US5001718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telescopic thermal lens compensating laser
Assignee: Lumonics Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-05-29
•
Granted: 1991-03-19
•
Expires: 2010-05-29
Abstract
Abstract In order to compensate for the thermally induced lens in the active element of an optical stage of a laser, the optical stage is provided with a telescope. The telescope comprises first and second lens arrangements. The first lens arrangement is located so that thermally induced lens is located at one of its focal planes. The position of the second lens arrangement is adjusted so as to compensate for variations in the power of flashlamps which pump the active element. In one embodiment, the laser has an oscillator stage and an amplifier stage. The telescope is placed after the oscillator stage and comprises two convex lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Burrows
- 👤 James M. Burch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2308; H01S3/005; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08072; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/2316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A laser having a resonant cavity and means for supplying an optical output, said laser comprising at least one optical stage having an elongated active element formed from active material, and means for pumping the active material, and wherein at least one optical stage is provided with an individual telescope, wherein said telescope comprises a first lens arrangement and a second lens arrangement, the first lens arrangement and the active element of said associated optical stage being located relative to each other so that the apparent position of a thermally induced lens of the active element is located in a focal plane of the first lens arrangement, and said telescope is provided with means for adjusting the actual position of the second lens arrangement so as to compensate for variations in the average power of the pumping means of the said associated optical stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A laser having a resonant cavity and means for supplying an optical output, said laser comprising at least one optical stage having an elongated active element formed from active material, and means for pumping the active material, and wherein at least one optical stage is provided with an individual telescope, wherein said telescope comprises a first lens arrangement and a second lens arrangement, the first lens arrangement and the active element of said associated optical stage being located relative to each other so that the apparent position of a thermally induced lens of the active element is located in a focal plane of the first lens arrangement, and said telescope is provided with means for adjusting the actual position of the second lens arrangement so as to compensate for variations in the average power of the pumping means of the said associated optical stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said telescope, the position of the second lens arrangement is adjusted so as to form a collimated beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said telescope, the position of the second lens arrangement is adjusted as a function of the average power of the pumping means of said associated optical stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in said telescope, the first lens arrangement comprises a single converging lens and the second lens arrangement comprises a single converging lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said telescope, the first lens arrangement comprises a lens system formed from a single diverging lens and a single converging lens, and the second lens arrangement comprises a single diverging lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telescope is located immediately after the active element of its associated optical stage in the direction of propagation of the output beam of the laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single oscillator stage, a single amplifier stage, and a single telescope associated with said single amplifier stage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single oscillator stage, two amplifier stages, and two telescopes each of which is associated with a respective one of the amplifier stages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single optical stage in the form of an oscillator stage, and a single telescope associated with the oscillator stage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active material of said at least one optical stage is yttrium aluminum garnet doped with neodymium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser as claimed in claim 2, wherein in said telescope, the position of the second lens arrangement is adjusted as a function of the average power of the pumping means of said associated optical stage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3628180A
Cited
US3798571A
Cited
US3609584A
Cited
US4021754A
Cited
US4731788A
Cited
EP0339868A1
Cited
US4949358A
Cited
US4858239A
Cited
US4955725A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-18 | 1994-09-17 | 1995-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-18 | 1998-09-17 | 1999-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-18 | 2002-09-17 | 2003-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |