US4287484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Segmented hollow cathode laser device
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1978-10-02
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Granted: 1981-09-01
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Expires: 1998-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A laser device for generating multiline emissions when appropriately energized. The device consists of two major components, an anode-cathode assembly and, in a first embodiment, an adjustable brewster end section or in a second embodiment, an integral mirror end section. The anode-cathode assembly comprises one center located short cylindrical anode and two segmented cylindrical hollow cathodes located symmetrically on each side of the anode. The anode and cathode are electrically insulated by a cylindrical metal ceramic seal. The outer surface of the cathode is covered with quartz insulating sleeves to prevent electrical discharge from the outer cathode surface and to encourage effective inner cathode discharge. The cathode is thermally connected to the external environment through a structure coupled to the cathode and the laser tube envelope thus allowing heat generated within the cathode due to the electrical discharge to be effectively conducted away thereby allowing higher input power load into the cathode for selected lasing action which requires a relatively high excitation input. A metal vapor reservoir may be provided and is preferably attached to the anode section for metal vapor laser operation. While the controlled amount of the metal vapor is released into the anode section, it is transported through each cathode section by natural diffusion and cataphoretic action which provides near uniform vapor density throughout the cathode sections. The laser device of the present invention can be made up of one or more anode-cathode assemblies depending on the laser medium and the selected output requirement.
Inventors
- 👤 Shing C. Wang
- 👤 Randolph W. Hamerdinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/041; H01S3/03; H01S3/031; H01S3/038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A laser device for producing an output laser beam having a plurality of wavelengths comprising: an envelope having a longitudinal axis, an anode electrode forming a portion of said envelope, said anode electrode being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, at least two separate hollow cathodes located within said envelope, said hollow cathodes being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, said hollow cathodes each having a portion thereof coupled to said envelope whereby the heat generated in said hollow cathodes is dissipated to the external environment, coaxially aligned mirror end members, said mirror end members sealing said envelope thereby providing a resonant cavity and a structure for confining a gaseous medium therein, means for supplying an active gaseous medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity in said envelope, and means for applying a voltage between said anode electrode and said hollow-cathodes whereby a discharge between said cathodes and said anode electrode is created causing said gaseous medium to lase, a laser output beam having a plurality of wavelengths thereby being produced, said output beam being abstracted from one of said mirror end members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A laser device for producing an output laser beam having a plurality of wavelengths comprising: an envelope having a longitudinal axis, an anode electrode forming a portion of said envelope, said anode electrode being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, at least two separate hollow cathodes located within said envelope, said hollow cathodes being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, said hollow cathodes each having a portion thereof coupled to said envelope whereby the heat generated in said hollow cathodes is dissipated to the external environment, coaxially aligned mirror end members, said mirror end members sealing said envelope thereby providing a resonant cavity and a structure for confining a gaseous medium therein, means for supplying an active gaseous medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity in said envelope, and means for applying a voltage between said anode electrode and said hollow-cathodes whereby a discharge between said cathodes and said anode electrode is created causing said gaseous medium to lase, a laser output beam having a plurality of wavelengths thereby being produced, said output beam being abstracted from one of said mirror end members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser device as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a metal vapor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser device as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a rare gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser device as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a metal halide vapor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser device as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous medium comprises first and second gases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser device as defined in claim 5 wherein said first gas comprises helium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser device as defined in claim 6 wherein said second gas comprises cadmium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
206 words
A laser device for producing an output laser beam having plurality of wavelengths comprising: an envelope having a longitudinal axis, an anode electrode forming a portion of said envelope, said anode electrode being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, at least two separate hollow cathodes located within said envelope, said hollow cathodes being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, said hollow cathodes each having a portion thereof coupled to said laser envelope whereby the heat generated in said hollow cathodes is dissipated to the external environment, coaxially aligned Brewster windows for sealing said envelope thereby providing a structure for confining a gaseous medium therein and further including reflectors coaxially aligned and adjacent each of said Brewster windows, said reflectors forming a resonant cavity, means for supplying an active gaseous medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity in said envelope, and means for applying a voltage between said anode electrode and said hollow-cathodes whereby a discharge between said cathodes and said anode electrode is created causing said gaseous medium to lase, a laser output beam having a plurality of wavelengths thereby being produced, said output beam being abstracted from one of said reflectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
A laser device for producing an output laser beam having plurality of wavelengths comprising: an envelope having a longitudinal axis, an anode electrode forming a portion of said envelope, said anode electrode being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, at least two separate hollow cathodes located within said envelope, said hollow cathodes being coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis, said hollow cathodes each having a portion thereof coupled to said laser envelope whereby the heat generated in said hollow cathodes is dissipated to the external environment, coaxially aligned Brewster windows for sealing said envelope thereby providing a structure for confining a gaseous medium therein and further including reflectors coaxially aligned and adjacent each of said Brewster windows, said reflectors forming a resonant cavity, means for supplying an active gaseous medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity in said envelope, and means for applying a voltage between said anode electrode and said hollow-cathodes whereby a discharge between said cathodes and said anode electrode is created causing said gaseous medium to lase, a laser output beam having a plurality of wavelengths thereby being produced, said output beam being abstracted from one of said reflectors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser device as defined in claim 8 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a metal vapor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser device as defined in claim 8 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a rare gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser device as defined in claim 8 wherein said gaseous medium comprises a metal halide vapor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser device as defined in claim 8 wherein said gaseous medium comprises first and second gases.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser device as defined in claim 12 wherein said first gas comprises helium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser device as defined in claim 13 wherein said second gas comprises cadmium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hollow-cathode metal vapor laser tube comprising an envelope having a longitudinal axis, a hollow-cathode including a plurality of tubular cathode members aligned along said longitudinal axis and coaxially spaced from one another by a predetermined interval, each cathode having a portion thereof coupled to said envelope whereby the heat generated in each cathode is dissipated to the external environment, an anode including a plurality of tubular anode members interposed between adjacent ones of said cathode members and surrounding said cathode members with their axis aligned with said common axis, means for electrically insulating each of said cathode member-anode member combinations from the neighboring cathode member-anode member combinations, means associated with said laser tube for forming a resonant cavity, means for introducing a gaseous medium into said laser tube, said medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity, and means for initiating a discharge within said laser tube causing said gaseous medium to lase and means for abstracting a laser output beam from said laser tube, said laser output beam comprising a plurality of wavelengths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
184 words
A hollow-cathode metal vapor laser tube comprising an envelope having a longitudinal axis, a hollow-cathode including a plurality of tubular cathode members aligned along said longitudinal axis and coaxially spaced from one another by a predetermined interval, each cathode having a portion thereof coupled to said envelope whereby the heat generated in each cathode is dissipated to the external environment, an anode including a plurality of tubular anode members interposed between adjacent ones of said cathode members and surrounding said cathode members with their axis aligned with said common axis, means for electrically insulating each of said cathode member-anode member combinations from the neighboring cathode member-anode member combinations, means associated with said laser tube for forming a resonant cavity, means for introducing a gaseous medium into said laser tube, said medium having an absorption band such that it will lase at wavelengths supported by said resonant cavity, and means for initiating a discharge within said laser tube causing said gaseous medium to lase and means for abstracting a laser output beam from said laser tube, said laser output beam comprising a plurality of wavelengths.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-31 | 1985-03-02 | 1985-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-31 | 1989-03-02 | 1989-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-31 | 1993-03-02 | 1993-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |