Patent US5353296A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5353296A
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Materials processing with a high repetition rate isotopic carbon dioxide laser
Assignee: Coherent Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-12
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Granted: 1994-10-04
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Expires: 2013-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An laser system is disclosed for materials processing. The system includes an RF excited, conduction cooled, sealed gas laser. The lasing species in the gas mixture is an isotope of carbon dioxide and in the preferred embodiment is defined by the 13CO2 isotope. The use of the 13CO2 isotope functions to shorten the rise and fall times of the laser pulses. By this arrangement, the laser may be operated at higher repetition rates with a full depth of power modulation.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale E. Koop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0975; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/0604; B23K26/062; B23K26/0622; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223; H01S3/2232
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laser as recited in claim 1 wherein the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 times as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laser as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas mixture includes nitrogen and wherein the pressure of the isotopic carbon dioxide is greater than the pressure of the nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas mixture consists primarily of isotopic carbon dioxide, helium and xenon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser as recited in claim 1 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 times as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 times as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laser as recited in claim 6 wherein said gas mixture includes nitrogen and wherein the pressure of the isotopic carbon dioxide is greater than the pressure of the nitrogen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser as recited in claim 6 wherein said gas mixture consists primarily of isotopic carbon dioxide, helium and xenon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser as recited in claim 6 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A laser as recited in claim 6 wherein the depth of modulation of said laser output is at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates greater than 20 Khz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, whereby said laser can be operated at repetition rates in a range between 10 and 20 Khz while maintaining a depth of modulation between the output pulses; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, whereby said laser can be operated at repetition rates in a range between 10 and 20 Khz while maintaining a depth of modulation between the output pulses; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as recited in claim 11 wherein said lasing gas is excited with an RF signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laser system as recited in claim 11 wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the gas mixture includes nitrogen and wherein the pressure of the isotopic carbon dioxide is greater than the pressure of the nitrogen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laser system as recited in claim 11 wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture wherein the gas mixture consists primarily of isotopic carbon dioxide, helium and xenon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as recited in claim 11 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser system as recited in claim 11 further including a means for directing a standard carbon dioxide assist gas to the material to be processed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as recited in claim 17 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 times as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
111 words
A laser system for materials processing comprising: a sealed gas discharge laser for generating a pulsed output beam and with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 times as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species; and means for directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser system as recited in claim 19 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, whereby said laser can be operated at repetition rates in a range between 10 and 20 Khz while maintaining a depth of modulation of at least ninety percent between the output pulses; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, whereby said laser can be operated at repetition rates in a range between 10 and 20 Khz while maintaining a depth of modulation of at least ninety percent between the output pulses; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the laser is excited by an RF signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the laser is sealed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the gas mixture includes nitrogen and wherein the pressure of the isotopic carbon dioxide is greater than the pressure of the nitrogen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture wherein the gas mixture consists primarily of isotopic carbon dioxide, helium and xenon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 25 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 21 further including the step of directing a flow of an assist gas to the material to be processed and wherein the assist gas is standard carbon dioxide.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a sealed gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a sealed gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least eighty percent at pulse repetition rates up to 20 Khz; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 29 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a sealed gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 time as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for processing materials comprising: generating a pulsed laser beam from a sealed gas discharge laser, with the lasing gas being predominantly an isotope of carbon dioxide, wherein the gas in the sealed discharge laser is defined by a gas mixture and wherein the pressure of the gas mixture and the composition of the constituents are selected so that the rise and fall times of each pulse are at least 1.6 time as fast as the rise and fall times of a pulse that would be created using standard carbon dioxide gas as the lasing species; and directing the beam to the material to be processed.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
121 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least ninety percent at pulse repetition rates in the range of 10 to 20 Khz.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
121 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least ninety percent at pulse repetition rates in the range of 10 to 20 Khz.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser as recited in claim 32 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
117 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least ninety-five percent at pulse repetition rates up to 10 Khz.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
117 words
A laser for use in materials processing comprising: a sealed housing for holding a lasing gas mixture; a resonant cavity defining a gas discharge region; a pair of electrodes for exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region; and a pulsed RF excitation means for energizing said electrodes and exciting said gas mixture in said gas discharge region to generate a pulsed laser beam and wherein the lasing species in said gas mixture consists primarily of an isotope of carbon dioxide with the remaining constituents and pressure of said gas mixture being selected to provide a depth of modulation of said laser output of at least ninety-five percent at pulse repetition rates up to 10 Khz.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser as recited in claim 34 wherein the lasing species is the 13 CO 2 isotope.
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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) | 1997-10-03 | 1998-04-04 | 1998-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-03 | 2002-04-04 | 2002-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-03 | 2006-04-04 | 2006-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |