US5233624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for an increased output for a pumped laser using a moving aperture
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: 1993-08-03
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A solid state lasing medium is pumped to produce a high repetition rate laser beam. The laser medium is pumped to cause maximum population inversion. The laser medium is greater in diameter than the aperture that defines the allowable beam path. In the preferred embodiment the off-axis laser beam that is produced is steered to become an on-axis laser beam using a novel SBSA (spinning beam steering assembly). The output of the laser is increased because as the SBSA spins, the area of the lasing medium that is not lasing is being charged or pumped. The laser medium can also be hollow to allow for pumping from either outside or inside the hollow bore or both. Similarly, this hollow bore in the laser medium could also allow cooling fluids to be circulated therethrough. Different embodiments of the SBSA are disclosed, including a variety of methods to pump the laser medium. Also, disclosed is a novel field removable or replaceable laser medium housing assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. LaPlante
- 👤 Howard A. Bender, III
- 👤 William D. Carbaugh, Jr.
- 👤 David C. Long
- 👤 Christopher D. Setzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/061; H01S3/02; H01S3/025; H01S3/04; H01S3/042; H01S3/0404; H01S3/0407; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/0804; H01S3/0805; H01S3/08072; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093; H01S3/0931; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/10; H01S3/102; H01S3/1026; H01S3/106; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An enhanced pumped laser system comprising: a) at least one laser medium for forming a laser beam, said laser beam having a laser beam axis, b) at least one means for pumping at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, wherein said pumping causes a population inversion in at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, c) at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, wherein said allowable laser beam path is smaller than the cross-section of said at least one laser medium, d) at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path through said population inverted region of said at least one laser medium, e) at least one first mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, f) at least one second mirror, wherein said second mirror is an output coupler mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein said second mirror is opposite said first mirror, and g) wherein said laser beam passes through said means for defining an allowable laser beam path and at least a portion of said laser beam reflects off a portion of said first and second mirrors during the sweeping of said population inversion region of said at least one laser medium, thereby forming said enhanced pumped laser system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
An enhanced pumped laser system comprising: a) at least one laser medium for forming a laser beam, said laser beam having a laser beam axis, b) at least one means for pumping at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, wherein said pumping causes a population inversion in at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, c) at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, wherein said allowable laser beam path is smaller than the cross-section of said at least one laser medium, d) at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path through said population inverted region of said at least one laser medium, e) at least one first mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, f) at least one second mirror, wherein said second mirror is an output coupler mirror to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein said second mirror is opposite said first mirror, and g) wherein said laser beam passes through said means for defining an allowable laser beam path and at least a portion of said laser beam reflects off a portion of said first and second mirrors during the sweeping of said population inversion region of said at least one laser medium, thereby forming said enhanced pumped laser system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said laser medium is pumped while at least a portion of said laser medium lases simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path is an aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 3, wherein said aperture is an integral part of at least one spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 3, wherein said aperture is a variable aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path is selected from a group consisting at least one galvanometer scanner or resonant scanner or rotating polygon scanner or electro-optic scanner or holographic scanner or acousto-optic scanner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path is at least one spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 7, wherein said at least one SBSA is rotated by at least one rotating means, wherein said rotating means are selected from a group comprising an electric motor or a hydraulic motor or air driven gas motor or a turbine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 7, wherein said at least one SBSA has at least one means for lubrication while said at least one SBSA is rotating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 9, wherein said lubrication to said at least one rotating SBSA is provided by at least one cooling fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 7, wherein said pumping is done towards at least a portion or at least one end of said at least one laser medium, and wherein said pumping laser radiation passes through at least a portion of said at least one SBSA.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 7, wherein said SBSA has at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one prism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one light pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least two etched pockets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least two mirrors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one reflective means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 12, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one refractive means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said laser medium is selected from a group comprising a solid laser medium, a liquid laser medium or a gaseous laser medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for creating said population inversion in at least a portion of said laser medium is selected from a group comprising electromagnetic radiation, electrical discharge, chemical excitation, thermal excitation or mechanical excitation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is hollow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said hollow laser medium is cooled from inside said hollow portion of said hollow laser medium or outside of said hollow laser medium or both.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said hollow laser medium is pumped from inside said hollow portion of said hollow laser medium or outside of said hollow laser medium or both.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser medium comprises a lasing portion and a non-lasing portion, and wherein at least a portion of said non-lasing portion is pumped by said at least one means for pumping said at least one laser medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least one Q-switch controls the passage of said laser beam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said first mirror is an output coupler mirror.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least one means are provided to cool said at least one laser medium and said at least one means for pumping said at least one laser medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser medium is a CW pumped laser medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is quasi CW pumped.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is continuously pumped.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is pumped upon demand.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pumping is done towards at least a portion of at least one end of said at least one laser medium.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said first mirror has at least one reflective area, and wherein said reflective area is always in synchronism with said at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein at least one spinning aperture assembly defines and sweeps said at least one active region.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said laser beam passes through at least one aperture assembly, and wherein said at least one aperture assembly has at least one adjustable aperture.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 1, wherein said output laser beam is a trepanning laser beam.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The enhanced pumped laser system of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of said trepanning laser beam output is directed towards at least a portion of at least one light pipe.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for an enhanced laser system comprising the steps of: a) rotating at least one spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA) having an offset axis and a rotational axis, wherein said offset axis is displaced from said rotational axis by at least one radius of a laser beam, b) pumping at least a portion of at least one laser medium, wherein said pumping causes a population inversion in at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, and wherein at least a portion of said laser medium is lasing and forming said laser beam, while at least a portion of a non-lasing portion of said laser medium is being pumped to cause said population inversion, c) having at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, wherein said allowable laser beam path is smaller than the cross-section of said at least one laser medium, d) using at least two mirrors to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein at least one of said mirrors is an output coupler mirror, and e) allowing the passage of said reflected laser beam to pass through said at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, and thereby increasing said pulse repetition rate for said pumped laser.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for an enhanced laser system comprising the steps of: a) rotating at least one spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA) having an offset axis and a rotational axis, wherein said offset axis is displaced from said rotational axis by at least one radius of a laser beam, b) pumping at least a portion of at least one laser medium, wherein said pumping causes a population inversion in at least a portion of said at least one laser medium, and wherein at least a portion of said laser medium is lasing and forming said laser beam, while at least a portion of a non-lasing portion of said laser medium is being pumped to cause said population inversion, c) having at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, wherein said allowable laser beam path is smaller than the cross-section of said at least one laser medium, d) using at least two mirrors to reflect at least a portion of said laser beam, wherein at least one of said mirrors is an output coupler mirror, and e) allowing the passage of said reflected laser beam to pass through said at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path, and thereby increasing said pulse repetition rate for said pumped laser.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said laser medium is pumped while at least a portion of said laser medium is allowed to lase simultaneously.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said at least one means for defining an allowable laser beam path is an aperture.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 40, wherein said aperture is an integral part of at least one spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA).
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 40, wherein said aperture is a variable aperture.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path is selected from a group comprising at least one galvanometer scanner or resonant scanner or rotating polygon scanner or electro-optic scanner or holographic scanner or acousto-optic scanner.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path is a spinning beam steering assembly (SBSA).
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said means of rotating said at least one SBSA is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor or air driven gas motor or a turbine.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said at least one SBSA has at least one means for lubrication while said at least one SBSA is rotating.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 46, wherein said lubrication to said at least one rotating SBSA is provided by at least one cooling fluid.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said pumping is done towards at least a portion of at least one end of said at least one laser medium, and wherein said pumping laser radiation passes through at least a portion of said at least one SBSA.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said SBSA has at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one prism.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one light pipe.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least two etched pockets.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least two mirrors.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one reflective means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said at least one means to re-direct at least a portion of said laser beam is at least one refractive means.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said laser medium is selected from a group comprising a solid laser medium, a liquid laser medium or a gaseous laser medium.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said at least one means for creating said population inversion in at least a portion of said laser medium is selected from a group comprising mechanical excitation, electromagnetic radiation, electrical discharge, chemical excitation or thermal excitation.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is hollow.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 58, wherein at least a portion of said hollow laser medium is cooled from inside said hollow portion of said hollow laser medium or outside of said hollow laser medium or both.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 58, wherein at least a portion of said hollow laser medium is pumped from inside said hollow portion of said hollow laser medium or outside of said hollow laser medium or both.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said at least one laser medium comprises a lasing portion and a non-lasing portion, and wherein at least a portion of said non-lasing portion is pumped by said at least one means for pumping said at least one laser medium.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least one Q-switch controls the passage of said laser beam.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said first mirror is an output coupler mirror.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least one means are provided to cool said at least one laser medium and said at least one means for pumping said at least one laser medium.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said at least one laser medium is a CW pumped laser medium.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is quasi CW pumped.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is continuously pumped.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said at least one laser medium is pumped upon demand.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said pumping is done towards at least a portion of at least one end of said at least one laser medium.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said first mirror has at least one reflective area, and wherein said reflective area is always in synchronism with said at least one means for sweeping said allowable laser beam path.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38, wherein at least one spinning aperture assembly defines and sweeps said at least one active region.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said laser beam passes through at least one aperture assembly, and wherein said at least one aperture assembly has at least one adjustable aperture.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said output laser beam is a trepanning laser beam.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 73, wherein at least a portion of said trepanning laser beam output is directed towards at least a portion of at least one light pipe.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |