US4631732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High frequency RF discharge laser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-04-25
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Granted: 1986-12-23
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Expires: 2004-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A high frequency, high energy RF powered laser is shown and described. This laser utilizes a stripline wave guide electrode, a ground plane, and dielectric materials for the lasing tube to provide for resistance to spurious discharge and parasitic breakdown between the stripline and the ground plane. The use of a high voltage pulse to initiate lasing gas breakdown, the use of a dielectric section in the stripline wave guide to protect the RF source and a choke to protect the high voltage pulse source from RF energy are also shown and described.
Inventors
- 👤 Clad P. Christensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0975; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/0315; H01S3/0971; H01S3/09713
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A high frequency high power stabilized RF discharge laser comprising in combination; a ground plane; a stripline waveguide electrode having first and second ends located in a plane substantially parallel to said ground plane; an RF souce connected to said first end of said stripline waveguide electrode by a means for preventing a high voltage pulse from damaging said RF source; a discharge tube located between said ground plane and said stripline waveguide electrode; preionization pulse means including a high voltage source applying a high voltage pulse to said second end of said stripline waveguide electrode and a means placed between said high voltage pulse source and said stripline waveguide electrode for preventing said RF from damaging said high voltage source; and a waveguide region formed by said ground plane and said stripline waveguide electrode wherein said discharge tube lies within said waveguide region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A high frequency high power stabilized RF discharge laser comprising in combination; a ground plane; a stripline waveguide electrode having first and second ends located in a plane substantially parallel to said ground plane; an RF souce connected to said first end of said stripline waveguide electrode by a means for preventing a high voltage pulse from damaging said RF source; a discharge tube located between said ground plane and said stripline waveguide electrode; preionization pulse means including a high voltage source applying a high voltage pulse to said second end of said stripline waveguide electrode and a means placed between said high voltage pulse source and said stripline waveguide electrode for preventing said RF from damaging said high voltage source; and a waveguide region formed by said ground plane and said stripline waveguide electrode wherein said discharge tube lies within said waveguide region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said preionization pulse means preionizes said gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further including a dielectric section of material located in said stripline waveguide for preventing said preionization pulse from damaging the source of high power RF.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including dielectric insulation material located in said waveguide region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said dielectric insulation material withstands high RF intensities without parasitic breakdown.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said dielectric insulation material is an inert material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge tube is constructed of a dielectric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said dielectric material is a ceramic material which resists corrosion by lasing gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a dielectric material covers the entire region defined by said ground plane, and extends under and beyond said stripline waveguide conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas located in said discharge tube is under pressure in excess of one atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas pressure in said discharge tube is greater than one atmosphere and as high as 10 atmospheres.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in accordance wtih claim 1, wherein said RF frequency is greater than 900 MHz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge tube has a power level on the order of or greater than 10 kilowatts per centimeter cubed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gas is a carbon dioxide lasing gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dielectric material provides a capacitive ballasting of the discharge which results in improved stability and homogeneity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gas is a high pressure gas selected from the group of carbon dioxide, rare gas halide XeF, XeCl, KrF, and ArF, neutral xenon and xenon dimer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas is contained within a metal-free environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a transmission line termination for said waveguide which provides for power transfer to the gas and reflection of RF power back into the RF source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A high frequency high power stabilized discharge laser comprising an RF discharge laser having: a stripline waveguide inducing a free ionization discharge into a discharge region by a means for applying a high voltage pulse to one end of said stripline electrode and a means for applying RF excitation to a second end of said stripline electrode; and said discharge region having layers comprising in order: conductor, dielectric, plasma, dielectric, and ground plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A high frequency high power stabilized discharge laser comprising an RF discharge laser having: a stripline waveguide inducing a free ionization discharge into a discharge region by a means for applying a high voltage pulse to one end of said stripline electrode and a means for applying RF excitation to a second end of said stripline electrode; and said discharge region having layers comprising in order: conductor, dielectric, plasma, dielectric, and ground plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the stripline waveguide and ground plane are immersed in a dielectric which inhibits spurious discharges external to said discharge region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein said plasma lies in a region defined by two planar dielectric sheets which lie between said conductor and said ground plane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
Teh apparatus of claim 21, wherein said dielectric material is a fluid.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claims 21, wherein said dielectric material is a solid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein there is transverse flow of a lasing gas through the discharge region.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said discharge region includes a tube having a rectilinear cross section and is constructed with a dielectric material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said gas is carbondioxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3815047A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-06-23 | 1990-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-22 | 1994-06-23 | 1994-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-22 | 1998-06-23 | 1998-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |