US4809293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical component of a laser
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1987-06-05
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An optical component of a laser, of the type including a hot gas plasma region, a cold gas region, and producing large photon fluxes, includes an optical element and a coating means on a surface of the optical element exposed to the photon fluxes. The coating means is comprised of a material adapted to minimize photoreduction of the optical element induced by exposure to the photon fluxes. Optical elements of the present invention include windows, birefringent plates, intracavity lenses, polarizers and mirrors. The coating means includes a material selected from the group comprising Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 , LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary W. DeBell
- 👤 David L. Wright
- 👤 Kenneth A. Ruddock
- 👤 Alan B. Petersen
- 👤 Lee R. Carlson
- 👤 Marc K. von Gunten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:02
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/10; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An optical component of a laser of the type with photon fluxes generated within the laser, comprising: an optical element operatively associated with said laser having at least one surface exposed to and in communication with said photon fluxes; and a coating means on said optical element surface exposed to said photon fluxes, said coating means being formed of a material including a member of the group selected from Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optical component of a laser of the type with photon fluxes generated within the laser, comprising: an optical element operatively associated with said laser having at least one surface exposed to and in communication with said photon fluxes; and a coating means on said optical element surface exposed to said photon fluxes, said coating means being formed of a material including a member of the group selected from Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element has more than one surface exposed to said photon fluxes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical component of claim 2, wherein each surface of said optical element exposed to said photon fluxes is coated with said coating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means is an optically thin film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means has a physical thickness greater than about 50 angstroms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means has a physical thickness of about 100 angstroms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means is applied to each optical element exposed surface at substantially a half-wave optical thickness or an integral number of half-wave optical thicknesses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical component of claim wherein said coating means is a multilayer film with each layer being made of a different material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical component of claim wherein said optical element is a window on the end of a laser tube defining a cold gas region of an ion laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical component of claim 9, wherein said window is frit-sealed to said laser tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical component of claim 9, wherein said window is a Brewster-angle window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element is positioned in an interior of a cold gas region of an ion laser and has two opposing surfaces with at least one surface exposed to said photon fluxes, and said exposed surface having a coating means supplied thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element is an intracavity lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element is a birefringent plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element is a polarizer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical component of claim wherein said optical element is a mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical component of claim wherein said optical element is made of a material which includes a material selected from crystalline SiO 2 , Si, fused SiO 2 , sapphire, diamond, BeO, MgF 2 , ZnS, ZnSe, BaF 2 , CaF 2 , yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), yttrium lithium fluoride (YLF), and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical component according to claim 1, wherein said coating means includes an oxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical component according to claim 1, wherein said coating means is a material which has low reflectivity, low optical absorption and low scatter in the spectrum where said laser operates.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical component according to claim 1, wherein said coating means is adapted to minimize changes or alterations to optical phase fronts occurring after exposure to said photon fluxes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said optical element and coating means are selected to reduce the absorption of contaminants of an optical element surface which is coating with said coating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means is made of a material including Al 2 O 3 or BeO.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical component of claim 1, wherein said coating means is made of Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optical component operatively associated with a laser generating photon fluxes, comprising: an optical element mounted to said laser and having at least one surface exposed to said photon fluxes; and a coating deposited on said exposed surface, said coating layer being made of a material having a stoichiometry which does not substantially change when exposed to said photon fluxes and including a material selected from the group comprising Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and the like.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optical component operatively associated with a laser generating photon fluxes, comprising: an optical element mounted to said laser and having at least one surface exposed to said photon fluxes; and a coating deposited on said exposed surface, said coating layer being made of a material having a stoichiometry which does not substantially change when exposed to said photon fluxes and including a material selected from the group comprising Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and the like.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
155 words
A window construction for mounting at an end of a laser of the kind in which large photon fluxes are generated during operation of the laser, which photon fluxes are capable of initiating physical and chemical changes on a window surface exposed to such large photon fluxes, said window construction comprising: window means of transparent optical material for transmitting a laser light beam through the window means; and radiation resistant and optically transparent coating means on the inner surface of the window means exposed to the large photon fluxes for preventing or minimizing physical and chemical changes on said surface during operation of the laser, said coating means including a material selected from the group Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
155 words
A window construction for mounting at an end of a laser of the kind in which large photon fluxes are generated during operation of the laser, which photon fluxes are capable of initiating physical and chemical changes on a window surface exposed to such large photon fluxes, said window construction comprising: window means of transparent optical material for transmitting a laser light beam through the window means; and radiation resistant and optically transparent coating means on the inner surface of the window means exposed to the large photon fluxes for preventing or minimizing physical and chemical changes on said surface during operation of the laser, said coating means including a material selected from the group Al 2 O 3 , BeO, Y 2 O 3 , MgO, B 2 O 3 , Sc 2 O 3 hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, LiF, NdF 3 , ThF 4 , Na 3 AlF 6 , and mixtures thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4685110A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |