US5317447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-power, compact, diode-pumped, tunable laser
Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-24
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A high-power semiconductor diode laser or array of semiconductor diode lasers (14) optically end-pumps a compact, tunable, solid-state laser (28) with a pumping beam (74) well-matched to the absorption bandwidth and mode volume (78) of the solid-state laser (28). Tilted birefringent plates (210) positioned within the solid-state resonator cavity (16) are employed to control the spectral bandwidth and wavelength output of the waveguide pumping beam (204). Infrared output (100) generated by such a solid-state laser (28) is coupled into a nonlinear waveguide (200) and converted to visible output (206) through the process of second-harmonic generation.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Baird
- 👤 Richard DeFreez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/37; G02F1/377; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/109; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/12; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/117; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/162; H01S3/1623; H01S3/163; H01S3/1645; H01S3/1648; H01S5/1082; H01S5/14; H01S5/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for generating usable laser optical output substantially in a 360-460 nm range, comprising: generating with a high-power diode laser an optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; coupling said optical pumping output into a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; and coupling said solid-state laser optical output into a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm wavelength range to usable laser optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for generating usable laser optical output substantially in a 360-460 nm range, comprising: generating with a high-power diode laser an optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; coupling said optical pumping output into a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; and coupling said solid-state laser optical output into a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm wavelength range to usable laser optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which said high-power diode laser comprises an unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which said high-power diode laser comprises AlGaInP that emits at about 610-690 nm and preferably at 650 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a tuning element for selecting the wavelength of said solid-state laser optical output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 in which said solid-state lasant comprises a chromium-doped fluoride crystal of Cr 3+ :XYZF 6 composition wherein X is selected from Li + , Na + , K + , and Rb + , Y is selected from Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Mg 2+ , and Z is selected from Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , and Sc 3+ .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a nonimaging concentrator positioned between said high-power diode laser and said solid-state lasant, said nonimaging concentrator comprising a high refractive index, crystalline, dielectric material to efficiently couple said optical pumping output of said high-power diode laser into said solid-state lasant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which said nonlinear waveguide is selected from periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, periodically segmented LiNbO 3 , and segmented LiTaO 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: employing a Q-switch and generating usuable laser optical output pulses of substantially high peak power.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising directing said usable laser output toward medical agents to photoactivate them.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising directing said usable laser output toward electronic materials to process them.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 2 in which the solid-state lasant comprises a chromium-doped fluoride crystal of Cr 3+ :XYZF 6 composition wherein X is selected from Li + , Na + , K + , and Rb + , Y is selected from Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Mg 2+ , and Z is selected from Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , and Sc 3+ .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising a nonimaging concentrator positioned between said high-power diode laser and said solid-state lasant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 in which said nonlinear waveguide is selected from periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, periodically segmented LiNbO 3 , and segmented LiTaO 3 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
A laser system for generating usable laser system optical output in a 360-460 nm wavelength range, comprising: a high-power diode laser to generate optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth that is well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; and a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm range to usable laser system optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A laser system for generating usable laser system optical output in a 360-460 nm wavelength range, comprising: a high-power diode laser to generate optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth that is well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; and a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm range to usable laser system optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said high-power diode laser comprises an unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said high-power diode laser comprises AlGaInP that emits at about 610-690 nm and preferably at 650 nm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 14 further comprising a tuning element for selecting the wavelength of said laser system optical output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said solid-state lasant comprises a chromium-doped fluoride crystal of Cr 3+ :XYZF 6 composition wherein X is selected from Li + , Na + , K + , and Rb + , Y is selected from Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Mg 2+ , and Z is selected from Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , and Sc 3+ .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The laser system of claim 14 further comprising a nonimaging concentrator positioned between said high-power diode laser and said solid-state lasant, said nonimaging concentrator comprising a high refractive index, crystalline, dielectric material to efficiently couple said optical pumping output of said high-power diode laser into said solid-state lasant.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said nonlinear waveguide is selected from periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, periodically segmented LiNbO 3 , and segmented LiTaO 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser system of claim 14 further comprising a Q-switch positioned within said resonator cavity for generating usable laser system optical output pulses of high peak power.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said laser system is substantially compact.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser system of claim 14 in which said usuable laser system optical output is greater than 50 mW.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
The laser system of claim 15 in which the solid-state lasant comprises a chromium-doped fluoride crystal of Cr 3+ :XYZF 6 composition wherein X is selected from Li + , Na + , K + , and Rb + , Y is selected from Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cd 2+ and Mg 2+ , and Z is selected from Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , and Sc 3+ .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 18 further comprising a nonimaging concentrator positioned between said high-power diode laser and said solid-state lasant.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for processing a target sensitive to usable laser optical output in a 360-460 nm range, comprising: generating with a high-power diode laser an optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; coupling said optical pumping output into a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; coupling said solid-state laser optical output into a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm wavelength range to said usable laser optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range; and directing said usable laser optical output toward said target to process it.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for processing a target sensitive to usable laser optical output in a 360-460 nm range, comprising: generating with a high-power diode laser an optical pumping output at a pumping emission wavelength; coupling said optical pumping output into a solid-state lasant positioned within a solid-state resonator cavity, said solid-state lasant having an absorption bandwidth well-matched to said pumping emission wavelength and a solid-state laser optical output in a 720-920 nm wavelength range; coupling said solid-state laser optical output into a nonlinear waveguide for converting said solid-state laser optical output from said 720-920 nm wavelength range to said usable laser optical output in said 360-460 nm wavelength range; and directing said usable laser optical output toward said target to process it.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 in which said method for processing comprises photoactivating and said target comprises a medical agent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 26 in which said target comprises an electronic material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising: providing a Q-switch; and operating said Q-switch to generate usable laser optical output pulses of substantially high peak power.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising: providing a Q-switch; and operating said Q-switch to generate usable laser optical output pulses of substantially high peak power.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising: providing a Q-switch; and operating said Q-switch to generate usable laser optical output pulses of substantially high peak power.
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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) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |