US3883818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal-vapor laser with improved vapor condensing means
Assignee: COHERENT RADIATION
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Filing: 1973-04-27
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A metal-vapor laser includes means for reversing the direction of the electrical discharge as it leaves the discharge-confining bore tube to separate the transported vaporized metal from the active discharge region prior to condensation.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven James Heising
- 👤 Mark W Dowley
- 👤 William A Shull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A gas laser comprising: a. means for enclosing a lasing medium comprising at least one normally non-gaseous constituent which is in the vapor state during the operation of the laser; b. an anode and a cathode and a direct current electrical discharge therebetween through said lasing medium; c. a bore tube for confining said discharge and having an open end at the cathode end of the laser; d. an optical resonator axially aligned with at least a part of said electrical discharge path; e. means for transporting said vaporized constituent along said bore tube in the direction of said open end of said bore tube; f. means for causing condensation of said vaporized constituent outside the region of said electrical discharge comprising physical barrier means for reversing the path of said direct current electrical discharge as the electrical discharge exits from said open end of said bore tube to separate said electrical discharge from said transported vaporized constituent; and g. means for accepting the condensation of the spent vaporized constituent outside of the region of the discharge after said transported vaporized constituent exits from said open end of said bore tube and is separated from said electrical discharge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A gas laser comprising: a. means for enclosing a lasing medium comprising at least one normally non-gaseous constituent which is in the vapor state during the operation of the laser; b. an anode and a cathode and a direct current electrical discharge therebetween through said lasing medium; c. a bore tube for confining said discharge and having an open end at the cathode end of the laser; d. an optical resonator axially aligned with at least a part of said electrical discharge path; e. means for transporting said vaporized constituent along said bore tube in the direction of said open end of said bore tube; f. means for causing condensation of said vaporized constituent outside the region of said electrical discharge comprising physical barrier means for reversing the path of said direct current electrical discharge as the electrical discharge exits from said open end of said bore tube to separate said electrical discharge from said transported vaporized constituent; and g. means for accepting the condensation of the spent vaporized constituent outside of the region of the discharge after said transported vaporized constituent exits from said open end of said bore tube and is separated from said electrical discharge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A gas laser as in claim 1 wherein said direction changing means comprises a cup-shaped member axially aligned with and concentrically surrounding said open end of said bore tube, said cup-shaped member having an aperture through which said open end of said bore tube extends, and including a restricted passageway between said open end of said bore tube and the remainder of the concentrically arranged cup-shaped member to allow the passage of said electrical discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A gas laser as in claim 2 wherein said cathode comprises a cylindrical elongated cathode surrounding at least a part of said bore tube and said cup-shaped member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gas laser as in claim 3 wherein said non-gaseous constituent is a metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A gas laser as in claim 3 wherein said non-gaseous constituent is cadmium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gas laser as in claim 1 wherein said condensation means additionally includes means for passing said reversed discharge through a restricted passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gas laser as in claim 6 wherein said non-gaseous constituent is a metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A gas laser as in claim 6 wherein said non-gaseous constituent is cadmium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a metal-vapor laser having a gas containing envelope, an optical resonator, an anode and a cylindrical cathode, a discharge-confining bore tube, a current-distributing umbrella member concentrically surrounding the cathode end of said bore tube, and means for transporting said vaporized metal along said bore tube in the direction of an open end thereof, and wherein the improvement comprises means for utilizing said umbrella member for separating said transported vaporized metal from said discharge to insure condensation outside of the discharge region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a metal-vapor laser having a gas containing envelope, an optical resonator, an anode and a cylindrical cathode, a discharge-confining bore tube, a current-distributing umbrella member concentrically surrounding the cathode end of said bore tube, and means for transporting said vaporized metal along said bore tube in the direction of an open end thereof, and wherein the improvement comprises means for utilizing said umbrella member for separating said transported vaporized metal from said discharge to insure condensation outside of the discharge region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A metal-vapor laser as in claim 4 wherein said umbrella member is sealed to said bore tube at the open end thereof except for a restricted passageway therebetween, and wherein said separating means comprises means for reversing the direction of the discharge as it leaves the open end of said bore tube and passing the reversed current through said restricted passageway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gas laser as in claim 10 wherein said nOn-gaseous constituent is a metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A gas laser as in claim 10 wherein said non-gaseous constituent is cadmium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A gas laser as in claim 9 wherein said optical resonator forms a part of said gas-containing envelope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3639804A
Cited
US3755756A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |