US5638397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Confocal-to-concentric diode pumped laser
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1995-08-18
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2015-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A high power diode pumped, acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO 4 laser includes at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler defining a resonator cavity. At least one acousto-optic Q-switch device and at least one laser crystal, with strong thermal focussing properties, are positioned in the resonator. One or more diode pump sources supply a pump beam to the laser crystal or crystals to generate an output beam. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Nighan, Jr.
- 👤 Mark S. Keirstead
- 👤 David R. Dudley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415; H01S3/08072; H01S3/081; H01S3/094049; H01S3/094053; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/117; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1611; H01S3/163; H01S3/1671; H01S3/1673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A high power diode pumped, acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO 4 laser, comprising: at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler defining a confocal-to-concentric resonator; at least one acousto-optic Q-switch device positioned in the resonator; at least one Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal with strong thermal focussing properties positioned in the resonator; at least one diode pump source supplying a pump beam to the at least one Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal, generating an output beam with a power of 4 watts or greater; and a power source supplying power to the diode pump source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A high power diode pumped, acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO 4 laser, comprising: at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler defining a confocal-to-concentric resonator; at least one acousto-optic Q-switch device positioned in the resonator; at least one Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal with strong thermal focussing properties positioned in the resonator; at least one diode pump source supplying a pump beam to the at least one Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal, generating an output beam with a power of 4 watts or greater; and a power source supplying power to the diode pump source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal has a 0.5% doping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a TEM 00 mode diameter of the laser crystal to a pump beam diameter in the crystal is about less than about 1.0, to about 0.83.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a TEM 00 mode diameter of the laser crystal to a pump beam diameter in the crystal is about less than about 1.0, to about 0.83.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser has an optical slope efficiency in a TEM 00 mode of greater than about 40%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser has an optical efficiency of greater than about about 20%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the output beam has a power greater than about 4 W.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the diode pump sources are diode bars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the diode pump sources are fiber-coupled diode bars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
The laser of claim 1, further including an aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser of claim 1, further providing an output beam of M 2 <1.5.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser of claim 1, with the Q-switch device modulated so as to provide an output beam that is comprised of a train of Q-switched pulses at a repetition rate greater than 10 kHz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser of claim 1, further including at least one depolarizing device between at least one diode pump source and at least one laser crystal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser of claim 1, further including at least one depolarizing device between at least one diode pump source and at least one laser crystal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser of claim 1, further including at least one depolarizing device between at least one diode pump source and at least one laser crystal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser of claim 1, wherein the pump beam end pumps the at least one Nd:YVO 4 laser crystal.
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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) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |