US4942586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High power diode pumped laser
Assignee: Intelligent Surgical Lasers Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-25
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Granted: 1990-07-17
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Expires: 2009-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A single cavity laser device comprises a diode pumped laser medium having a relatively high gain but a relatively low power. With this medium, a control laser beam is generated. Also positioned in the cavity is a second laser medium having a relatively large gain volume which is pumped by an array of laser diodes at a relatively low gain to create a reservoir of excited state ions. Positioned between these two diode pumped laser mediums is a beam expander which focuses the control laser beam onto the second laser medium to substantially fill the gain volume of the second laser medium. Stimulation of the excited ions in the gain volume of the second laser medium by photons in the control beam efficiently generates a laser beam of relatively high power.
Inventors
- 👤 Shui T. Lai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity which comprises: a high gain madium for generating a control laser beam; a low gain medium; a longitudinal linear laser diode array for pumping said low gain medium to establish a predetermined gain volume defining a reservoir of excited ions; and a beam expander disposed between said high gain medium and said low gain medium for focusing said control beam onto said low gain medium to substantially fill said predetermined volume and generate a high power laser beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity which comprises: a high gain madium for generating a control laser beam; a low gain medium; a longitudinal linear laser diode array for pumping said low gain medium to establish a predetermined gain volume defining a reservoir of excited ions; and a beam expander disposed between said high gain medium and said low gain medium for focusing said control beam onto said low gain medium to substantially fill said predetermined volume and generate a high power laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 further comprising a laser diode for pumping said high gain medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said high gain medium is a Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately ten (10) mm by approximately twelve (12) mm and having a thickness or approximately five (5) mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said low gain medium is a rectangular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately two (2) mm by approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said low gain medium is a tubular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a diameter of approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined gain volume is substantially equal to the volume of said low gain medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for varying the pumping power of said laser diode to selectively establish the power of said control laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal linear diode array is aligned lengthwise with respect to said low gain medium and approximately of equal length therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said beam expander comprises a plano-convex lens coaxially aligned with a plano-concave lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said high gain medium establishes one end of said laser cavity and said device further comprises an output coupler mirror to establish the opposite end of the said laser cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device for generating a laser beam having a single cavity as recited in claim 1 wherein said linear laser diode array defines a preselected gain volume and said low gain medium has predetermined dimensions, said preselected gain volume and said predetermined dimensions defining, in combination, said predetermined gain volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A laser device which comprises: a laser crystal and a linear laser diode array disposed longitudinally thereto to pump said laser crystal and establish a predetermined gain volume in said crystal; means for generating a control laser beam; and means for focusing said control beam onto said predetermined gain volume to substantially fill said gain volume to stimulate said laser crystal and emit photons to enhance the laser power of said device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A laser device which comprises: a laser crystal and a linear laser diode array disposed longitudinally thereto to pump said laser crystal and establish a predetermined gain volume in said crystal; means for generating a control laser beam; and means for focusing said control beam onto said predetermined gain volume to substantially fill said gain volume to stimulate said laser crystal and emit photons to enhance the laser power of said device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser device as recited in claim 12 wherein said generating means comprises a laser crystal and a laser diode for pumping said laser crystal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laser device as recited in claim 13 further comprising means for varying the pumping power of said laser diode to selectively establish the power of said control laser beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laser device as recited in claim 13 wherein said laser crystal for said generating means is a Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately ten (10) mm by approximately twelve (12) mm and having a thickness of approximately five (5) mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A laser device as recited in claim 12 wherein said laser crystal for said source is a rectangular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately two (2) mm by approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laser device as recited in claim 12 wherein said laser crystal for said source is a tubular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a diameter of approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser device as recited in claim 12 wherein said focusing means comprises a plano-convex lens coaxially aligned with a plano-concave lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
A laser device which comprises: a first pumped laser medium for generating photon emissions; a second pumped laser medium, said second medium being pumped by a plurality of laser diodes to establish a predetermined gain volume for creating a supply of excited ions; and means for focusing said photon emissions from said first medium onto said second medium to fill said gain volume and stimulate additional photon emissions therefrom for said laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
A laser device which comprises: a first pumped laser medium for generating photon emissions; a second pumped laser medium, said second medium being pumped by a plurality of laser diodes to establish a predetermined gain volume for creating a supply of excited ions; and means for focusing said photon emissions from said first medium onto said second medium to fill said gain volume and stimulate additional photon emissions therefrom for said laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 having a laser cavity wherein said first medium, said focusing means and said second medium are sequentially aligned.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said first medium is pumped by a laser diode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said first medium is a Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately ten (10) mm by approximately twelve (12) mm and having a thickness of approximately five (5) mm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said second medium is a rectangular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a cross section approximately two (2) mm by approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said second medium is a tubular-shaped Nd:YLF laser crystal having a diameter of approximately two (2) mm and a length greater than one (1) cm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said predetermined gain volume is substantially equal to the volume of said second medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser device as recited in claim 21 further comprising means for varying the pumping power of said laser diode to selectively increase or decrease the number of photon emissions from said first medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser device as recited in claim 19 wherein said focusing means comprises a plano-convex lens coaxially aligned with a plano-concave lens.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for generating a high power laser beam which comprises the steps of: pumping a first laser crystal to generate a control laser beam; pumping a second laser crystal with a linear laser diode array to establish a predetermined gain volume of excited ions; and focusing said control laser beam onto said second crystal to substantially fill said predetermined gain volume and stimulate said excited ions to produce said beam.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for generating a high power laser beam which comprises the steps of: pumping a first laser crystal to generate a control laser beam; pumping a second laser crystal with a linear laser diode array to establish a predetermined gain volume of excited ions; and focusing said control laser beam onto said second crystal to substantially fill said predetermined gain volume and stimulate said excited ions to produce said beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for generating a high power laser beam as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of varying the power used for pumping said first crystal to selectively establish the power of said control laser beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-16 | 1994-01-15 | 1994-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-16 | 1998-01-15 | 1998-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-16 | 2002-01-15 | 2002-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |