Patents Assigned to Coherent, Inc.
  • Transition-metal-doped thin-disk laser
    Patent number: 9160131
    Abstract: A laser includes a Ti:sapphire gain-medium in the form of a thin-disk. The thin-disk gain-medium is optically pumped by pump-radiation pulses having a wavelength in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The pump-radiation pulses have a duration less than twice the excited-state lifetime of the gain-medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Michael Hertwig, H. Yang Pang
  • High efficiency amplification of pulsed laser output for high energy ultrafast laser systems
    Patent number: 9147992
    Abstract: Systems and methods of high efficiency amplification of pulsed laser output for high energy ultra-short pulse laser systems are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods for amplifying pulsed laser output for high energy ultra-short pulse laser systems include receiving pulsed laser output and amplifying the pulsed laser output by propagating the pulsed laser output through a non-silica based gain medium that has been doped with a concentration of rare earth ions, wherein the concentration of the rare earth ions within the gain medium is approximately greater than one percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Peng, Kyungbum Kim, Michael M. Mielke
  • Fiber-coupled laser with adjustable beam-parameter-product
    Patent number: 9128259
    Abstract: Laser apparatus includes a laser the output of which is formed into a collimated beam then focused into a transport fiber at a particular effective numerical aperture. A parallel plate is located in the collimated beam and can be variably inclined with respect to the collimated beam for varying the effective numerical aperture of the radiation focused into the fiber. In one embodiment, a second parallel plate is located in the focused beam, and can be variably inclined with respect to the focused beam for aligning the focused beam with the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Grasso, Douglas W. Anthon
  • Singulation of layered materials using selectively variable laser output
    Patent number: 9120181
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing, selectively ablating, and singulating layered materials. According to some embodiments, methods for selectively ablating a layered material may include selectively varying a wavelength of at least a portion of a primary ultrafast laser beam to create a secondary ultrafast laser beam with a second wavelength, the primary ultrafast laser beam being configured to ablate a layer of the layered material, the secondary ultrafast laser beam being configured to ablate an additional layer of the layered material and applying the first and second ultrafast laser beams to the layered material to create a singulated product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventors: Ramanujapuram A. Srinivas, Michael Greenberg, David Gaudiosi, Michael Mielke, Tim Booth
  • Apparatus for delivery of laser-beams of different wavelengths to a flow-cytometer
    Patent number: 9091803
    Abstract: An optical apparatus for delivering to a flow-cell of a flow-cytometer a plurality of beams of laser radiation each thereof having a different wavelength. The apparatus includes a dispersion compensation-prism and a plurality of directing-prisms equal in number to the number of laser-beam. The directing-prisms are arranged to direct the laser radiation beams directly therethrough into the dispersion compensation-prism as converging fan of beams in a first plane. The beams are transmitted by the compensation-prism as a converging fan of beams intersecting then proceeding as a diverging fan of beams in the first plane. A spherical focusing lens is arranged cooperative with a cylindrical lens for focusing the plurality of laser-beams as a plurality of spaced apart elongated focal spots in a plane in which the cytometer flow-cell is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Meng, Jordan Wesley Crist, Michele Wayne Winz, James Schloss
  • High-power CW fiber-laser
    Patent number: 9083140
    Abstract: A CW fiber-laser includes a gain fiber having a reflector proximity-coupled to one end, with the other end left uncoated. A laser resonator is defined by the reflector and the uncoated end of the gain-fiber. Pump-radiation from two fast-axis diode-laser bar stacks is combined and focused into the uncoated end of the gain-fiber for energizing the fiber. Laser radiation resulting from the energizing is delivered from the uncoated end of the gain-fiber and separated from the pump-radiation by a dichroic mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Minelly, Sergei V. Govorkov, Luis A. Spinelli, Douglas Anthon, Jay Michael Ingalls
  • Beam-combiner for fiber-delivered laser-beams of different wavelengths
    Patent number: 9075237
    Abstract: A beam combiner for combining laser-beams of different colors along a common path includes a directing-prism for each of the laser-beams and one combining-prism. The directing-prisms are arranged to transmit the laser-beams to the combining-prism. The directing-prisms and the combining-prism are configured and arranged with respect to each other such that the directing-prism transmits the beams along the common path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Rüdiger Von Elm, Chantal Marois
  • Macro channel water-cooled heat-sink for diode-laser bars
    Patent number: 9065238
    Abstract: A water-cooled heat-sink for a diode-laser bar includes a copper-cooling-unit having an integral mount thereon for the diode-laser bar. The copper-cooling-unit is attached to a steel base-unit. The base-unit and the cooling-unit are cooperatively configured such that at least one cooling-channel is formed in the cooling-unit by the attachment of the base-unit to the cooling-unit. The cooling-channel is positioned to cool the mount when cooling-water flows through the cooling-channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: David Schleuning, Athanasios Chryssis
  • Laser power and energy sensor utilizing anisotropic thermoelectric material
    Patent number: 9059346
    Abstract: A laser-radiation sensor includes a copper substrate on which is grown an oriented polycrystalline buffer layer surmounted by an oriented polycrystalline sensor-element of an anisotropic transverse thermoelectric material. An absorber layer, thermally connected to the sensor-element, is heated by laser-radiation to be measured and communicates the heat to the sensor-element, causing a thermal gradient across the sensor-element. Spaced-apart electrodes in electrical contact with the sensor-element sense a voltage corresponding to the thermal gradient as a measure of the incident laser-radiation power. At least two protection layers are positioned between the sensor layer and the absorber layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Semerad, Erik Krous, James Schloss
  • Short-pulse fiber-laser
    Patent number: 9059564
    Abstract: A mode-locked fiber laser has a resonator including a gain-fiber, a mode-locking element, and a spectrally-selective dispersion compensating device. The resonator can be a standing-wave resonator or a traveling-wave resonator. The dispersion compensating device includes only one diffraction grating combined with a lens and a mirror to provide a spatial spectral spread. The numerical aperture of the gain-fiber selects which portion of the spectral spread can oscillate in the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Simanovski, Andrei Starodoumov
  • TUNABLE FEMTOSECOND LASER-PULSE SOURCE INCLUDING A SUPER-CONTINUUM GENERATOR
    Publication number: 20150131143
    Abstract: A mode-locked fiber MOPA delivers pulses of laser-radiation. A super-continuum generator including a bulk spectral-broadening element and a negative group-delay dispersion (NGDD) device is arranged to receive a pulse from the MOPA and cause the pulse to make a predetermined number of sequential interactions with the broadening element and the NGDD device. After making the predetermined interactions, the pulse is delivered from the super-continuum generator with a very broad spectral-bandwidth and a very short duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventors: Norman HODGSON, Dmitri SIMANOVSKI, Andrei STARODOUMOV
  • High-power CW fiber-laser
    Patent number: 9014220
    Abstract: A CW ytterbium-doped fiber-laser includes a gain-fiber having a reflector proximity-coupled to one end, with the other end left uncoated. A laser resonator is defined by the reflector and the uncoated end of the gain-fiber. Pump-radiation from fast-axis diode-laser bar-stacks emitting at 915 nm and 976 nm is combined and focused into the uncoated end of the gain-fiber for energizing the fiber. Laser radiation resulting from the energizing is delivered from the uncoated end of the gain-fiber and separated from the pump-radiation by a dichroic mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Minelly, Sergei V. Govorkov, Luis A. Spinelli, Douglas William Anthon, Jay Michael Ingalls
  • Laser power and energy sensor utilizing anisotropic thermoelectric material
    Patent number: 9012848
    Abstract: A laser-radiation sensor includes a copper substrate on which is grown an oriented polycrystalline buffer layer surmounted by an oriented polycrystalline sensor-element of an anisotropic transverse thermoelectric material. An absorber layer, thermally connected to the sensor-element, is heated by laser-radiation to be measured and communicates the heat to the sensor-element, causing a thermal gradient across the sensor-element. Spaced-apart electrodes in electrical contact with the sensor-element sense a voltage corresponding to the thermal gradient as a measure of the incident laser-radiation power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Semerad, Erik Krous, James Schloss
  • Diode laser bar mounted on a copper heat-sink
    Patent number: 9001856
    Abstract: A diode-laser bar package includes a water cooled metal heat-sink. An electrical-insulator-plate is bonded to the heat-sink with a soft solder. A metal sub-mount and a first electrode are bonded, spaced apart, on the electrical-insulator-plate. A solder-bridge fills the space between the first electrode and the sub-mount. A diode-laser bar is bonded to the sub-mount. A second electrode is bonded to the first electrode with an electrically insulating bond. Electrical connection between the second electrode and the diode-laser bar is made by a plurality of wire-bond electrical leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Govorkov, John H. Jerman
  • BEAM-STACKING ELEMENT FOR DIODE-LASER BAR STACK
    Publication number: 20150085370
    Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a diode-laser bar stack having N fast-axis stacked diode-laser bars cooperative with a parallel sided transparent stacking plate. The stacking plate receives N original beams from the N diode-laser bars and converts the N beams to 2N fast-axis stacked beams having one-half of a width the original beams and one-half of a fast-axis spacing between the original beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea CAPRARA, John H. JERMAN
  • VIA-HOLE DRILLING IN A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD USING A CARBON MONOXIDE LASER
    Publication number: 20150083698
    Abstract: Apparatus for drilling a via-hole in a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a carbon monoxide laser deliver laser radiation pulses. The pulses have a relatively broad wavelength-range, and slow rising and falling edges. The rising and falling edges of the pulses are clipped using and acousto-optic modulator. A dispersion-compensator compensates for dispersion in the clipped pulses introduced by the AOM. Achromatic focusing optics focus the dispersion-compensated, clipped pulses on the PCB for the via-hole drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventors: Gongxue HUA, Eric R. MUELLER
  • Laser label-printer
    Patent number: 8988477
    Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Govorkov, John H. Jerman
  • Driving circuit for analog-modulated diode-laser
    Patent number: 8971364
    Abstract: A diode-laser is driven by a modulated voltage through a voltage-to-current converter. The modulated voltage has a fixed level determined by an applied fixed bias voltage and a variable level determined by a modulation voltage signal varying between minimum and maximum values. The fixed voltage level corresponds to a threshold level above which the diode-laser would provide laser-output. The modulation voltage signal is monitored and compared with a predetermined set value. If the monitored voltage signal falls below the set value, the modulated voltage is disconnected from the voltage-to-current converter and the output of the diode-laser falls to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert A. Hoffman, Richard J. Farmer
  • Traveling-wave ring-oscillators without a faraday rotator
    Patent number: 8964802
    Abstract: A ring laser-resonator generating plane-polarized fundamental-frequency radiation includes an optically nonlinear crystal configured for type-II second-harmonic generation of fundamental-frequency radiation. The resonator is configured such that fundamental-frequency radiation circulating either clockwise or counter-clockwise therein makes two passes through the optically nonlinear crystal per round-trip in the resonator in opposite directions, with polarization planes perpendicular to each other. This arrangement forces unidirectional circulation of radiation in the resonator during which second-harmonic radiation is not generated by the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Caprara
  • Diffusion-cooled COlaser with flexible housing
    Patent number: 8942270
    Abstract: A gas includes a housing having a symmetrical arrangement of upper and lower cooling members for removing heat generated in a gas-discharge excited by an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly is clamped between the cooling members and is itself essentially symmetrically arranged. The cooling members and the electrode assembly are mechanically isolated in the housing by a surrounding diaphragm-like arrangement that connects the cooling members to side-walls of the housing. An RF power-supply for supplying the electrode assembly is mounted on one of the sidewalls to avoid disturbing the symmetry of the cooling and electrode arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. DeMaria