US4677398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pulsed digital multiplex laser generator
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1985-07-25
•
Granted: 1987-06-30
•
Expires: 2005-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A system of lasers which produces a single pulsed laser beam carrying many channels of digital information simultaneously. The information content of each laser output pulse is determined by the presence or absence of one or more input signal channel frequencies. The presence or absence of each frequency is provided by a plurality of low power CW lasers operating at different frequencies and which are selectively gated in a binary fashion by pulse coded digital input signals to provide digitized low power laser outputs in accordance with the digital input signals. The low level pulses of the various optical frequencies are combined and utilized to preload a relatively high power pulsed CO 2 output laser. A pair of mirror assemblies are utilized to respectively combine the multifrequency channel pulses and transmit a single pulsed output laser beam generated by the pulsed output laser. The presence or absence of each frequency component in each output pulse is determined by the frequency components preloading the cavity modes of the pulsed high power output laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Honeycutt
- 👤 Thomas G. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; H01S3/005; H01S3/0057; H04; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/26; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223; H01S3/2232; H01S3/2391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A pulsed digital multiplex laser generator, comprising: a plurality of optical signal sources operating at respectively different frequencies; a like plurality of pulse coded digital input signal sources; respective modulators coupled to said plurality of optical signal sources and being responsive to pulse coded input signals from said pulse coded input signal sources to pulse code modulate the output of said optical signal sources to provide a set of digitally modulated optical frequency components; means for combining said set of optical frequency components into a composite optical signal; and an output laser system operable in a pulsed mode of operation and being responsive to said composite optical signal and being preloaded by said frequency components to generate a single pulsed output beam containing said frequency components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A pulsed digital multiplex laser generator, comprising: a plurality of optical signal sources operating at respectively different frequencies; a like plurality of pulse coded digital input signal sources; respective modulators coupled to said plurality of optical signal sources and being responsive to pulse coded input signals from said pulse coded input signal sources to pulse code modulate the output of said optical signal sources to provide a set of digitally modulated optical frequency components; means for combining said set of optical frequency components into a composite optical signal; and an output laser system operable in a pulsed mode of operation and being responsive to said composite optical signal and being preloaded by said frequency components to generate a single pulsed output beam containing said frequency components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of optical signal sources comprise a respective plurality of CW lasers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 2 wherein said output laser system comprises a gas laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 3 wherein said means for combining said set of frequency components into a composite optical signal comprises a set of reflective mirrors for converging said set of pulse code modulated optical frequency components to a common point and thereafter reflecting said set of optical frequency components as a composite optical signal to said output laser system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 3 wherein said output laser system includes plural mirrors defining an optical cavity and laser amplifying means disposed within said cavity, and wherein one of said plural mirrors include an aperture for coupling said composite optical signal into said cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 5 wherein said plural mirrors include a paraboloidal mirror at one end of said cavity in registration with said laser amplifying means and a hyperboloidal mirror at the other end of said cavity also in registration with said laser amplifying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 6 and additionally including output mirror means located adjacent said output laser system for directing said output beam to a remote location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 7 wherein said output mirror means comprises a Cassegrainian mirror system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 8 wherein said Cassegrainian mirror system includes a hyperboloidal mirror directed to said paraboloidal mirror of said optical cavity and a paraboloidal mirror located therebetween and having an aperture whereby said output beam from said optical cavity is directed to said hyperboloidal mirror which is thereafter reflected therefrom to an outwardly directed reflecting surface included in said paraboloidal mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 3 wherein said modulators comprise light switch means which are operable to either pass or inhibit the passage of optical energy therethrough in response to said pulse coded input signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 3 wherein said output laser system comprises a C0 2 gas laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of optical signal sources comprise a plurality of CW gas lasers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 12 wherein said plurality of gas lasers are comprised of CO 2 gas lasers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The laser generator as defined by claim 12 and additionally including respective stabilization system means coupled to said plurality of CW gas lasers for operating the respective lasers at or near the center of their gain curve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3501640A
Cited
US3633034A
Cited
US3617710A
Cited
US3671747A
Cited
US3633055A
Cited
US4341438A
Cited
US4592043A
Cited
US4606020A
Cited
US4566761A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-29 | 1990-12-29 | 1991-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-12-29 | 1995-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-29 | 1998-12-29 | 1999-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |