Patent US3641458A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3641458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mode selective laser with small feedback reflector and diffraction coupled output
Assignee: Control Data Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-13
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Laser apparatus is disclosed including a pair of reflectors for providing a regenerative feedback path through a laser working medium, one of the reflectors being substantially as large as the cross section of the working medium, and the other reflector being substantially smaller than the cross section of the working medium and sufficiently small to produce significant diffraction effects, the output of the apparatus being the portion of the laser beam not intercepted by the smaller reflector.
Inventors
- 👤 James T La Tourrette
- 👤 Maurice C Newstein
- 👤 Paul J Rabinowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/0818; H01S3/08081; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971; H01S3/0813; H01S3/0815; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/2222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane transverse to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane transverse to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second reflector is located obliquely with respect to said optical axis to separate the retraversing portion of said laser light from said output portion and direct these two portions in different directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, each said reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and the plane of said second reflector substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, each said reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and the plane of said second reflector substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second opaque reflectors are of different size with the larger reflector being plane and at least as large as the diffraction pattern projected thereon by the smaller reflector and the smaller reflector is convex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said opaque reflectors are of different size with the larger reflector being concave and at least as large as the diffraction pattern projected thereon by the smaller reflector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being convex and in a plane perpendicular to saId optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being convex and in a plane perpendicular to saId optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being concave and located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being concave and located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque plane reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque plane reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, said second reflector having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane transverse to said optical axis, said second reflector having a dimension less than the geometric mean of the laser operating wavelength and the reflector separation and having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A laser generator comprising a laser working medium within an optical resonator having an optical axis, said resonator including first and second substantially opaque reflectors, said second reflector being in a plane transverse to said optical axis, said second reflector having a dimension less than the geometric mean of the laser operating wavelength and the reflector separation and having a geometry such that the aperture represented by said second reflector produces a diffraction pattern which illuminates an area on said first reflector which is substantially larger than said second reflector, said first reflector being located with respect to said working medium and said second reflector so that the diffraction pattern is reflected from the first reflector through said working medium and said plane substantially without obstruction except for said second reflector, whereby a coherent output beam is emitted by said laser generator constituted by the portion of said diffraction pattern not reflected by said second reflector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second opaque reflectors are of different size with the larger reflector being plane and at least as large as the diffraction pattern projected thereon by the smaller reflector and the smaller reflector is convex.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said opaque reflectors are of different size with the larger reflector being concave and at leAst as large as the diffraction pattern projected thereon by the smaller reflector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second reflector is located obliquely with respect to said optical axis to separate the retraversing portion of said laser light from said output beam portion and direct these two portions in different directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3136959A
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US3055257A
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US3187270A
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US3369192A
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US3247467A
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US3344365A
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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) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |