US4687958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus to transform a single frequency, linearly polarized laser beam into a high efficiency beam with two, orthogonally polarized frequencies
Assignee: Zygo Corp
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Filing: 1985-03-12
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2005-03-12
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optical apparatus transforms a single stabilized frequency, linearly polarized laser input beam (18) from a light source (10) into an output beam (28) having two collinear orthogonally polarized output beam components (24,26) differing in frequency from each other by the frequency of a frequency stabilized electrical signal (32) provided from an electronic oscillator (30). The input of the oscillator (30) is provided to a power amplifier (34) which is used to drive a piezoelectric transducer (40) affixed to an acousto-optical Bragg cell (44) through which the input beam (18) passes and is transformed into the output beam (28) composed of the two beam components (24,26). The electrical output (36) of the power amplifier (34) is adjusted so that each of the output beam components (24,26) have approximately the same intensity which is each approximately half of the input beam (18) to provide a nominal efficiency of about 100%.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary E. Sommargren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/11; G02F1/116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An electro-optical apparatus comprising a light source for providing a linearly polarized single stabilized first frequency optical input beam having an associated intensity; means for providing a second frequency stabilized electrical signal; and means connected to both said input beam providing means and said electrical signal providing means for transforming said input beam into an output beam having two collinear orthogonally polarized output beam components different in frequency from each other by the frequency of said second frequency stabilized electrical signal while each containing substantially one half of said input beam associated intensity; whereby said output beam has substantially 100% of said input beam associated intensity for providing nominally a 100% efficiency for said electro-optical apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An electro-optical apparatus comprising a light source for providing a linearly polarized single stabilized first frequency optical input beam having an associated intensity; means for providing a second frequency stabilized electrical signal; and means connected to both said input beam providing means and said electrical signal providing means for transforming said input beam into an output beam having two collinear orthogonally polarized output beam components different in frequency from each other by the frequency of said second frequency stabilized electrical signal while each containing substantially one half of said input beam associated intensity; whereby said output beam has substantially 100% of said input beam associated intensity for providing nominally a 100% efficiency for said electro-optical apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transforming means comprises an acousto-optical device means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said acousto-optical device means comprises piezoelectric transducer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said acousto-optical device means further comprises uniaxial crystal means, said piezoelectric transducer means being bonded to said uniaxial crystal means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second frequency stabilized electrical signal providing means comprises frequency stabilized electronic oscillator means for providing said second frequency stabilized electrical signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said electrical signal providing means further comprises power amplifier means electrically connected between said electronic oscillator means and said acousto-optical device means for delivering said electrical signal to said acousto-optical device means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said uniaxial crystal means comprises an acousto-optical Bragg cell, said input beam being disposed to enter said acousto-optical Bragg cell, said piezoelectric transducer means generating an acoustic wave, said Bragg cell having an optical axis disposed at an angle to the direction of propagation of said acoustic wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said input beam after entering said Bragg cell interacts with said acoustic wave for transforming said input beam into said output beam components as said interacted input beam exits said Bragg cell, said output beam components being collinear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said power amplifier means comprises means for driving said piezoelectric transducer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said power amplifier means further comprises means for adjusting the electrical output thereof for adjusting the intensity of said output beam components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said light source comprises a laser, said input beam being a laser beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said laser comprises a helium neon gas laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said laser comprises a diode laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said light source further comprises beam forming optics associated with said diode laser for providing said input beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a laser, said input beam being a laser beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said laser comprises a helium neon gas laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said laser comprises a diode laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said light source further comprises beam forming optics associated with said diode laser for providing said input beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second frequency stabilized electrical signal providing means comprises frequency stabilized electronic oscillator means for providing said second frequency stabilized electrical signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said transforming means comprises an acousto-optical device means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said electrical signal providing means further comprises power amplifier means electrically connected between said electronic oscillator means and said acousto-optical device means for delivering said electrical signal to said acousto-optical device means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said acousto-optical device means comprises a Bragg cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said power amplifier means further comprises means for adjusting the electrical output thereof for adjusting the intensity of said output beam components.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said light source comprises a laser, said input beam being a laser beam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said laser comprises a helium neon gas laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said laser comprises a diode laser.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said light source further comprises beam forming optics associated with said diode laser for providing said input beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |