Patent US4871241A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5050184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for stabilizing laser mirror alignment
Assignee: NATIONAL LASER Co
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Filing: 1990-02-23
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2010-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A laser employing a dispenser cathode is provided with a tubular enclosure surrounding that cathode. The tubular enclosure serves as a support for the bore and the optical chamber on either side of the dispenser cathode and is insulated from ambient temperature conditions by a ballast reservoir housed in a jacket encircling the tubular enclosure. The jacket has peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from the tubular enclosure. Lateral end walls connect the opposite extremities of the peripheral sidewalls in a sealing engagement to the exterior of the tubular enclosure. Communication between the interior of the jacket and the interior of the tubular support is afforded through an aperture formed in the tubular support at a location remote from the dispenser cathode. Leads for the dispenser cathode are disposed in a sealing engagement through the end walls of the jacket and enter the interior of the tubular support through the aperture formed therethrough. By retaining rather than dissipating from the tubular support the heat generated by the dispenser cathode, a predictable and circumferentially uniform amount of longitudinal, temperature-related dimensional changes are induced in the tubular support, preventing cathode housing bending of the support structure between the optical chamber and the bore. This contributes to enhanced mirror alignment stability.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/038; H01S3/032; H01S3/0323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An enclosure for a dispenser cathode of a laser, said enclosure comprising: a. a tubular cathode housing enclosing therein the dispenser cathode and also enclosing therein a means for generating a laser beam along a longitudinal axis of said housing; and b. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said cathode housing which contains said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal, temperature-related dimensional changes in said cathode housing caused by heat from the dispenser cathode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An enclosure for a dispenser cathode of a laser, said enclosure comprising: a. a tubular cathode housing enclosing therein the dispenser cathode and also enclosing therein a means for generating a laser beam along a longitudinal axis of said housing; and b. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said cathode housing which contains said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal, temperature-related dimensional changes in said cathode housing caused by heat from the dispenser cathode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for insulating comprises: a. a jacket which defines an enclosed heating space encircling said cathode housing, said jacket being sealed to the exterior of said cathode housing; and b. an aperture formed through a wall of said cathode housing at a location interior to said jacket, said aperture permitting communication of heat from within said cathode housing to said enclosed heating space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein said jacket comprises: a. peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from and encircling the exterior of said cathode housing; and b. lateral end walls interconnecting the extremities of said sidewalls to the exterior of said cathode housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of said end walls is thinner than said sidewalls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 3, wherein electrical leads for the dispenser cathode are sealingly disposed through one of said end walls and enter the interior of said cathode housing through said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein said cathode housing and said jacket each have a circular cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 6, wherein said circular cross-sections of said cathode housing and of said jacket are concentric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein electrical leads for the dispenser cathode enter the interior of said cathode housing through said aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein the pressure in said jacket is in the range of from about 0.3 torr to about 1.5 torr.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 9, wherein said jacket contains an inert gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An enclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein said cathode housing and said jacket are comprised of a low-expansion alloy material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
197 words
A laser comprising: a. a bore having formed longitudinally therethrough an active region in which to induce laser discharge; b. an optical chamber aligned with and spaced apart from said bore; c. a first mirror mounted at the end of said active region opposite from said optical chamber; d. a second mirror mounted at the end of said optical chamber opposite from said bore; e. a dispenser cathode disposed between said active region and said optical chamber; f. an anode mounted between said first mirror and said active region; g. a tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode, said tubular support carrying on the opposite ends thereof said bore and said optical chamber, respectively; h. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal temperature-related dimensional changes in said tubular support caused by heat from the dispenser cathode, said means for insulating comprising a ballast reservoir containing a supply of inert gas; and i. means for providing flow of the supply of inert gas of said ballast reservoir to the interior of said tubular support.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
197 words
A laser comprising: a. a bore having formed longitudinally therethrough an active region in which to induce laser discharge; b. an optical chamber aligned with and spaced apart from said bore; c. a first mirror mounted at the end of said active region opposite from said optical chamber; d. a second mirror mounted at the end of said optical chamber opposite from said bore; e. a dispenser cathode disposed between said active region and said optical chamber; f. an anode mounted between said first mirror and said active region; g. a tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode, said tubular support carrying on the opposite ends thereof said bore and said optical chamber, respectively; h. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal temperature-related dimensional changes in said tubular support caused by heat from the dispenser cathode, said means for insulating comprising a ballast reservoir containing a supply of inert gas; and i. means for providing flow of the supply of inert gas of said ballast reservoir to the interior of said tubular support.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser as recited in claim 12, wherein said ballast reservoir is disposed surrounding said tubular support.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser as recited in claim 13, wherein said means for communicating comprises an aperture formed through a wall of said tubular support at a location internal to said ballast reservoir.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser as recited in claim 14, wherein said aperture is formed through a portion of a wall of said tubular support remote from said dispenser cathode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser as recited in claim 13, wherein said ballast reservoir comprises a jacket encircling said tubular support and sealed to the exterior thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A laser as recited in claim 16, wherein said jacket comprises: a. peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from and encircling the exterior of said tubular support; and b. lateral end walls interconnecting the extremities of said sidewalls to the exterior of said tubular support, at least one of said end walls being thinner than said peripheral sidewalls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser as recited in claim 12 wherein the one of said end walls adjacent to said optical chamber is thinner than the other of said end walls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser as recited in claim 16, wherein said tubular support and said jacket have concentric circular cross-sections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laser as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrical leads for said dispenser cathode are sealingly disposed through one of said end walls and enter the interior of said tubular support through said aperture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser as recited in claim 12, wherein said dispenser cathode is impregnated with barium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
174 words
A structure for stabilizing alignment of mirrors of a laser where the mirrors are located on opposite sides of a dispenser cathode, said structure comprising: a. a tubular support enclosing therewithin the dispenser cathode, said tubular support also enclosing therewithin a means for generating a laser beam along a longitudinal axis of said tubular support; b. an aperture formed through said tubular support; and c. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal temperature-related dimensional changes in said tubular support caused by heat from the dispenser cathode, said means for insulating comprising a ballast housing comprising a jacket encircling said tubular support and being sealed to the exterior thereof, said jacket comprising: i. peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from and encircling the exterior of said tubular support; and ii. lateral end walls interconnecting the extremities of said sidewalls to the exterior of said tubular support on opposite sides of said aperture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
174 words
A structure for stabilizing alignment of mirrors of a laser where the mirrors are located on opposite sides of a dispenser cathode, said structure comprising: a. a tubular support enclosing therewithin the dispenser cathode, said tubular support also enclosing therewithin a means for generating a laser beam along a longitudinal axis of said tubular support; b. an aperture formed through said tubular support; and c. means for insulating a portion of the exterior of said tubular support enclosing said dispenser cathode from direct contact with ambient temperature conditions so as to permit the occurrence of unrestrained longitudinal temperature-related dimensional changes in said tubular support caused by heat from the dispenser cathode, said means for insulating comprising a ballast housing comprising a jacket encircling said tubular support and being sealed to the exterior thereof, said jacket comprising: i. peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from and encircling the exterior of said tubular support; and ii. lateral end walls interconnecting the extremities of said sidewalls to the exterior of said tubular support on opposite sides of said aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A structure as recited in claim 22, wherein said tubular support and aid peripheral sidewalls of said ballast housing have concentric circular cross-sections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A structure as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of said end walls of said ballast housing is thinner than said sidewalls thereof.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for stabilizing mirror alignment in a laser, the laser having a dispenser cathode, said method comprising the steps of: a. enclosing the dispenser cathode in a temperature stabilization tube; b. insulating at least a portion of said temperature stabilization tube from direct contact with ambient temperature; c. coupling the dispenser cathode to a source of electrical power; and d. permitting unrestrained longitudinal, temperature-related dimensional changes in said temperature stabilization tube caused by heat from the dispenser cathode.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for stabilizing mirror alignment in a laser, the laser having a dispenser cathode, said method comprising the steps of: a. enclosing the dispenser cathode in a temperature stabilization tube; b. insulating at least a portion of said temperature stabilization tube from direct contact with ambient temperature; c. coupling the dispenser cathode to a source of electrical power; and d. permitting unrestrained longitudinal, temperature-related dimensional changes in said temperature stabilization tube caused by heat from the dispenser cathode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as recited in claim 25, wherein said step of insulating comprises the steps of: a. surrounding said temperature stabilization tube with a ballast housing; b. placing the interior of said temperature stabilization tube in communication with the interior of said ballast housing; c. evacuating said ballast housing and temperature stabilization tube; and d. introducing an inert gas at low pressure into said ballast housing and temperature stabilization tube.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said ballast housing comprises a jacket encircling said cathode housing and being sealed to the exterior thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said jacket comprises: a. peripheral sidewalls spaced apart from and encircling the exterior of said temperature stabilization tube; and b. lateral end walls interconnecting the extremities of said sidewalls to the exterior of said temperature stabilization tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said step of placing the interior of said temperature stabilization tube in communication with the interior of said ballast housing comprises the step of forming an aperture through said temperature stabilization tube at a location interior to said ballast housing.
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) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |