Patent US4601038A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4601038A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conduction cooled solid state laser
Assignee: General Dynamics Government Systems Corp
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Filing: 1985-01-28
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2005-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The exterior surfaces of a laser rod and pump lamp are covered with a highly reflective metal foil to prevent light leakage from the rod and lamp. The laser rod and pump lamp operate within a cavity inside a heat sink. Between the metal foil and the housing is a thermally conductive fluidic material selected to provide a tailored thermal impedance between the heat sink and the rod and pump to optimize the steady state temperatures of these components. The conductive fluid is not circulated but is contained to act as a simple heat conductor. The optically reflective and the heat transfer functions of the laser pumping operation are essentially separate from each other, enabling selection of materials for these respective functions to enhance performance of the laser and substantially simplify its construction.
Inventors
- 👤 Steve Guch, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0058; H05K3/0061; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H01S3/02; H01S3/025; H01S3/04; H01S3/0404; H01S3/0405; H01S3/042; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/05; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/20; H05K2201/209; H05K3/22; H05K3/28; H05K3/281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A conductively cooled laser assembly comprising: an elongated housing constituting a heat sink having a cavity and comprising first and second sections; a laser crystal in said cavity within said first section; a pump lamp in said cavity within said second section; a totally reflective element and a partially transmissive element adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of said crystal and defining therebetween the laser cavity; a first thin highly reflective and highly thermally conductive layer engaging the exterior of said crystal adjacent to said housing; a second thin highly reflective and highly thermally conductive layer engaging the exterior of said lamp adjacent to said housing; a first space between said first conductive layer and said housing; a second space between said second conductive layer and said housing; a first separate fluidic material having a predetermined thermal conductivity and confined within said first space in engagement with said first conductive layer and said housing for transmitting heat from said crystal to said housing; and a second separate fluidic material having a predetermined thermal conductivity and confined within said second space in engagement with said second conductive layer and said housing for transmitting heat from said lamp to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A conductively cooled laser assembly comprising: an elongated housing constituting a heat sink having a cavity and comprising first and second sections; a laser crystal in said cavity within said first section; a pump lamp in said cavity within said second section; a totally reflective element and a partially transmissive element adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of said crystal and defining therebetween the laser cavity; a first thin highly reflective and highly thermally conductive layer engaging the exterior of said crystal adjacent to said housing; a second thin highly reflective and highly thermally conductive layer engaging the exterior of said lamp adjacent to said housing; a first space between said first conductive layer and said housing; a second space between said second conductive layer and said housing; a first separate fluidic material having a predetermined thermal conductivity and confined within said first space in engagement with said first conductive layer and said housing for transmitting heat from said crystal to said housing; and a second separate fluidic material having a predetermined thermal conductivity and confined within said second space in engagement with said second conductive layer and said housing for transmitting heat from said lamp to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly according to claim 1 in which said conductive layers comprise metallic foil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly according to claim 2 in which said conductive layers comprise aluminum foil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly according to claim 1 in which said conductive layers are metallic coatings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly according to claim 1 in which said crystal and said lamp are cylindrical, said layers being semicylindrical and on opposite sides, respectively, of said crystal and said lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluidic material is a gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The assembly according to claim 6 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluidic material is a liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising: a first bladder means made of an elastic material having a high thermal conductivity and further confining said first fluidic material within said first space; and a second bladder means made of an elastic material having a high thermal conductivity and further confining said second fluidic material within said second space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 9 wherein said fluidic material is a liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said fluidic material is water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said fluidic material is liquid mercury.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 11 wherein said conductive layers comprise aluminum foil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A conductively cooled laser assembly comprising: a housing constituting a heat sink having an elongated pump cavity and comprising first and second sections; a pump lamp in said cavity within said first section; a laser crystal in said cavity within said second section; a totally reflective element and a partially transmissive element adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of said crystal and defining therebetween the laser cavity; thin optically reflective thermally conductive layers engaging the exterior surfaces, respectively, of said lamp and said crystal adjacent to said housing; and thermally conductive fluidic material separate from said layer and said housing between and in engagement with each of said layers and said housing whereby heat from said lamp and said crystal is transmitted through said layers and said material to said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A conductively cooled laser assembly comprising: a housing constituting a heat sink having an elongated pump cavity and comprising first and second sections; a pump lamp in said cavity within said first section; a laser crystal in said cavity within said second section; a totally reflective element and a partially transmissive element adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of said crystal and defining therebetween the laser cavity; thin optically reflective thermally conductive layers engaging the exterior surfaces, respectively, of said lamp and said crystal adjacent to said housing; and thermally conductive fluidic material separate from said layer and said housing between and in engagement with each of said layers and said housing whereby heat from said lamp and said crystal is transmitted through said layers and said material to said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 14 wherein said fluidic material is a gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The assembly according to claim 15 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 14 wherein said fluidic material is a liquid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 14 in which said layers comprise metallic foil.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly according to claim 16 further comprising a bladder means made of an elastic material having a high thermal conductivity and further confining said fluid between said housing and said conductive layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3487332A
Cited
US4096450A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |