Patent US4500996A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4500996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High power fundamental mode laser
Assignee: COHERET Inc
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Filing: 1982-03-31
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Granted: 1985-02-19
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Expires: 2002-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A high power, fundamental (TEMoo) mode gaseous laser is described having a discharge-confining bore tube which is provided with spaced-apart annular, inwardly-extending, radial projections or rings, which have inside diameters which match the fundamental mode diameter along the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Sasnett
- 👤 James L. Hobart
- 👤 Larry A. Gibson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/0804; H01S3/0805; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/06; H01S3/07; H01S3/073; H01S3/076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A gas laser comprising: a discharge-confining bore tube enclosing a gaseous lasing medium; a pair of optical resonator mirrors aligned with said bore tube; means for exciting said gaseous medium; and means for dispersing unwanted reflected light and providing desired mode operation comprising periodic annular projections within the interior of said discharge-confining bore tube, said annular projections having inside diameters which vary in accordance with the desired mode, as the mode diameter changes along said bore-tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A gas laser comprising: a discharge-confining bore tube enclosing a gaseous lasing medium; a pair of optical resonator mirrors aligned with said bore tube; means for exciting said gaseous medium; and means for dispersing unwanted reflected light and providing desired mode operation comprising periodic annular projections within the interior of said discharge-confining bore tube, said annular projections having inside diameters which vary in accordance with the desired mode, as the mode diameter changes along said bore-tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The gas laser of claim 1 wherein each of said projections has an inside diameter which matches the desired mode diameter at that point in said bore tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The gas laser of claim 2 wherein the inside diameter of said annular projections defines a tapered configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gas laser as in claim 1 wherein the variations of the inside diameters of said annular projections are provided by providing said discharge-confining bore tube with a plurality of sections having at least two different diameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser comprising: a plurality of gas-confining bore tube sections enclosing a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, said sections being parallel to each other and including means for suppressing reflections therein; a plurality of corner mirror assemblies for connecting the bore tube sections into a continuous, gas-confining channel defining an optical path; an optical resonator comprising a high reflectivity mirror at one end of the gas-confining channel and an output coupler mirror at the other; means for exciting the gas mixture; and means for improving the TEMoo mode by matching the diameter of each bore tube section with the size of the mode in that section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser comprising: a plurality of gas-confining bore tube sections enclosing a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, said sections being parallel to each other and including means for suppressing reflections therein; a plurality of corner mirror assemblies for connecting the bore tube sections into a continuous, gas-confining channel defining an optical path; an optical resonator comprising a high reflectivity mirror at one end of the gas-confining channel and an output coupler mirror at the other; means for exciting the gas mixture; and means for improving the TEMoo mode by matching the diameter of each bore tube section with the size of the mode in that section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser as in claim 5 wherein said suppressing means comprises inwardly directed annular projections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser as in claim 6 wherein said annular projections comprises crimps in said bore tube sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser as in claim 6 wherein said annular projections comprise rings inserted within said bore tube sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser comprising: a plurality of gas-confining bore tube sections enclosing a gas mixture including carbon dioxide and including a plurality of spaced-apart annular projections extending radially inward therefrom; a plurality of corner mirror assemblies for connecting the bore tube sections into a continuous, gas-confining channel defining an optical path; an optical resonator comprising a high reflectivity mirror at one end of the gas-confining channel and output mirror at the other, and wherein the diameters of said bore tube sections match the mode in that section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser comprising: a plurality of gas-confining bore tube sections enclosing a gas mixture including carbon dioxide and including a plurality of spaced-apart annular projections extending radially inward therefrom; a plurality of corner mirror assemblies for connecting the bore tube sections into a continuous, gas-confining channel defining an optical path; an optical resonator comprising a high reflectivity mirror at one end of the gas-confining channel and output mirror at the other, and wherein the diameters of said bore tube sections match the mode in that section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A folded carbon dioxide laser as in claim 9 wherein said annular projections comprises crimps in said bore tube sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A gaseous laser comprising: a discharge-confining bore tube enclosing a gaseous medium; a pair of optical resonator mirrors aligned with said bore tube; means for exiting said gaseous medium; and means for providing a TEMoo mode laser output by providing a plurality of annular projections extending radially inward of said bore tube, wherein the inside diameter of said projections define a tapered configuration to match the TEMoo mode diameter within said bore tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A gaseous laser comprising: a discharge-confining bore tube enclosing a gaseous medium; a pair of optical resonator mirrors aligned with said bore tube; means for exiting said gaseous medium; and means for providing a TEMoo mode laser output by providing a plurality of annular projections extending radially inward of said bore tube, wherein the inside diameter of said projections define a tapered configuration to match the TEMoo mode diameter within said bore tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-19 | 1988-08-20 | 1989-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-19 | 1992-08-20 | 1993-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-19 | 1996-08-20 | 1997-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |