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Patent US5084898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5084898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Passive pathlength control mirror for laser
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-18
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A laser mirror mounting arrangement for a laser formed within a laser body is shown. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting base mounted upon the laser body. A stem is attached to the mounting base to which, in turn, the laser mirror is mounted. The stem has a coefficient of thermal expansion selected to maintain the mirror in a fixed position. This is accomplished by permitting the stem to expand due to thermal expansion in one direction, while the laser body expands due to thermal expansion in the opposite direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry A. Dorschner
- 👤 Irl W. Smith, Jr.
- 👤 Michael K. O. Holz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083; G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/58; G01C19/64; G01C19/66; G01C19/661; G01C19/665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A laser mirror mount for use in a laser, said laser formed in a laser body having a plurality of laser mirrors mounted upon said body for establishing the pathlength of a laser beam within said body, wherein the improvement comprises: a mounting base mounted upon said laser body; a stem attached to said mounting base extending therefrom toward said laser body; said stem mounting a laser mirror in the path of said laser beam; and said stem having a coefficient of thermal expansion selected to maintain said mirror mounted thereon at a fixed point in the path of said laser beam while said laser body expands in a first direction due to thermal heating and said stem expands in a second direction due to said thermal heating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A laser mirror mount for use in a laser, said laser formed in a laser body having a plurality of laser mirrors mounted upon said body for establishing the pathlength of a laser beam within said body, wherein the improvement comprises: a mounting base mounted upon said laser body; a stem attached to said mounting base extending therefrom toward said laser body; said stem mounting a laser mirror in the path of said laser beam; and said stem having a coefficient of thermal expansion selected to maintain said mirror mounted thereon at a fixed point in the path of said laser beam while said laser body expands in a first direction due to thermal heating and said stem expands in a second direction due to said thermal heating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said stem attached to said mounting base at a first angle and mounting said laser mirror at a second angle to form a wedge angle between said base and said laser mirror, whereby movement of said base on said laser body adjusts the point on said mirror struck by said laser beam to, in turn, adjust said pathlength of said laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 2, wherein: said movement of said base on said laser body is a translational movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 2, wherein: said movement of said base on said laser body is a rotational movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said mounting base and said stem are formed from one piece of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said mounting base and said stem are formed by two separate pieces of material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said stem having a mirror mounting surface; and said laser mirror formed and mounted directly upon said mirror mounting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said stem having a mirror mounting surface; and said mirror formed upon a substrate which, in turn, mounts upon said mirror mounting surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said mounting base having an inner surface closest to said laser body and an outer periphery on said inner surface surrounding an inner region thereon; a washer mounted upon said outer periphery of said inner surface of said mounting base; and said stem mounted upon said inner region of said inner surface of said mounting base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 9, wherein: said washer and stem have substantially the same thickness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 9, wherein: said washer, stem and mounting base are separate pieces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 11, additionally comprising: said stem formed from first and second pieces, said first piece mounting said laser mirror and having a fixed thickness, and said second piece having a variable thickness to adjust for tolerance variations in said laser body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 11, additionally comprising: said washer formed from first and second pieces, said first piece having a fixed thickness, and said second piece having a variable thickness to adjust for tolerance variations in said laser body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, wherein said laser is chosen from a group consisting of a single frequency laser, a two-frequency laser, a four-frequency laser, or a six-frequency laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, wherein said laser is chosen from a group consisting of a laser with a straight pathlength and two mirrors, a laser with a flat pathlength and three mirrors, a laser with a flat pathlength and four mirrors, or a laser with a folded pathlength and four or more mirrors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: at least one of said laser mirrors formed on a mounting base that includes a deformable piezoelectric crystal to obtain a fine tuning of said laser pathlength; and at least one of said laser mirrors formed on said stem attached to said mounting base to obtain a coarse tuning of said laser pathlength.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The laser mirror mount of claim 1, additionally comprising: said mounting base includes a deformable piezoelectric crystal to obtain a fine tuning of said laser pathlength while said stem mounted thereon obtains a coarse tuning thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
A mount for a laser mirror to be used on a laser body, comprising: a stem for mounting a laser mirror within a laser body, said stem and said laser body each having a thermal expansion; a mounting base for mounting said stem to a laser body, wherein the thermal expansion of said stem counteracts thermal expansion of said, laser body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A mount for a laser mirror to be used on a laser body, comprising: a stem for mounting a laser mirror within a laser body, said stem and said laser body each having a thermal expansion; a mounting base for mounting said stem to a laser body, wherein the thermal expansion of said stem counteracts thermal expansion of said, laser body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A mount for a laser mirror to be used on a laser body, comprising: a stem for mounting a laser mirror within a laser body, said stem and said laser body each having a thermal expansion; a mounting base for mounting said stem to a laser body, wherein thermal expansion of said stem counteracts thermal expansion of said laser body; and a piezoelectric crystal whose expansion further counteracts thermal expansion of said laser body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
A mount for a laser mirror to be used on a laser body, comprising: a stem for mounting a laser mirror within a laser body, said stem and said laser body each having a thermal expansion; a mounting base for mounting said stem to a laser body, wherein thermal expansion of said stem counteracts thermal expansion of said laser body; and a piezoelectric crystal whose expansion further counteracts thermal expansion of said laser body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mount for a laser mirror of claim 19, wherein: said mounting base is formed of said piezoelectric crystal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mount for a laser mirror of claim 19, wherein: said mirror is mounted upon a substrate; and said substrate is formed of said piezoelectric crystal.
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) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |