Patents by Inventor Lanny Laughman
Lanny Laughman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20070041418Abstract: An improved laser system includes a sealed-off, RF excited, diffusion cooled, high pressure, short pulsed, high peak power waveguide and slab CO2 laser that avoids problems typically associated with obtaining a diffused discharge at high gas pressures, without arcing and without corona, while maintaining the unsaturated gain and gas temperature experienced at low pressures and scaling to higher pressures. Such a system has a long operating life-time, and is capable of operation at high gas pressures to obtain relative fast rise and fall time pulses. The system emits relatively short pulse widths, with pulse energies up to and exceeding 30 mJ, with reasonably high pulse repetition rates. The system also has a low pulsed RF power duty cycle, thereby enabling the generation of high peak power pulses, as well as reasonable average power and reasonably high peak powers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Inventors: Lanny Laughman, Vernon Seguin, Peter Chenausky, Robert Henschke, Eric Mueller
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Publication number: 20070024011Abstract: A tongue and groove design provides a thermally stable hermetic seal for a laser housing. A sealant, such as a metal o-ring, is placed between the tongue of a flange member, or end piece, and a groove formed in an open end of a housing to provide a hermetically sealed environment. The groove can be a double groove, having a wider first portion and a narrower second portion. The sealant can be placed in the narrower second portion such that when the tongue is placed at least partially within the narrower second portion, the sealant fills the space between the tongue and groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Raymond Michaud, Thomas Hennessey, Lanny Laughman
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Patent number: 7058093Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. DeMaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke
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Patent number: 6999490Abstract: A waveguide gas laser includes an enclosure filled with a lasing gas. A ceramic block is provided with one or more waveguide channels. At least one of the waveguide channels includes an open region which is in fluid communication with a waveguide channel. Lasing gas in the enclosure fills the waveguide channels and the lateral extension. An electric field is applied across the lateral extension of the waveguide channel while simultaneously applying a smaller electric field across the waveguide channel. The electric field across the lateral extension ignites a discharge in the lateral extension that spreads into the lasing gas in the waveguide channel. The electric field across the waveguide channel is sufficient to sustain the discharge in the lasing in the waveguide channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: John Kennedy, Lanny Laughman, Anthony DeMaria, Ronald Straayer
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Publication number: 20060007966Abstract: Various electro-optical modulator module designs are presented, which can provide for uniform, symmetric, and efficient heat removal for mode-locking, Q-switching, and/or cavity dumping operations. Heat can be uniformly extracted from an EO crystal without imposing undue stress, thereby preventing birefringence and laser beam degradation. A liquid-cooling approach can be used for high-duty operations, such as mode-locking operations. Efficient heat removal can prevent thermal run-away from electrical heating of the crystal due to the large drop in the electrical resistance of CdTe with increasing temperature when operated above 50° C. RF or video arcing and subsequent damage to the EO crystal can be prevented by surrounding the crystal with a low dielectric constant material that lowers the capacitance coupling to ground, while still maintaining good thermal cooling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Lanny Laughman, Thomas Hennessey, Joseph Smucz, Vernon Seguin, Raymond Michaud
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Publication number: 20050069007Abstract: A simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched CO2 laser system for material processing comprises sealed-off folded waveguides with folded mirrors that are thin film coated to select the output wavelength of the laser. The system also comprises a plurality of reflective devices defining a cavity; a gain medium positioned within the cavity for generating a laser beam; a cavity loss modulator for modulating the laser beam, generating thereby one or more laser pulses; a pulsed signal generation system connected to the cavity loss modulator for delivering pulsed signals to the cavity loss modulator thereby controlling the state of optical loss within the cavity; a control unit connected to the pulsed signal generation system for controlling the pulsed signal generation system; and a pulse clipping circuit receptive of a portion of the laser beam and connected to the pulsed signal generation system for truncating a part of the laser pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2004Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: John Kennedy, Richard Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony Demaria, Leon Newman, Robert Henschke
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Publication number: 20050018736Abstract: A waveguide gas laser includes an enclosure filled with a lasing gas. A ceramic block is provided with one or more waveguide channels. At least one of the waveguide channels includes an open region which is in fluid communication with a waveguide channel. Lasing gas in the enclosure fills the waveguide channels and the lateral extension. An electric field is applied across the lateral extension of the waveguide channel while simultaneously applying a smaller electric field across the waveguide channel. The electric field across the lateral extension ignites a discharge in the lateral extension that spreads into the lasing gas in the waveguide channel. The electric field across the waveguide channel is sufficient to sustain the discharge in the lasing in the waveguide channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2003Publication date: January 27, 2005Inventors: John Kennedy, Lanny Laughman, Anthony DeMaria, Ronald Straayer
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Patent number: 6826204Abstract: A simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched CO2 laser system for material processing is disclosed. The system comprises sealed-off folded waveguides with folded mirrors that are thin film coated to select the output wavelength of the laser. The system also comprises a plurality of reflective devices defining a cavity; a gain medium positioned within the cavity for generating a laser beam; a cavity loss modulator for modulating the laser beam, generating thereby one or more laser pulses; a pulsed signal generation system connected to the cavity loss modulator for delivering pulsed signals to the cavity loss modulator thereby controlling the state of optical loss within the cavity; a control unit connected to the pulsed signal generation system for controlling the pulsed signal generation system; and a pulse clipping circuit receptive of a portion of the laser beam and connected to the pulsed signal generation system for truncating a part of the laser pulses.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. Demaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke
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Patent number: 6798816Abstract: A folded waveguide CO2 laser includes a plurality of waveguides arranged in a zigzag pattern with ends thereof overlapping. The laser includes a resonator having an axis extending through the plurality of waveguides. At least a portion of at least one of the waveguides has a uniform minimum width selected cooperative with the height of the waveguide and the laser wavelength such that the resonator can oscillate in only a single mode. At least a portion of one of the waveguides is tapered such that its width increases in one direction along the resonator axis. Tapering one or more of the waveguides provides that the total waveguide area and potential power output of the laser is greater than that of a zigzag arrangement of waveguides having the same total length waveguides each having a uniform width equal to the minimum width of the waveguide in the tapered waveguide arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. DeMaria, Vernon A. Seguin, Lanny Laughman
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Publication number: 20040146075Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. Demaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke
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Publication number: 20040076210Abstract: A folded waveguide CO2 laser includes a plurality of waveguides arranged in a zigzag pattern with ends thereof overlapping. The laser includes a resonator having an axis extending through the plurality of waveguides. At least a portion of at least one of the waveguides has a uniform minimum width selected cooperative with the height of the waveguide and the laser wavelength such that the resonator can oscillate in only a single mode. At least a portion of one of the waveguides is tapered such that its width increases in one direction along the resonator axis. Tapering one or more of the waveguides provides that the total waveguide area and potential power output of the laser is greater than that of a zigzag arrangement of waveguides having the same total length waveguides each having a uniform width equal to the minimum width of the waveguide in the tapered waveguide arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Anthony J. DeMaria, Vernon A. Seguin, Lanny Laughman
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Patent number: 6697408Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. Demaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke
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Publication number: 20030156615Abstract: A simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched CO2 laser system for material processing is disclosed. The system comprises sealed-off folded waveguides with folded mirrors that are thin film coated to select the output wavelength of the laser. The system also comprises a plurality of reflective devices defining a cavity; a gain medium positioned within the cavity for generating a laser beam; a cavity loss modulator for modulating the laser beam, generating thereby one or more laser pulses; a pulsed signal generation system connected to the cavity loss modulator for delivering pulsed signals to the cavity loss modulator thereby controlling the state of optical loss within the cavity; a control unit connected to the pulsed signal generation system for controlling the pulsed signal generation system; and a pulse clipping circuit receptive of a portion of the laser beam and connected to the pulsed signal generation system for truncating a part of the laser pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. Demaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke
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Publication number: 20020167974Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Inventors: John T. Kennedy, Richard A. Hart, Lanny Laughman, Joel Fontanella, Anthony J. Demaria, Leon A. Newman, Robert Henschke