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US5231643A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical frequency converter of bulk resonator structure

Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-14
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Granted: 1993-07-27
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Expires: 2012-05-14
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed an optical frequency converter of a bulk resonator structure comprising a ring resonator or V-shaped resonator made of a nonlinear optical crystal. The converter is equipped with a means for returning a laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser resonating inside the resonator to the semiconductor laser. The ring resonator or V-shaped resonator is made small in size and compact. The converter is insusceptible to vibration and needs no adjustment. Returning laser light is produced at less locations. The loss of the output light inside the resonator is reduced. The second harmonic is generated at a high efficiency. Multiple reflection is produced inside the resonator to further enhance the efficiency of the generation of the second harmonic of the laser radiation. Also, the phase of the radiation can be made uniform. The optical density can be increased.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masayuki Naya
  • 👤 Yoji Okazaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 20:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/14; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S3/13; H01S3/139; H01S5/141

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 83 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator including means for returning a part of the resonating laser light, as a returning light, to the semiconductor laser, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure comprising a nonlinear optical crystal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 83 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator including means for returning a part of the resonating laser light, as a returning light, to the semiconductor laser, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure comprising a nonlinear optical crystal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 1, wherein said means for returning a part of the resonating laser light to the semiconductor laser comprised a cement used at an interface of the nonlinear optical crystal of the bulk resonator structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 1, wherein (A) said semiconductor laser produces high-power output, (B) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode of the oscillation of the semiconductor laser are multimode, and (C) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode are converted into a single mode by said returning light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 104 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure comprising a nonlinear optical crystal and a block of other optical material bonded to the nonlinear optical crystal, said ring resonator being formed so that only the resonating laser light of the resonant mode of the resonator reflected by the bonded surface is returned to the semiconductor laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 104 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure comprising a nonlinear optical crystal and a block of other optical material bonded to the nonlinear optical crystal, said ring resonator being formed so that only the resonating laser light of the resonant mode of the resonator reflected by the bonded surface is returned to the semiconductor laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 4, wherein (A) said semiconductor laser produces high-power output, (B) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode of the oscillation of the semiconductor laser are multimode, and (C) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode are converted into a single mode by said returning light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 99 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a V shaped resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said V-shaped resonator comprising a nonlinear optical crystal, said crystal being a monolithic hemisphere, the resonator being formed so that only the resonating laser light of the resonant mode of the resonator reflected by a given spherical surface of the hemispherical nonlinear optical crystal is returned to the semiconductor laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 99 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a V shaped resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said V-shaped resonator comprising a nonlinear optical crystal, said crystal being a monolithic hemisphere, the resonator being formed so that only the resonating laser light of the resonant mode of the resonator reflected by a given spherical surface of the hemispherical nonlinear optical crystal is returned to the semiconductor laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 50 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 6, wherein (A) said semiconductor laser produces high-power output, (B) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode of the oscillation of the semiconductor laser are multimode, and (C) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode are converted into a single mode by said returning light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 128 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure, comprising a nonlinear optical crystal; and a diffraction grating disposed outside the ring resonator in an opposite relation to any one of the internal reflecting surfaces of the resonator for the laser light, wherein only the laser light of the resonant mode resonating inside the resonator is reflected by the diffraction grating and returned to the semiconductor laser, and wherein the distance between the diffraction grating and the outer surface is variable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 128 words
An optical frequency converter for converting a frequency of laser light emitted by a semiconductor laser into a different frequency, said optical frequency converter comprising: a ring resonator into which the laser light emitted by the semiconductor laser is directed and in which the laser light is resonated, said ring resonator having a bulk resonator structure, comprising a nonlinear optical crystal; and a diffraction grating disposed outside the ring resonator in an opposite relation to any one of the internal reflecting surfaces of the resonator for the laser light, wherein only the laser light of the resonant mode resonating inside the resonator is reflected by the diffraction grating and returned to the semiconductor laser, and wherein the distance between the diffraction grating and the outer surface is variable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 50 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 8, wherein (A) said semiconductor laser produces high-power output, (B) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode of the oscillation of the semiconductor laser are multimode, and (C) both longitudinal mode and transverse mode are converted into a single mode by said returning light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
The optical frequency converter according to claim 8, wherein said diffraction grating can be moved toward and away from the outer surface of the ring resonator adjacent to said internal reflecting surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4884276A Cited
US5027361A Cited
US5124999A Cited
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US5119383A Cited
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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) 1996-07-26 1997-01-25 1997-07-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-07-26 2001-01-25 2001-07-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-07-26 2005-01-25 2005-07-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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