US5361275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removing material from a target
Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt eV
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Filing: 1993-08-26
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2013-08-26
Abstract
Abstract In order to improve an apparatus for removing material from a target, comprising a high-power laser generating laser pulses with a pulse duration in the picosecond range and comprising a resonator, in which a mode-locking device and a Q-switch are arranged, a frequency multiplier following the high-power laser and a beam guide for focusing the laser beam coming from the frequency multiplier onto the target, such that the energy in the single laser pulses having a pulse duration in the picosecond range is as high as possible, it is suggested that the resonator have fully reflecting end mirrors for generating single high-energy laser pulses, that a system for the controlled coupling out of single pulses be arranged in the resonator and that a control be provided for coupling out a single pulse following release of the laser activity by the Q-switch and the build up of the single pulse after repeated round trips through the resonator.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Opower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:44
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/24; C23C14/28; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/062; B23K26/0622; B23K26/0624; B23K26/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for removing material from a target, comprising: a high-power laser for generating laser pulses with a pulse duration in the picosecond range and comprising a resonator having a mode-locking device and a Q-switch arranged therein, a frequency multiplier following the high-power laser, and a beam guide for focusing the laser beam coming from the frequency multiplier onto the target, said resonator having fully reflecting end mirrors for generating single high-energy laser pulses, a system for the controlled coupling out of single pulses being arranged in the resonator, and a control being provided for coupling out a single pulse following release of the laser activity by the Q-switch and the build up of the single pulse after repeated round trips through the resonator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for removing material from a target, comprising: a high-power laser for generating laser pulses with a pulse duration in the picosecond range and comprising a resonator having a mode-locking device and a Q-switch arranged therein, a frequency multiplier following the high-power laser, and a beam guide for focusing the laser beam coming from the frequency multiplier onto the target, said resonator having fully reflecting end mirrors for generating single high-energy laser pulses, a system for the controlled coupling out of single pulses being arranged in the resonator, and a control being provided for coupling out a single pulse following release of the laser activity by the Q-switch and the build up of the single pulse after repeated round trips through the resonator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the control activates the single-pulse coupling-out means within a defined period of time following release of the laser activity by the Q-switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the control activates the single-pulse coupling-out means when the single pulse building up in the resonator reaches an intensity threshold value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the single-pulse coupling-out means comprises a polarization-rotating Pockels cell and a polarization-dependent transmission/reflection mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a laser amplifier is arranged between the high-power laser and the frequency multiplier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the frequency multiplier is followed by a coupling-out element for a part of the laser pulse not frequency-multiplied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein a beam guide is provided for focusing the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse onto the target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse are focused onto the target with separate beam guides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse strikes the target with a time delay in relation to the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the beam guide for the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse comprises a detour line for the pulse delay.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein a colinearizing element is provided for bringing together the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the colinearizing element is followed by a common focusing system for the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse form a defined pulse sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the laser pulse comprises a part of the laser pulse repeatedly frequency-multiplied.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
Process for removing material from a target, wherein: laser pulses with a pulse duration in the picosecond range are generated by a high-power laser comprising a resonator having a mode-locking device and a Q-switch arranged therein and multiplied by a frequency multiplier following the high-power laser, the laser beam coming from the frequency multiplier is focused onto the target by a beam guide, a high-energy single laser pulse is used as the laser pulse, this laser pulse being generated when the laser activity in the resonator is released by the Q-switch, following the release of the laser activity a single pulse runs back and forth repeatedly between fully reflecting end mirrors of the resonator and a high-energy single pulse is thereby built up, and the high-energy single pulse is coupled out by means of a system for the controlled coupling out of single pulses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
Process for removing material from a target, wherein: laser pulses with a pulse duration in the picosecond range are generated by a high-power laser comprising a resonator having a mode-locking device and a Q-switch arranged therein and multiplied by a frequency multiplier following the high-power laser, the laser beam coming from the frequency multiplier is focused onto the target by a beam guide, a high-energy single laser pulse is used as the laser pulse, this laser pulse being generated when the laser activity in the resonator is released by the Q-switch, following the release of the laser activity a single pulse runs back and forth repeatedly between fully reflecting end mirrors of the resonator and a high-energy single pulse is thereby built up, and the high-energy single pulse is coupled out by means of a system for the controlled coupling out of single pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein the single-pulse coupling-out means is activated within a defined period of time following release of the laser activity by the Q-switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein the single-pulse coupling-out means is activated when the single pulse building up in the resonator reaches an intensity threshold value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein a polarization-rotating Pockels cell and a polarization-dependent transmission/reflection mirror are used as single-pulse coupling-out means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein a laser amplifier is used between the high-power laser and the frequency multiplier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein a part of the laser pulse not frequency-multiplied is coupled out following the frequency multiplier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process as defined in claim 20, wherein a non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse is focused onto the target with a beam guide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process as defined in claim 21, wherein the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse are focused onto the target with separate beam guides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process as defined in claim 20, wherein the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse is applied to the target with a time delay in relation to the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process as defined in claim 23, wherein the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse is applied to the target via a detour line for the pulse delay.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process as defined in claim 20, wherein the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse are brought together by a colinearizing element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process as defined in claim 25, wherein the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse are brought together by a common focusing system following the colinearizing element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process as defined in claim 20, wherein a defined pulse sequence is formed with the frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse and the non-frequency-multiplied part of the laser pulse.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
Process as defined in claim 15, wherein the laser pulse is formed with a part of the laser pulse repeatedly frequency-multiplied.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |