US5689519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Environmentally stable passively modelocked fiber laser pulse source
Assignee: IMRA America Inc
•
Filing: 1993-12-20
•
Granted: 1997-11-18
•
Expires: 2013-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to providing an environmentally stable, ultra-short pulse source. Exemplary embodiments relate to passively modelocked ultra-short fiber lasers which are insensitive to temperature variations and which possess only negligible sensitivity to pressure variations. Further, exemplary embodiments can be implemented in a cost-effective manner which render them commercially practical in unlimited applications. Arbitrary fiber lengths (e.g., on the order of 1 millimeter to 1 kilometer, or greater) can be used to provide an ultra-short pulse with a cost-effective architecture which is commercially practical.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin E. Fermann
- 👤 Donald J. Harter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1106; H01S3/1112; H01S3/1115; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; a doped highly-birefringent fiber; and low-birefringent fiber operably connected with said highly-birefringent fiber for transmitting laser energy along said axis of the cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; a doped highly-birefringent fiber; and low-birefringent fiber operably connected with said highly-birefringent fiber for transmitting laser energy along said axis of the cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A passively modelocked laser according to claim 1, wherein said gain medium includes highly-birefringent fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; and a polarization beam splitter and a fiber isolator for output coupling of laser light from the cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; and a polarization beam splitter and a fiber isolator for output coupling of laser light from the cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; and a fiber stretcher for initiating modelocking of the laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which includes: a gain medium for amplifying energy in the cavity; means for reflecting energy along an axis which passes through the gain medium; means for compensating linear phase drifts of the gain medium; means for outputting laser energy generated within said cavity; and a fiber stretcher for initiating modelocking of the laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which further includes: a low-birefringent fiber; and a doped highly-birefringent fiber connected to said low-birefringent fiber along an axis through which laser energy is transmitted within the cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A passively modelocked laser comprising: means for generating laser energy, said laser energy generating means having a cavity which further includes: a low-birefringent fiber; and a doped highly-birefringent fiber connected to said low-birefringent fiber along an axis through which laser energy is transmitted within the cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A passively modelocked laser according to claim 5, wherein said laser energy generating means is a fiber laser for producing ultra-short pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3729690A
Cited
US3409843A
Cited
US3548312A
Cited
US3801931A
Cited
US3928818A
Cited
US3978429A
Cited
JPS56165385A
Cited
US4864577A
Cited
EP0352974A2
Cited
US5008887A
Cited
US5189676A
Cited
US5005175A
Cited
US5136598A
Cited
US5050183A
Cited
US5163059A
Cited
US5222089A
Cited
EP0564098A2
Cited
US5272560A
Cited
US5361161A
Cited
US5311603A
Cited
US5303314A
Cited
US5448579A
Cited
US5450427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |