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US4745606A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dual-wavelength laser apparatus

Assignee: Tokyo Gas Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-03-20
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Granted: 1988-05-17
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Expires: 2006-03-20
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Abstract

Abstract A dual-wavelength laser apparatus includes a laser emitting a laser beam consisting of two wavelength components, a methane cell for controlling and equalizing gains of the two wavelength components, a cavity length modulator including a piezoelectric element for periodically modulating the cavity length of the laser, and a feedback circuit for controlling the modulation center such that the sum of outputs of the two modulated wavelength components is kept substantially constant. The feedback circuit includes a detector for detecting a laser output, a lock-in amplifier for detecting and amplifying an output from the detector, an integrator for integrating an output from the lock-in amplifier, and a high-voltage amplifier for generating a bias voltage set by the integrator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyoji Uehara
  • 👤 Hiroaki Tanaka
  • 👤 Takashi Ueki
  • 👤 Hideo Tai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 13:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/14; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; H01S3/106; H01S3/1061; H01S3/13; H01S3/139; H01S3/1392; H01S2301/00; H01S2301/04; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08086; H01S3/0809; H01S5/06; H01S5/068; H01S5/0683; H01S5/06832; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4087

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
A dual-wavelength laser apparatus characterized by comprising: a laser for emitting a laser beam consisting of two wavelength components; gain control means for controlling and substantially equalizing gains of the two wavelength components; cavity length modulating means for periodically modulating a cavity length of said laser; and modulation center controlling means for controlling a modulation center of said cavity length modulating means, such that a sum of output intensity of the two modulated wavelength components from said laser is held constant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 81 words
A dual-wavelength laser apparatus characterized by comprising: a laser for emitting a laser beam consisting of two wavelength components; gain control means for controlling and substantially equalizing gains of the two wavelength components; cavity length modulating means for periodically modulating a cavity length of said laser; and modulation center controlling means for controlling a modulation center of said cavity length modulating means, such that a sum of output intensity of the two modulated wavelength components from said laser is held constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gain control means comprises a gas for absorbing a specific wavelength, the gas being filled in a cavity of said laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cavity length modulating means includes a piezoelectric element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a He-Ne laser for emitting two wavelengths of 3.3912 μm and 3.3922 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas is methane gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a He-Ne discharge tube and two mirrors arranged at two ends thereof, along the axial direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said modulation center controlling means comprises a feedback circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said modulation center controlling means includes a detector for detecting a laser output, a lock-in amplifier for detecting and amplifying an output from said detector, an integrator for integrating an output from said lock-in amplifier, and a high-voltage amplifier for generating a bias voltage set by said integrator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a gas laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a liquid laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a solid-state laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser comprises a semiconductor laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the cavity length is prescribed so that the output intensities of the two wavelength components are 180 degrees out of phase to each other.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4504950A Cited
US4434490A Cited
US4606031A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-05-17 1991-11-16 1992-05-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-05-17 1995-11-16 1996-05-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-05-17 1999-11-16 2000-05-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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