US4756002A — Laser diode coupler

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

In a side pumped laser comprising a cylindrical laser rod, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the laser rod, the sleeve having an aperture, an optical pump source aligned with the sleeve aperture and oriented to impart energy therethrough and into the rod, at least a portion of the outer sleeve wall having at least one means to reflect the optical pump energy, the improvement comprising means to direct energy from the optical pump source along a plurality of different paths through the rod to form at least one focal point of energy concentration within said rod wherat more than two of said plurality of paths substantially intersect each other, wherein the directing means includes a first means to initially focus the pump energy through the rod in an off-center path so that the energy alternately reflects from the outer sleeve wall at points successively further from the pump source, the focal points thereby being off-axis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

In a side pumped laser comprising a cylindrical laser rod, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the laser rod, the sleeve having an aperture, an optical pump source aligned with the sleeve aperture and oriented to impart energy therethrough and into the rod, at least a portion of the outer sleeve wall having at least one means to reflect the optical pump energy, the improvement comprising means to direct energy from the optical pump source along a plurality of different paths through the rod to form at least one focal point of energy concentration within said rod wherat more than two of said plurality of paths substantially intersect each other, wherein the directing means includes a first means to initially focus the pump energy through the rod in an off-center path so that the energy alternately reflects from the outer sleeve wall at points successively further from the pump source, the focal points thereby being off-axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the directing means includes a second focus means spaced apart from the first focus means, said second focus means having means to reflect pump energy through the rod in an off-center path so that the energy alternately reflects from the outer sleeve wall at points successively further from the second focus means and closer to the first focus means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of pump sources are spaced about the periphery of the sleeve, each of said pump sources having an associated directing means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 67 words

The device of claim 3 wherein the sleeve has an aperture substantially with each pump source, at least a portion of the balance of the outer wall of the sleeve having means to reflect the pump energy, and wherein each directing means includes means to reflect pump energy from its associated pump through the rod from more than one point around the circumference of the sleeve wall.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

The device of claim 4 wherein each directing means includes a first means to initially focus the pump energy from its associated pump through the rod in an off-center path so that the energy alternately reflects from the outer sleeve wall at points successively further from the pump source.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 69 words

The device of claim 5 wherein each directing means includes a second focus means spaced apart from the first focus means, said second focus means having means to reflect pump energy from its associated pump through the rod in an off-center path so that the energy alternately reflects from the outer sleeve wall at points successively further from the second focus means and closer to the first focus means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the second focus means of each associated pump is substantially adjacent the first focus means of an adjacent pump so that pump energy is reflected from points along substantially the entire outer wall of the sleeve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 7 wherein the first focus means and its adjacent focus means is aligned with the associated pump source aperture.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 8 wherein the sleeve is hollow, and further comprising means to circulate fluid therethrough.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 8 wherein the sleeve is optically transparent, and further comprising a reflective coating surrounding a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the sleeve.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 10 wherein the apertures are the only exterior sleeve surfaces not coated with the reflective coating.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 8 wherein the pump sources are symmetrically positioned about the exterior sleeve surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 12 wherein three pump sources are positioned about the sleeve.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 8 wherein each pump source comprises a linear laser diode array.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 92 words

In a side pumped laser comprising a cylindrical laser rod and a line optical pump source coupled to the side of the rod, the improvement comprising means to focus the energy from the optical pump source at a plurality of points which are off the lognitudinal axis of the rod by reflecting the energy through the rod a plurality of times along a plurality of paths, each of said paths substantially intersecting at least at one of said focused energy points and each point being comprised of more than two intersecting paths.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 92 words

In a side pumped laser comprising a cylindrical laser rod and a line optical pump source coupled to the side of the rod, the improvement comprising means to focus the energy from the optical pump source at a plurality of points which are off the lognitudinal axis of the rod by reflecting the energy through the rod a plurality of times along a plurality of paths, each of said paths substantially intersecting at least at one of said focused energy points and each point being comprised of more than two intersecting paths.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

The laser of claim 15 wherein the focusing means has means to direct substantially half of said plurality of paths to substantially intersect at a first focused energy point and the other half of said plurality of paths to substantially intersect at a second focused energy point.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The laser of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of line optical pump sources coupled to the side of the rod, each pump source having an associated energy focusing means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

The laser of claim 16 wherein said focusing means comprises a sleeve surrounding said laser, said sleeve having a reflecting coating thereon about less than all of its periphery, the non-coated portion of the sleeve forming an aperture for said pump source, and a lens positioned at said aperture through which energy from the pump source passes and is focused.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The laser of claim 16 wherein said focusing means further coprises a second lens positioned at said aperture for reflecting energy impinging thereon back along its incident path.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 111 words

A side pumped laser comprising a generally cylindrical laser rod, a generally cylindrical sleeve surrounding the laser rod, the sleeve being substantially optically transparent, a substantially reflective surface formed around the periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of substantially longitudinally aligned apertures through the reflective surface spaced about the periphery of the sleeve, each aperture having an associated pump source, and means to reflect the pump energy from each pump back and forth through the rod a plurality of times to form at least two focal points in said rod wherein said reflected energy is concentrated, said focal points being characterized by a substantial intersection of at least three energy reflections.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 111 words

A side pumped laser comprising a generally cylindrical laser rod, a generally cylindrical sleeve surrounding the laser rod, the sleeve being substantially optically transparent, a substantially reflective surface formed around the periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of substantially longitudinally aligned apertures through the reflective surface spaced about the periphery of the sleeve, each aperture having an associated pump source, and means to reflect the pump energy from each pump back and forth through the rod a plurality of times to form at least two focal points in said rod wherein said reflected energy is concentrated, said focal points being characterized by a substantial intersection of at least three energy reflections.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

The laser of claim 20 wherein the reflection means includes means to substantially confine the reflection of pump energy from each pump source to a pre-determined associated portion of the laser rod.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The laser of claim 19 wherein the rod portions are at different angular positions in the rod.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 11 words

The laser of claim 22 wherein the portions are substantially non-overlapping.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

The laser of claim 21 wherein the reflection means comprises a first focus means substantially aligned with each aperture and pump source, and wherein the reflection confining means comprises a second focus means having means to re-direct the pump energy back along its intial path.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 56 words

The laser of claim 24 wherein each first focus means has means to direct pump energy from its associated pump source through an off axis portion of the laser rod so that subsequent alternate reflections from the adjacent arc of reflective surface are further away from the pump source, said focal points thereby being off axis.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 56 words

The laser of claim 25 wherein each second focus means has means to reflect pump energy from its associated pump source through an off axis portion of the laser rod so that subsequent alternate reflections from the adjacent arc of reflective surface are further away from the second focus means and closer to its associated aperture.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 15 words

The laser of claim 26 wherein each pump source is a line optical pump source.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

The laser of claim 27 wherein at least three pump sources are symmetrically spaced about the sleeve.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The laser of claim 28 wherein each pump source is a linear laser diode array.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 56 words

The laser of claim 21 wherein the reflection means comprises a first focus means substantially aligned with each aperture, the pump source being offset from said first focus means, and wherein the reflection confining means comprises a second focus means, the second focus means having means to redirect the pump energy back along its initial path.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

The laser of claim 30 wherein the second focus means comprises an externally mounted cylindrical retro-reflective lens.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 49 words

The laser of claim 31 wherein each first focus means has means to direct pump energy from its associated pump source through an off axis portion of the laser rod so that subsequent alternate reflections from the adjacent arc of reflective surface are further away from the pump source.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 56 words

The laser of claim 32 wherein each second focus means has means to reflect pump energy from its associated pump source through an off axis portion of the laser rod so that subsequent alternate reflections from the adajcent arc of reflective surface are further away from the second focus means and closer to its associated aperture.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of concentrating the pump energy within a laser rod comprising the steps of: surrounding the laser rod with a cylindrical sleeve, the sleeve having means about its periphery to reflect pump energy and at least one aperture for transmitting pump energy into said rod, side pumping the laser through the aperture, reflecting the pump energy from the periphery of the sleeve along a plurality of different paths through the rod, and focusing at least three of said different paths to substantially intersect within the rod to thereby form concentrated areas of pump energy.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of concentrating the pump energy within a laser rod comprising the steps of: surrounding the laser rod with a cylindrical sleeve, the sleeve having means about its periphery to reflect pump energy and at least one aperture for transmitting pump energy into said rod, side pumping the laser through the aperture, reflecting the pump energy from the periphery of the sleeve along a plurality of different paths through the rod, and focusing at least three of said different paths to substantially intersect within the rod to thereby form concentrated areas of pump energy.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 34 wherein the step of focusing further comprises the step of directing substantially half of said different paths to substantially intersect at one location and the other half of said different paths to substantially intersect at anohter location, both of said locations being off of the longitudinal axis of the rod.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 35 wherein the step of reflecting the pump energy includes the step of alternately reflecting energy from points along the periphery successively further from the aperture.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 36 wherein the step of reflecting the pump energy includes the step of alternately reflecting energy from points along the periphery successively closer to the aperture.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-07-05	1992-01-04	1992-07-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-07-05	1996-01-04	1996-07-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-07-05	2000-01-04	2000-07-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Laser diode coupler

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