US5311529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid stabilized internal mirror lasers
Assignee: Omnichrome Corp
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Filing: 1993-06-28
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Granted: 1994-05-10
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Expires: 2013-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A liquid stabilizing system stabilizes an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube assembly which has a hermetically sealed gas laser tube which includes a gas, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode, a cathode end bell, a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, which are coaxially disposed with a central axis, and laser mirrors, which are sealably mounted to each end of the hermetically sealed gas laser tube. The liquid stabilizing system includes a cylindrical plastic jacket and a cooling liquid. The plastic jacket has a cooling liquid inlet and a cooling liquid outlet and surrounds the hermetically sealed gas laser tube. The cylindrical cooling jacket is sealed to the hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers. An annulus is formed between the hermetically sealed laser tube and the plastic jacket. The cooling liquid fills the annulus so that the cooling liquid is in intimate contact with all or a large portion of the surface of the hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of the cooling liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of the laser mirrors under conditions of liquid convection cooling by cooling a substantial portion of the hermetically sealed gas laser tube with minimal asymmetry relative to the central axis.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Hug
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/032; H01S3/0323; H01S3/04; H01S3/041; H01S3/0401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube assembly having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube including a gas, said gas including at least one gas of a group consisting of argon, krypton, neon, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode, a cathode end bell and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus if formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a larger portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube assembly having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube including a gas, said gas including at least one gas of a group consisting of argon, krypton, neon, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode, a cathode end bell and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus if formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a larger portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube according to claim 1 wherein said liquid includes ethylene glycol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube according to claim 1 wherein said liquid includes water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator gas discharge laser tube according to claim 1 wherein said liquid directed around the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube in an axis-symmetric helical fashion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
246 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-cadmium discharge laser tube having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube including a mixture of helium and cadmium, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus is formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a large portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
246 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-cadmium discharge laser tube having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube including a mixture of helium and cadmium, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus is formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a large portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-cadmium discharge laser tube according to claim 5 wherein said liquid includes ethylene glycol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-cadmium discharge laser tube according to claim 5 wherein said liquid includes water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-cadmium discharge laser tube according to claim 5 wherein said liquid is directed around the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube in an axis-symmetric helical fashion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
247 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-neon discharge laser tube having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube 2 including a mixture of helium with neon, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus is formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a large portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
A liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-neon discharge laser tube having a hermetically sealed gas laser tube 2 including a mixture of helium with neon, a capillary tube, an anode, an anode end assembly, a cathode and a cathode end assembly with electrical feed-throughs for the cathode, and having laser mirrors which are sealably mounted to each end of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said laser mirrors being maintained in alignment about the central axis by a resonator, said liquid-filled resonator stabilizing system comprising: a. a cylindrical plastic jacket which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and which surrounds said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, said plastic jacket being sealed to said hermetically sealed laser tube by O-rings which are held in place by plastic retainers whereby an annulus is formed between said hermetically sealed laser tube and said plastic jacket; and b. a liquid which has a thermal conductivity greater than 1.0×10 -3 watts/centimeter/° C. and/or a specific heat capacity greater than 0.50 joule/gram/° C. and which fills said annulus so that said liquid is in intimate contact with all or a large portion of the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube, the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of said liquid being sufficient to prevent misalignment of said laser mirrors; wherein said hermetically sealed gas laser tube comprises a portion of said resonator structure and said liquid cools said hermetically sealed laser tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-neon discharge laser tube according to claim 9 wherein said liquid includes ethylene glycol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-neon discharge laser tube according to claim 9 wherein said liquid includes water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A resonator stabilizing system for use with an internal mirror/internal resonator helium-neon discharge laser tube according to claim 9 wherein said liquid is directed around the surface of said hermetically sealed gas laser tube in an axis-symmetric helical fashion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
A gas laser system comprising: a laser tube wall surrounding a cavity, wherein said cavity contains a gaseous laser medium; a first laser mirror sealably mounted to said laser tube wall, said first laser mirror aligned with respect to said laser tube wall; a second laser mirror sealably mounted to said laser tube wall, said second laser mirror aligned with respect to said laser tube wall; wherein said laser tube wall maintains the optical alignment between said first laser mirror and said second laser mirror; and a jacket for holding liquid in thermal contact with said laser tube wall, said liquid producing a substantially axially symmetric temperature distribution around said laser tube wall during operation of said gas laser system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A gas laser system comprising: a laser tube wall surrounding a cavity, wherein said cavity contains a gaseous laser medium; a first laser mirror sealably mounted to said laser tube wall, said first laser mirror aligned with respect to said laser tube wall; a second laser mirror sealably mounted to said laser tube wall, said second laser mirror aligned with respect to said laser tube wall; wherein said laser tube wall maintains the optical alignment between said first laser mirror and said second laser mirror; and a jacket for holding liquid in thermal contact with said laser tube wall, said liquid producing a substantially axially symmetric temperature distribution around said laser tube wall during operation of said gas laser system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A gas laser system according to claim 13 wherein said laser mirrors are rigidly mounted to said laser tube wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A gas laser system according to claim 13 wherein both of said laser mirrors are rigidly mounted and hermetically sealed to said laser tube wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas laser system according to claim 13 wherein said jacket for holding liquid has an inlet and an outlet so that liquid can be circulated into and out of said jacket for holding liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A gas laser system according to claim 16 wherein said gas laser system further comprises a closed loop liquid circulation system; and a heat exchanger remotely situated from said laser tube wall, said closed loop circulation system for thermally coupling said heat exchanger to said laser tube wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A gas laser system according to claim 13 wherein said liquid comprises water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
131 words
A hermetically sealed laser tube assembly for use in a gas laser system, said laser tube assembly comprising: a laser tube, said laser tube defining a laser gain region, said laser gain region amplifying light passed through said laser gain region; a first laser mirror sealably mounted to an end of said laser tube, said first laser mirror being rigidly mounted in relation to said laser tube, and said laser mirror having a reflective surface facing on said laser gain region; a second laser mirror, said first laser mirror and said second laser mirror together acting as a resonator in said gas laser system; a liquid in contact with said laser tube, said liquid regulating the operating temperature of said laser tube sufficiently to maintain the optical stability of said resonator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
131 words
A hermetically sealed laser tube assembly for use in a gas laser system, said laser tube assembly comprising: a laser tube, said laser tube defining a laser gain region, said laser gain region amplifying light passed through said laser gain region; a first laser mirror sealably mounted to an end of said laser tube, said first laser mirror being rigidly mounted in relation to said laser tube, and said laser mirror having a reflective surface facing on said laser gain region; a second laser mirror, said first laser mirror and said second laser mirror together acting as a resonator in said gas laser system; a liquid in contact with said laser tube, said liquid regulating the operating temperature of said laser tube sufficiently to maintain the optical stability of said resonator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 19 wherein said second laser mirror is sealably mounted to the laser tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 20 wherein said first laser mirror and said second laser mirror are rigidly mounted and hermetically sealed to said laser tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 19 further comprising a plastic jacket surrounding a portion of said laser tube; wherein said liquid circulates through said plastic jacket adjacent to said laser gain cavity of the gas laser system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 19 further comprising a heat exchanger, said heater exchanger being physically separate from said laser tube; and a closed loop circulation system, wherein said liquid circulates from said laser tube through said closed loop liquid circulation system to said heat exchanger.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 19 wherein said liquid has a sufficiently high thermal conductivity to maintain the optical stability of said resonator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser tube assembly of claim 19 wherein said liquid has a sufficiently high specific heat to maintain the optical stability of said resonator.
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) | 1997-05-09 | 1997-11-08 | 1998-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-09 | 2001-11-08 | 2002-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-09 | 2005-11-08 | 2006-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |