US5559824A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical frequency-converting medium pumped by unstable resonator semiconductor laser
Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-31
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2014-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser (14) emits optical output of greater than 50 mW in a wavelength range of 700-1100 nm. A grating (116,136) may be positioned external to URSL (14) to control the spectral bandwidth and wavelength output of the waveguide pumping beam (74). Alternatively, URSL (14) may be fabricated with a distributed feedback (DFB) grating or a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). Infrared waveguide pumping beam (74) generated by such a high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser (14) is coupled into a nonlinear waveguide (28) and converted to visible or near ultraviolet output (100) through the process of second-harmonic generation.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Baird
- 👤 Richard DeFreez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:02
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: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for generating frequency-converted laser optical output, comprising: providing an unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a wavelength-selecting grating and a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; generating from the unstable resonator semiconductor laser an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW with a high degree of lateral and transverse spatial coherence; and coupling the URSL optical output into a frequency-converting medium to convert the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser optical output.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for generating frequency-converted laser optical output, comprising: providing an unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a wavelength-selecting grating and a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; generating from the unstable resonator semiconductor laser an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW with a high degree of lateral and transverse spatial coherence; and coupling the URSL optical output into a frequency-converting medium to convert the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser optical output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the unstable resonator semiconductor laser emits in a wavelength range of 700-1000 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 in which the unstable resonator semiconductor laser comprises AlGaAs that emits at about 700-880 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: selecting the wavelength of the laser optical output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: employing a grating mirror that is external to the unstable resonator semiconductor laser to select the wavelength of the URSL optical output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the wavelength-selecting grating comprises a distributed feedback grating to select the wavelength of the URSL optical output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 in which the distributed feedback grating employs a first order period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 in which the distributed feedback grating employs a second order period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 in which the distributed feedback grating is fabricated into the unstable resonator semiconductor laser by a process of holographic lithography.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the wavelength-selecting grating comprises a distributed Bragg reflector to select the wavelength of the URSL optical output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the frequency-converting medium comprises a nonlinear waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 in which the nonlinear waveguide comprises periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, LiNbO 3 , or LiTaO 3 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the frequency-converted laser optical output has a usable wavelength component within the 350-500 nm range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 in which the usable wavelength component is about 385 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which the high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser generates single frequency URSL optical output.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the optical field propagating within the resonator has a lateral magnification of greater than 2.5.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A laser system for generating frequency-converted laser system optical output, comprising: a high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW, the unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a wavelength-selecting grating and a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source is to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source to provide the URSL optical output with a high degree of lateral and transverse spatial coherence; and a frequency-converting medium for converting the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser system optical output.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
A laser system for generating frequency-converted laser system optical output, comprising: a high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW, the unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a wavelength-selecting grating and a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source is to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source to provide the URSL optical output with a high degree of lateral and transverse spatial coherence; and a frequency-converting medium for converting the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser system optical output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the unstable resonator semiconductor laser emits in a wavelength range of 700-1000 nm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the unstable resonator semiconductor laser comprises AlGaAs that emits at about 700-880 nm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 17 further comprising a wavelength-selecting element for selecting the wavelength of the laser system optical output.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the frequency- converting medium comprises a nonlinear waveguide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser system of claim 21 in which the nonlinear waveguide comprises periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, LiNbO 3 , or LiTaO 3 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the laser system optical output is greater than 1 mW.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser system of claim 17 further comprising a grating mirror that is external to the unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the wavelength-selecting grating comprises a distributed feedback grating.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 25 in which the distributed feedback grating employs first order period.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser system of claim 25 in which the distributed feedback grating employs a second order period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser system of claim 25 in which the unstable resonator semiconductor laser emits in a wavelength range of 700-1000 nm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser system of claim 25 in which the distributed feedback grating is fabricated into the unstable resonator semiconductor laser by a process of holographic lithography.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the wavelength selecting grating comprises a distributed Bragg reflector to select the wavelength of the URSL optical output.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the frequency-converted laser optical output has a usable wavelength component within the 350-440 nm range.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 31 in which the usable wavelength component is about 385 nm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser system of claim 17 in which the high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser generates single frequency URSL optical output.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 17 in which the optical field propagating within the resonator has a lateral magnification of greater than 2.5.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for generating frequency-converted laser optical output, comprising: providing an unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 700-1000 nm, the unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; generating the URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW from the unstable resonator semiconductor laser; and coupling the URSL optical output into a frequency-converting medium to convert the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 350-500 nm.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for generating frequency-converted laser optical output, comprising: providing an unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 700-1000 nm, the unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; generating the URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW from the unstable resonator semiconductor laser; and coupling the URSL optical output into a frequency-converting medium to convert the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 350-500 nm.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a wavelength-selecting element to select the wavelength within the 700-1000 nm wavelength range.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a distributed feedback grating.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a distributed Bragg reflector.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 36 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a grating mirror that is external to the unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 35 in which the frequency-converting medium comprises a nonlinear waveguide comprising periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, LiNbO 3 , or LiTaO 3 .
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 35 in which the optical field propagating within the resonator has a lateral magnification of greater than 2.5.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
144 words
A laser system for generating frequency-converted laser system optical output, comprising: a high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW at a unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; and a frequency-converting medium for converting the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser system optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 350-500 nm.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
144 words
A laser system for generating frequency-converted laser system optical output, comprising: a high-power unstable resonator semiconductor laser for generating an URSL optical output of greater than 50 mW at a unstable resonator semiconductor laser including a resonator having a length, a virtual point source in a lateral plane, a real point source in a transverse plane, and mirrors with radii of curvatures enclosing the resonator, the resonator length and the mirror radii of curvatures being selected to impart a greater than unity lateral magnification to an optical field propagating within the resonator and to make substantially equal a lateral divergence angle originating from the virtual point source to a transverse divergence angle originating from the real point source; and a frequency-converting medium for converting the URSL optical output to frequency-converted laser system optical output at a wavelength within a wavelength range of 350-500 nm.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser system of claim 42 further comprising a wavelength-selecting element to select the wavelength within the wavelength range of 700-1000 nm.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser system of claim 43 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a distributed feedback grating fabricated into the unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser system of claim 43 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a distributed Bragg reflector fabricated into the unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser system of claim 43 in which the wavelength-selecting element comprises a grating mirror that is external to the unstable resonator semiconductor laser.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 42 in which the frequency converting medium comprises a nonlinear waveguide.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser system of claim 47 in which the nonlinear waveguide comprises periodically segmented domain-inverted KTP, LiNbO 3 , or LiTaO 3 .
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser system of claim 42 in which the laser system optical output is greater than 1 mW.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 42 in which the optical field propagating within the resonator has a lateral magnification of greater than 2.5.
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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) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |