal optical axis, first and second spaced electrode means positioned on opposite sides of said optical axis, means for introducing gas into said cavity between said electrode means, said first electrode means including a multiplicity of spaced pin electrodes each of which are positioned to cooperate with said second electrode means, storage condenser means, means for charging said condenser means to a voltage of about 40 kilovolts, means connecting said condenser means across said electrode means including switch means directly connecting said condenser means to each of said pin electrodes for applying said condenser voltage across said first and second electrode means for up to only one half microsecond to cause uniform shower discharges from each of said pin electrodes to said second electrode means, said gas being a mixture including carbon dioxide and helium with helium being at least 62 percent and less than 80 percent of the mixture by volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A pulsed TEA laser comprising: an elongated cavity having a longitudinal optical axis, first and second spaced electrode means positioned on opposite sides of said optical axis, means for introducing gas into said cavity between said electrode means, said first electrode means including a multiplicity of spaced pin electrodes each of which are positioned to cooperate with said second electrode means, storage condenser means, means for charging said condenser means to a voltage of about 40 kilovolts, means connecting said condenser means across said electrode means including switch means directly connecting said condenser means to each of said pin electrodes for applying said condenser voltage across said first and second electrode means for up to only one half microsecond to cause uniform shower discharges from each of said pin electrodes to said second electrode means, said gas being a mixture including carbon dioxide and helium with helium being at least 62 percent and less than 80 percent of the mixture by volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein said voltage is of at least 45 kilovolts to secure very uniform shower discharges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein the amount of said helium in said gas mixture is less than about 65 percent by volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein said cavity has an output window at one end for providing a laser output pulse as a result of said shower discharges, and wherein the voltage to which said condenser means is charged is sufficiently above 40 kilovolts to cause a reduction of at least about 50 percent, as compared to when the condenser means is charged to only 30 kilovolts, in the number of times the laser output pulse energy drops below 25 percent of the average output thereof, thereby causing a drastic reduction in the degeneration of said shower discharges to bright arcs and greatly increasing the uniformity of the shower discharges as compared to the results from only a 30 kilovolt charge of said condenser means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein said voltage is in the range of from about 40 kilovolts to at least 60 kilovolts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser as in claim 5 wherein said gas is a mixture including carbon dioxide and helium with helium being less than 70 percent by volume.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of operating pulsed TEA laser of the type including: an elongated cavity having a longitudinal optical axis, first and second spaced electrode means positioned on opposite sides of said optical axis, means for introducing gas into said cavity between said electrode means, said first electrode means including a multiplicity of spaced pin electrodes each of which are positioned to cooperate with said second electrode means, storage condenser means, means for charging said condenser means to a very high voltage, means connecting said condenser means across said electrode means including switch means directly connecting said condenser means to each of said pin electrodes; said method comprising the steps of: introducing into said cavity between said electrode means via said introducing means at substantially atmospheric pressure a gas mixture including at least carbon dioxide and helium with helium being in the range of from 62 percent to less than 80 percent by volume, charging said condenser means to at least about 40 kilovolts, and operating said switch means for applying the resulting condenser voltage directly across said first and second electrode means for up to only one-half microsecond to cause from each of said pin electrodes to said second electrode respective shower discharges that excite a larger volume of the gas mixture per pin and degenerate into bright arcs substantially less frequent than when the helium content of said mixture is outside said range.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of operating pulsed TEA laser of the type including: an elongated cavity having a longitudinal optical axis, first and second spaced electrode means positioned on opposite sides of said optical axis, means for introducing gas into said cavity between said electrode means, said first electrode means including a multiplicity of spaced pin electrodes each of which are positioned to cooperate with said second electrode means, storage condenser means, means for charging said condenser means to a very high voltage, means connecting said condenser means across said electrode means including switch means directly connecting said condenser means to each of said pin electrodes; said method comprising the steps of: introducing into said cavity between said electrode means via said introducing means at substantially atmospheric pressure a gas mixture including at least carbon dioxide and helium with helium being in the range of from 62 percent to less than 80 percent by volume, charging said condenser means to at least about 40 kilovolts, and operating said switch means for applying the resulting condenser voltage directly across said first and second electrode means for up to only one-half microsecond to cause from each of said pin electrodes to said second electrode respective shower discharges that excite a larger volume of the gas mixture per pin and degenerate into bright arcs substantially less frequent than when the helium content of said mixture is outside said range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein said charging step causes the condenser means to be charged to a voltage in the range of about 40 kilovolts to at least 60 kilovolts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 8 including flowing through said cavity via said gas introducing means a gas mixture including at least carbon dioxide and helium with helium being less than 70 percent by volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein said charging step includes charging said condenser means to a said very high voltage that is sufficiently above 40 kilovolts to cause a significant reduction, as compared to when the condenser means is charged to only 30 kilovolts, in the number of times the laser output pulse energy drops below 25 percent of the average output thereof, thereby causing a drastic reduction in the degeneration of said shower discharges to bright arcs and greatly increasing the excited volume of gas per pin and the uniformity of the shower discharges over the results from only a 30 kilovolt charge of said condenser means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein said significant reduction is at least about 50 percent.
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) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |