US4819239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser Q-switch
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1987-05-06
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2007-05-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides layered devices to control the spatial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high-intensity laser beams. These devices include improved versions of prior art thin-film (vacuum-deposited) interference filters, rugate structure anti-reflection coatings, Q-switches, pulse shapers, modulators, optical bistable devices and the like. Control is provided using materials with large second and third order susceptibilities to electric field polarization and, if necessary, means to apply appropriate electric fields.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Sharp
- 👤 II Richard R. Shurtz
- 👤 Wolfgang Elser
- 👤 Gary L. Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/115; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/20; G02B5/28; G02B5/289; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A light-transmission control device including: at least a first and a second set of interleaved films with contiguous broad surfaces, the films within each set being formed from the same material and having a given linear first-order susceptibility to electric polarization which is different for each of said sets, so that said sets define a thin interference filter with opposed broad input and output surfaces and at least one narrow frequency-discrimination band; at least said first set having a substantially different non-linear higher-order susceptibility than said second set so that said higher-order susceptibility can be activated by an applied electric field to alter said narrow band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A light-transmission control device including: at least a first and a second set of interleaved films with contiguous broad surfaces, the films within each set being formed from the same material and having a given linear first-order susceptibility to electric polarization which is different for each of said sets, so that said sets define a thin interference filter with opposed broad input and output surfaces and at least one narrow frequency-discrimination band; at least said first set having a substantially different non-linear higher-order susceptibility than said second set so that said higher-order susceptibility can be activated by an applied electric field to alter said narrow band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said first set has a substantially greater second-order electric susceptibility than said second set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said first set has a substantially greater third-order electric susceptibility than said second set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said first set has a substantially greater third-order electric susceptibility than said second set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 2 further including: a pair of opposed electrodes attached to said broad input and output faces of said filter so that a source of electric potential coupled to said electrodes produces an electric field normal to said broad surfaces and displaces said discrimination band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
7 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
the difference in first-order susceptibility of adjacent films is very small with a larger periodic difference in first-order susceptibility occurring over a large number of sequential films so as to provide a rugate interference filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
the difference in first-order susceptibility of adjacent films is very small with a larger periodic difference in first-order susceptibility occurring over a large number of sequential films so as to provide a rugate interference filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein: said material is polymerized from monomers consisting of elongated diacetylene molecules with a primary radical organic substituent at each end of every molecule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein: said radical substitutents at opposite ends of the same molecule are different for the material of said first set, so as to form an acentric lattice when the monomers are polymerized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein: said primary substituents include radicals which have the general form shown in FIG. 1c and wherein secondary substituents X and Y are chosen from the radical group consisting of ALKOXY, ALKYL, CYANO, and NITRO.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein: said primary substituents include radicals which have the general form (CH 2 ) n CONHZ, wherein the value of n lies between 1 and 20 and substituent Z is chosen from the radical group consisting of ALKOXYPHENYL, NITROPHENYL, ALKYPHENYL, CYANOPHENYL and ALKYLAMINOPHENYL.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical system including: a source of beamed radiation restricted to a narrow emission band of frequencies; and a light transmission control device mounted in the path of said beamed radiation, said device comprising; at least a first and a second set of interleaved films with contiguous broad faces, the films within each set being formed from the same material and having a given first-order susceptibility to electric polarization which is different for each of said sets, so that said sets define a thin interference filter with broad input and output faces and at least one narrow frequency-discrimination band having one edge substantially coincident with one edge of said emission band, said first set having a substantially different non-linear higher-order susceptibility than said second set, so that said higher-order susceptibility can be activated by an applied electric field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical system including: a source of beamed radiation restricted to a narrow emission band of frequencies; and a light transmission control device mounted in the path of said beamed radiation, said device comprising; at least a first and a second set of interleaved films with contiguous broad faces, the films within each set being formed from the same material and having a given first-order susceptibility to electric polarization which is different for each of said sets, so that said sets define a thin interference filter with broad input and output faces and at least one narrow frequency-discrimination band having one edge substantially coincident with one edge of said emission band, said first set having a substantially different non-linear higher-order susceptibility than said second set, so that said higher-order susceptibility can be activated by an applied electric field.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 11, further including a plurality of said control devices in the path of said beam radiation, the higher-order susceptibilities in each said control device being different from every other control device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 11, wherein: said source is a laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 13, wherein: said laser includes a pumped laser medium positioned between two reflectors to form a Fabry-Perot cavity; and and control device forms one of said reflectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 14, wherein: said laser is a Q-switched laser; and said control device forms said Q-switch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |