Patent US3697889A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3697889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunable laser
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-17
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A LASER having at one end of the optical cavity a frequency selective reflector that varies the frequency of the light reflected back into the cavity by rotation. The selective reflector is supported on a first set of bearings and a tuning adjustor for rotating the reflector is supported on a separate bearing. A flexible coupling element connects the adjustor and reflector for positive rotational positioning with essentially no load coupled along other axes.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Forbes Dewey Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/086; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A tunable LASER comprising: a. An optical cavity having an optical axis and terminated at one end with a partially reflective mirror; b. a reflector, frequency selective by rotation, for terminating the other end of said cavity; c. first bearing means for mounting said reflector with its axis of rotation in line with and perpendicular to said optical axis; d. adjustable means for rotating said reflector; e. second bearing means for mounting said adjustable means; and, f. compliant coupling means coupling said reflector and said adjustable means rigidly with respect to rotation of said reflector and compliantly with respect to other directions whereby said adjustable means is effectively decoupled from loading said first bearing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A tunable LASER comprising: a. An optical cavity having an optical axis and terminated at one end with a partially reflective mirror; b. a reflector, frequency selective by rotation, for terminating the other end of said cavity; c. first bearing means for mounting said reflector with its axis of rotation in line with and perpendicular to said optical axis; d. adjustable means for rotating said reflector; e. second bearing means for mounting said adjustable means; and, f. compliant coupling means coupling said reflector and said adjustable means rigidly with respect to rotation of said reflector and compliantly with respect to other directions whereby said adjustable means is effectively decoupled from loading said first bearing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 1 wherein said reflector is a diffraction grating and said first bearing means is first and second needle bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 2 wherein said tunable LASER further comprises a support housing, a bearing mounting stud in said support housing a bearing surface for said first needle bearing fixed to said mounting stud, and a bearing surface for said second bearing means fixed to said mounting stud.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 2 wherein said second bearing means comprises a ball bearing race.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable means is an arm, said second bearing means is a race of ball bearings supporting said arm, and said LASER further comprises a micrometer bearing against said arm for moving said arm radially about said second bearing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 5 wherein said LASER further comprises a dye LASER cell carrying said partially reflective mirror and said arm traverses the length of said cell with said micrometer bearing against said arm substantially at said one end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tunable LASER according to claim 5 further comprising elastic means biasing said arm against said micrometer and a ball bearing positioned between said micrometer and said arm held in position by recesses in said micrometer and said arm whereby friction between said arm and said micrometer during adjustment is reduced.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3090863A
Cited
US3433557A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |