US4103254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunable frequency laser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-10
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Granted: 1978-07-25
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Expires: 1996-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for stabilizing the frequency of a laser beam is provided wherein the laser beam from a laser cavity is sampled and dispersed. A pair of detectors detect any energy sharing of the laser beam at the desired output frequency with laser beams at a frequency above and below the desired frequency to produce an error signal. The error signal is fed back to the laser cavity to correct the distance between opposite ends of the cavity to adjust the wave length of the laser beam to emit amplified light at the desired frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie F. Chikami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/13; H01S3/139
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A stabilization system for stabilizing a laser beam to a desired frequency, which laser beam is produced between the longitudinal ends of a laser cavity, comprising: control means adapted to adjust the longitudinal length of the laser cavity; means for dispersing at least a portion of said laser beam into separate frequency components; means for receiving the dispersed frequency components and detecting the occurance of those components having frequencies which are above and below a desired frequency component; means for producing an error signal in response to the detection of frequency components having frequencies which are above or below the desired frequency and, means for transmitting said error signal to said control means whereby the longitudinal length of the laser cavity is adapted to be adjusted by the control means in proportion to the error signal to stabilize the laser beam at the desired frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A stabilization system for stabilizing a laser beam to a desired frequency, which laser beam is produced between the longitudinal ends of a laser cavity, comprising: control means adapted to adjust the longitudinal length of the laser cavity; means for dispersing at least a portion of said laser beam into separate frequency components; means for receiving the dispersed frequency components and detecting the occurance of those components having frequencies which are above and below a desired frequency component; means for producing an error signal in response to the detection of frequency components having frequencies which are above or below the desired frequency and, means for transmitting said error signal to said control means whereby the longitudinal length of the laser cavity is adapted to be adjusted by the control means in proportion to the error signal to stabilize the laser beam at the desired frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stabilization system as described in claim 1, wherein said dispersing means comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stabilization system as described in claim 2, further comprising: sampling means for sampling the laser beam, and wherein said grating is mounted external to the laser cavity to receive a portion of the laser beam from said sampling means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stabilization system as described in claim 2, wherein said grating comprises an end reflector of said laser cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The stabilization system as described in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a pair of detectors with the first detector being adapted to produce an error signal in response to detection of a laser beam frequency component having a frequency above the desired frequency and the second detector being adapted to produce an opposite error signal in response to the detection of a laser beam frequency component having a frequency below the desired frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The stabilization system as described in claim 5, wherein said transmitting means comprises an amplifier coupled to said detectors for amplifying the combined error signal and transmitting said combined error signal to said control means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of stabilizing the frequency of a laser beam produced in a laser cavity to a desired frequency, comprising the steps of: dispersing a portion of the laser beam according to the frequencies of the beam components; detecting the energy dispersed portions of the laser beam at frequencies above the desired frequency and below the desired frequency; producing an error signal proportional to the difference between the detected energies; and, adjusting the longitudinal length of the laser cavity in proportion to the error signal to stabilize the output of the laser beam at the desired frequency.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of stabilizing the frequency of a laser beam produced in a laser cavity to a desired frequency, comprising the steps of: dispersing a portion of the laser beam according to the frequencies of the beam components; detecting the energy dispersed portions of the laser beam at frequencies above the desired frequency and below the desired frequency; producing an error signal proportional to the difference between the detected energies; and, adjusting the longitudinal length of the laser cavity in proportion to the error signal to stabilize the output of the laser beam at the desired frequency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said dispersing is achieved by sampling the laser beam and reflecting the sampled laser beam to a grating external to the laser cavity to disperse the laser beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said dispersing is achieved by dispersing a portion of the laser beam outwardly from the inside of the laser cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3487327A
Cited
US3967211A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-24 | 1982-01-23 | 1982-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-24 | 1986-01-23 | 1986-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-24 | 1990-01-23 | 1990-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |