Abstract: A method for generating a laser output signal includes the steps of: generating an optical pump signal that is a sequence optical pulses each having a duration of about n?f, where ?f represents a flourescence lifetime of a laser dye and 3?n?25; directing the optical pump signal into an optical resonant cavity having a laser dye gain element that contains the laser dye for transforming the optical pump signal into an excited optical signal; resonating the excited optical signal in the optical resonant cavity; and emitting a portion of the excited optical signal from the optical resonant cavity.

Abstract: The variable color LED optical source comprises first, second, and third LEDs, each disposed to generate a linearly polarized optical signal; a first beam splitter cube that is optically coupled to the first and second LEDs; a first half-wave plate that is optically coupled to the first beam splitter cube so that it is capable of rotating the polarization orientation of an optical signal emitted from the first beam splitter cube; a second half-wave plate that is optically coupled to the third LED so that it is capable of rotating the polarization orientation of the third optical signal; and a second beam splitter cube that is optically coupled to the first and second half-wave plates so that the second beam splitter cube is capable of emitting a fourth optical signal.

Abstract: A plastic frame assembly (10) for bearing weight and a method of assembling same, comprising a plastic support member (12) having a bottom portion (14) and a top portion (16). The bottom portion (14) has a channel (18), a plastic-affiliating migratory securing adhesive (20), and a flexible porous membrane (22). The plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive (20) is applied to the channel (18) and the flexible porous membrane (22) is positioned on top of the channel (18) and forced into the channel (18). The plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive (20) migrates through the flexible porous membrane (22) and secures the flexible porous membrane (22) to the bottom portion (14) of the plastic support member (12). The top portion (16) of the plastic support member (12) may register with the bottom portion (14) in such a way so that the flexible porous membrane (22) is held in place only by the plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive (20).

Abstract: An image lidar includes a laser for generating light beam pulses in a line scan to illuminate an area surrounding a target. A controller selects pulse width and pulse rate of the light beam pulses emitted by the laser. A photomultiplier tube detects energy from the light beam pulses scattered by the target and generates a series of pixels defined by the light beam pulses and the line scan. A display generates an image from the pixels that is representative of the target.

Abstract: A mounting bracket is provided for mounting a vacuum pump to a spectrometer. The vacuum pump has a mounting flange, with a locking rib thereon. The mounting bracket has a body and a grip. The body has a locking flange shaped to engage the locking rib, a means for fastening the body to the spectrometer, and a grip biasing surface. The grip has a pump engagement surface for engaging the vacuum pump, and a guide surface for engaging the grip biasing surface.

Abstract: The present invention has applications in the field of color displays, including computer monitors, video games, television, and other applications that may require a variety of light wavelengths. In one aspect of the invention, a light generator can generate light having selected proportions of red, green, and blue wavelengths from a single source of blue light. In a specific embodiment, the light generator includes a blue laser for generating a first beam of blue light. In another aspect of the invention, beamsplitters are used to split the beam of blue light into separate beams to generate light having a single color in each beam. In one such embodiment, upconversion lasers are used to generate each of the single colors.

Abstract: A laser includes a first optically reflective element; a second optically reflective element opposed to and aligned with the first optically reflective element to define a laser cavity having an optical axis; an optical pump source for injecting optical pump energy into the laser cavity along the optical axis; a solid-state dye gain element having a thin host in which a dye is dissolved that is interposed between said first and second optically reflective elements along the optical axis for transforming the optical pump energy into a resonant optical signal; and a cooling element in thermal contact with the solid-state dye gain element for absorbing heat energy from the solid-state dye gain element to control the temperature of the solid-state dye gain element.

Abstract: The present invention has application to the disabling of vehicles such as automobiles and other vehicles having an engine controlled by a motor controller or other component that is vulnerable to malfunctions induced by a pulse of electrical energy. The invention has application to remotely disabling vehicles in high speed pursuits. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for remotely disabling an electronic device may be deployed from a platform. In various embodiments, the platform may be a stationary platform in the path of an approaching vehicle incorporating the electronic device or a movable platform for pursuing the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention has applications in high-bandwidth communications systems and other applications that utilize modulated optical energy. In one aspect of the invention, a short cavity diode-pumped laser generates optical energy that may be modulated over a wide range of frequencies. In one embodiment, the short cavity diode-pumped laser may be modulated at rates up to 15 GHz. The short cavity diode-pumped laser may include a laser diode modulator and a laser coupled to the laser diode modulator having a cavity lifetime of less than about 100 picoseconds.

Abstract: A plastic frame assembly for bearing weight and a method of assembling same, comprising a plastic support member having a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion has a channel, a plastic-affiliating migratory securing adhesive, and a flexible porous membrane. The plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive is applied to the channel and the flexible porous membrane is positioned on top of the channel and forced into the channel. The plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive migrates through the flexible porous membrane and secures the flexible porous membrane to the bottom portion of the plastic support member. The top portion of the plastic support member may register with the bottom portion in such a way so that the flexible porous membrane is held in place only by the plastic affiliating migratory securing adhesive.

Abstract: A novel apparatus is described for a compact solid state dye laser that includes a solid state laser gain element for generating laser pump energy, a passive Q-switch for generating high intensity bursts of laser pump energy, a frequency doubler for generating dye laser pump energy, and a solid state laser dye element for generating optical energy output.

Abstract: The present invention has applications in high-bandwidth communications systems and other applications that utilize modulated optical energy. In one aspect of the invention, a short cavity diode-pumped laser generates optical energy that may be modulated over a wide range of frequencies. In one embodiment, the short cavity diode-pumped laser may be modulated at rates up to 15 GHz. The short cavity diode-pumped laser may include a laser diode modulator and a laser coupled to the laser diode modulator having a cavity lifetime of less than about 100 picoseconds.

Abstract: The present invention has applications in which the human eye may be exposed to lasers used in a variety of devices for pointing, imaging, industrial cutting and drilling, and for medical procedures. In one aspect of the invention, laser energy is transformed into light having a wavelength that is eye-safe. In a specific embodiment, an eye-safe laser includes a laser for coupling to a source of pump energy to generate laser energy and a Raman shifting crystal for transforming the laser energy into eye-safe light. In one such embodiment, the laser energy has a wavelength of about 1.3 microns and the eye-safe light has a wavelength of about 1.5 microns.

Abstract: The present invention has applications in the field of color displays, including computer monitors, video games, television, and other applications that may require a variety of light wavelengths. In one aspect of the invention, a light generator can generate light having selected proportions of red, green, and blue wavelengths from a single source of blue light. In a specific embodiment, the light generator includes a blue laser for generating a first beam of blue light. In another aspect of the invention, beamsplitters are used to split the beam of blue light into separate beams to generate light having a single color in each beam. In one such embodiment, upconversion lasers are used to generate each of the single colors.

Abstract: The present invention has application to the disabling of vehicles such as automobiles and other vehicles having an engine controlled by a motor controller or other component that is vulnerable to malfunctions induced by a pulse of electrical energy. The invention has application to remotely disabling vehicles in high speed pursuits. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for remotely disabling an electronic device may be deployed from a platform. In various embodiments, the platform may be a stationary platform in the path of an approaching vehicle incorporating the electronic device or a movable platform for pursuing the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention has applications that include detecting color variation in a region, for example, color variations due to temperature changes in an area of ocean water, and, in a more specific application, detecting bioluminescence of certain organisms known to attach themselves to various objects. In one aspect of the invention, an acousto-optic tunable filter hyperspectral imaging system is moved across the region to collect a series of images in which each image represents the intensity of light at a different wavelength. In one embodiment, the acousto-optic tunable filter hyperspectral imaging system includes a motion platform for positioning the acousto-optic tunable filter hyperspectral imaging system over successive Y-coordinates of a region in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the motion platform.

Abstract: A three dimensional display provides a true 3-D display of an image defined by luminous voxels within a virtually transparent volume. The voxels may be generated by illuminating a virtually transparent fluorescent gas or dye with beams of excitation energy that cause the gas or dye to emit light at voxels where the energy beams intersect. The voxels may be refreshed in a manner to create either fixed or animated images.

Abstract: A laser communications link provides a downlink laser beam having a wavelength suitable for transmission through water transmitted from an aircraft or satellite to a submerged vehicle. An uplink laser beam having a wavelength that is visually undetectable is conducted through the water from the submerged vehicle by an optical fiber and radiated from the optical fiber at the surface of the water to the aircraft or satellite.

Abstract: A solid state modulated ultraviolet laser comprises a laser diode for generating modulated optical energy, a waveguide upconversion laser for converting a portion of the modulated optical energy to upconversion optical energy, and a waveguide sum frequency generator for combining the modulated optical energy and the upconversion optical energy to generate a modulated ultraviolet signal.

Abstract: Visible light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) are inexpensive, provide emissions in many wavelengths and are powerful enough to pump solid state laser rods. The LED light is directed to the laser rod (laser gain element). The LED wavelength chosen matches the absorption spectrum of a transition element contained in the laser rod. It is know that the absorption bandwidths of these elements are typically very large. Besides a single LED, an array of LEDs may be used. Either of these arrangements may be imaged on the laser rod or fiber-coupled to the rod. A laser system that is pumped by one or more LEDs provides a low cost, relatively low power laser system. A low cost, higher powered, pulsed laser system is possible by pulsed LED operation. Thus it is possible to exceed the pump power threshold for a given laser by using a relatively small number of LEDs.