Flashlamp triggering arrangements for pressurized gas cooled lasers

Claim 2

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, each of said first and second electrodes having a rounded end facing the other of said electrodes, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said first electrode defining a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent to said end, an electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said patch and extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing from said patch to at least the vicinity of said second electrode, and means for applying a dc voltage between said first and second electrodes and a trigger voltage between said first electrode and said patch.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said patch includes a spring member shrunk onto said portion of said housing surface.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring member consists of a spiral-wound strip.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said strip is of steel.

Claim 6

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, each of said first and second electrodes having a rounded end facing the other of said electrodes, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said first electrode defining a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent to said end, an electrically conductive wire extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing and electrically connected to said patch and to said second electrode, first and second power supply terminals, said second power supply terminal being coupled to said second electrode, a capacitor coupled between said first and second power supply terminals, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding being coupled between said first power supply terminal and said first electrode, and means for applying a trigger voltage across said primary winding.

Claim 7

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, each of said first and second electrodes having a rounded end facing the other of said electrodes, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said first electrode defining a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent to said end, an electrically conductive wire extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing and electrically connected to said patch and to said second electrode, first and second power supply terminals, said second power supply terminal being coupled to said second electrode, a capacitor coupled between said first and second power supply terminals, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding being coupled between said first power supply terminal and said first electrode, and means for applying a trigger voltage across said primary winding.

Claim 8

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, each of said first and second electrodes having a rounded end facing the other of said electrodes, a triggering arrangement comprising: a first electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a first portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said first electrode defining a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent to said end, a second electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a second portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said second electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said second electrode, an electrically conductive wire extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing between said first and second patches and electrically connected to said first and second patches, a first power supply terminal coupled to said first electrode, a second power supply terminal coupled to said second electrode, a capacitor coupled between said first and second power supply terminals, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding being coupled between said first patch and said second power supply terminal, and means for applying a trigger voltage across said primary winding.

Claim 9

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, each of said first and second electrodes having a rounded end facing the other of said electrodes, a triggering arrangement comprising: a first electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a first portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said first electrode defining a sharp-edged annular rim projecting outwardly from its lateral surface adjacent to said end, a second electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a second portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said second electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said second electrode, an electrically conductive wire extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing between said first and second patches and electrically connected to said first and second patches, a first power supply terminal coupled to said first electrode, a second power supply terminal coupled to said second electrode, a capacitor coupled between said first and second power supply terminals, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding being coupled between said first patch and said second power supply terminal, and means for applying a trigger voltage across said primary winding.

Claim 10

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, an electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said patch and extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing from said patch to at least the vicinity of said second electrode, said electrically conductive wire being disposed such that it makes substantially one-half of a spiral turn about the outer lateral surface of said housing, and means for applying a dc voltage between said first and second electrodes and a trigger voltage between said first electrode and said patch.

Claim 11

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, an electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said patch and extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing from said patch to at least the vicinity of said second electrode, said electrically conductive wire being disposed such that it makes substantially one-half of a spiral turn about the outer lateral surface of said housing, and means for applying a dc voltage between said first and second electrodes and a trigger voltage between said first electrode and said patch.

Claim 12

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said patch extending approximately halfway around the circumference of said housing, an electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said patch and extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing from said patch to at least the vicinity of said second electrode, and means for applying a dc voltage between said first and second electrodes and a trigger voltage between said first electrode and said patch.

Claim 13

In combination with a flashlamp having an elongated substantially tubular hermetically sealed housing of dielectric material, an ionizable gas within said housing, and first and second spaced coaxially aligned substantially cylindrical electrodes disposed within said housing at opposite ends thereof, a triggering arrangement comprising: an electrically conductive patch in intimate contact with a portion of the outer lateral surface of said housing extending over a portion of said first electrode and terminating at a longitudinal location along said housing substantially aligned with the inner end of said first electrode, said patch extending approximately halfway around the circumference of said housing, an electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said patch and extending along the outer lateral surface of said housing from said patch to at least the vicinity of said second electrode, and means for applying a dc voltage between said first and second electrodes and a trigger voltage between said first electrode and said patch.