US4716569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power supply for negative impedance gas discharge lasers
Assignee: A L E SYSTEMS Inc A CORPOF MASSACHUSETTS
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Filing: 1986-04-09
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Granted: 1987-12-29
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Expires: 2006-04-09
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable, constant current power supply for use in electrically pumping negative impedance gas discharge lasers is disclosed. The power supply includes a voltage regulator and a constant current power source the output of the voltage regulator which is variable and controlled being connected to the input of the constant current power source. The output from the power supply is passed through a gaseous lasing medium located within a laser tube of the gas discharge laser in order to pump to the lasing medium. Be controlling the voltage fed into the constant current power source the current output therefrom can be altered in order to effectively vary the power output of the gas discharge laser.
Inventors
- 👤 George L. Bees
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/09705; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a negative impedance gas discharge laser, comprising: means for providing constant output of current, means connected between said constant current providing means and said gas discharge laser for matching the current output of said constant current providing means with lasing requirements of said gas discharge laser, said constant current providing means providing electrical energy to pump the gas discharge laser; and means electrically connected to said constant current providing means for feeding a variable controlled voltage to said constant current providing means said variable voltage altering said constant output of current over a preselected range feedback circuit means for providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means; such that output power of the gas discharge laser varies with said output of current from said current providing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a negative impedance gas discharge laser, comprising: means for providing constant output of current, means connected between said constant current providing means and said gas discharge laser for matching the current output of said constant current providing means with lasing requirements of said gas discharge laser, said constant current providing means providing electrical energy to pump the gas discharge laser; and means electrically connected to said constant current providing means for feeding a variable controlled voltage to said constant current providing means said variable voltage altering said constant output of current over a preselected range feedback circuit means for providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means; such that output power of the gas discharge laser varies with said output of current from said current providing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 1 wherein said constant current providing means comprises a current source inverter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 1 wherein said variable voltage feeding means comprises a BUCK regulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 1 wherein said variably controlled voltage feeding means is connected to a source of ac voltage, and means for converting said ac voltage to dc voltage is electrically connected between said voltage source and said variably controlled voltage feeding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 4 wherein said constant current providing means includes means for converting dc current to ac current in order to provide a constant output of ac current.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 5 further comprising means for converting said ac current into dc current prior to passing said dc current through the gas discharge laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 6 said feedback circuit means comprising means for sensing said dc current prior to passing through the gas discharge laser and comparing said sensed dc current with a preselected current to provide said control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 7 and wherein the constant current providing means comprises a current source inverter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 8 and wherein the variable voltage feeding means comprises a BUCK regulator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 9 wherein said matching means comprises a high voltage transformer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a gas discharge laser as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for converting said ac current to dc current comprises a rectifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A gas discharge laser system, comprising: a laser tube containing a gaseous medium and a pair of electrodes; means optically aligned with each other at adjacent opposite ends of said laser tube defining a resonant cavity therebetween; and a current power supply means for providing a constant current which is adjustable over a preselected range means connected between said constant current providing means and said laser tube for matching the current output of said constant current providing means with lasing requirements of said gaseous lasing medium, and feedback circuit means for providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means, said current power supply means being electrically connected to said pair of electrodes to electrically pump said gaseous lasing medium so as to produce an output beam of electromagnetic radiation having power which is variable in direct relationship to said current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A gas discharge laser system, comprising: a laser tube containing a gaseous medium and a pair of electrodes; means optically aligned with each other at adjacent opposite ends of said laser tube defining a resonant cavity therebetween; and a current power supply means for providing a constant current which is adjustable over a preselected range means connected between said constant current providing means and said laser tube for matching the current output of said constant current providing means with lasing requirements of said gaseous lasing medium, and feedback circuit means for providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means, said current power supply means being electrically connected to said pair of electrodes to electrically pump said gaseous lasing medium so as to produce an output beam of electromagnetic radiation having power which is variable in direct relationship to said current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 12 wherein said current power supply means comprises: means for providing a constant output of current; and means electrically connected to said constant current supply means for feeding a variably controlled voltage to said constant current supply means said variable voltage altering said constant output of current over a preselected range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 13 and wherein the current providing means comprises a current source inverter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 14 and wherein the variable voltage feeding means comprises a BUCK regulator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 13 wherein said variably controlled voltage feeding means is connected to a source of ac voltage, and means for converting said ac voltage to dc voltage is electrically connected between said voltage source and said variably controlled voltage feeding means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 16 wherein said constant current providing means includes means for converting dc current to ac current in order to provide a constant output of ac current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 18 further comprising for matching the means for converting said ac current into dc current prior to passing said dc current through said pair of electrodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A gas discharge laser system as defined in claim 18 further comprising means for sensing said dc current prior to passing through said pair of electrodes and comparing said sensed dc current with a preselected current in order to provide a control signal to said variably controlled voltage feeding means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
128 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a negative impedance gas discharge laser, comprising: a current source inverter providing a constant output of current for pumping said discharge laser gas; a high voltage transformer connected between said constant current source inverter and said gas discharge laser for matching the current output of said constant current source inverter with lasing requirements of said gas discharge laser; a voltage regulator electrically feeding a variable control voltage to said constant current source inverter, said variable voltage altering said constant output of current over a preselected range; and a feedback circuit providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage regulator such that output power of said gas discharge laser varies with said output of current from said constant current source inverter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
An adjustable constant current power supply for a negative impedance gas discharge laser, comprising: a current source inverter providing a constant output of current for pumping said discharge laser gas; a high voltage transformer connected between said constant current source inverter and said gas discharge laser for matching the current output of said constant current source inverter with lasing requirements of said gas discharge laser; a voltage regulator electrically feeding a variable control voltage to said constant current source inverter, said variable voltage altering said constant output of current over a preselected range; and a feedback circuit providing a control signal to said variably controlled voltage regulator such that output power of said gas discharge laser varies with said output of current from said constant current source inverter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4234822A
Cited
US4613934A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-28 | 1991-06-29 | 1991-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-28 | 1995-06-29 | 1995-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-28 | 1999-06-29 | 1999-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |