← Back to Patent Explorer
US3973216A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser with a high frequency rate of modulation

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1975-04-28
•
Granted: 1976-08-03
•
Expires: 1995-04-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A dye laser having a high frequency rate of modulation wherein a Franz-Kesh filter is in the laser cavity to quench Q, and thereby provide modulation. The filter has an absorption edge that shifts in response to an applied electric field, thereby, modulating the laser beam.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Swart Hughes
  • 👤 Nicholas Bottka
  • 👤 Peter R. Hammond

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 00:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/1063

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 75 words
In a laser having a resonant cavity providing a laser beam, apparatus for modulating the beam at a high frequency rate, comprising: double heterojunction semiconductor structure within said cavity in the path of said beam, capable of supporting the Franz-Keldysh effect of absorption edge shift; means for causing said effect to occur in said structure in a predetermined pattern such that said beam is modulated in response to said pattern as it passes said structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 75 words
In a laser having a resonant cavity providing a laser beam, apparatus for modulating the beam at a high frequency rate, comprising: double heterojunction semiconductor structure within said cavity in the path of said beam, capable of supporting the Franz-Keldysh effect of absorption edge shift; means for causing said effect to occur in said structure in a predetermined pattern such that said beam is modulated in response to said pattern as it passes said structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spectral band width of said laser beam is selected to be narrow relative to said absorption edge shift such that said beam is amplitude modulated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 75 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said structure includes a plurality of layers of N-type material and a layer of P-type material, the layer of N-type material adjacent said layer of P-type material comprises the depletion region of GaAs x Sb 1-x , the layer of N-type adjacent said depletion region comprises the buffer zone of GaAs w Sb 1-w , and said layer of P-type material is comprised of GaAs y Sb 1-y .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein said layers of N-type material further include a substrate layer of GaAs adjacent said buffer zone opposite said depletion region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said means includes back biasing means including a modulation source for creating an varying an electric field in said structure to shift said absorption edge such that said beam is predeterminedly modulated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spectral band width of said laser beam is selected to be broad relative to said absorption edge shift such that said beam is frequency modulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 75 words
The structure of claim 6 wherein said structure includes a plurality of layers of N-type material and a layer of P-type material, the layer of N-type material adjacent said layer of P-type material comprises the depletion region of GaAs x Sb 1-x , the layer of N-type adjacent said depletion region comprises the buffer zone of GaAs w Sb 1-w , and said layer of P-type material is comprised of GaAs y Sb 1-y .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The structure of claim 7 wherein said layers of N-type material further include a substrate layer of GaAs adjacent said buffer zone opposite said depletion region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein said means includes back biasing means including a modulation source for creating and varying an electric field in said structure to shift said absorption edge such that said beam is predeterminedly modulated.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3842372A Cited
US3854795A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-08-03 1980-02-02 1980-08-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-08-03 1984-02-02 1984-08-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-08-03 1988-02-02 1988-08-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag