Patents by Inventor William F. Krupke
William F. Krupke 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: 20240015877Abstract: Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Logos Technologies HoldCo, Inc.Inventors: E. Michael Campbell, David Eimerl, William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 11765811Abstract: Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Logos Technologies HoldCo, Inc.Inventors: E. Michael Campbell, David Eimerl, William F. Krupke
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Publication number: 20210120656Abstract: Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: E. Michael Campbell, David Eimerl, William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 10660192Abstract: Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Inventors: E. Michael Campbell, David Eimerl, William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 10153609Abstract: A diode pumped solid state laser is provided which includes a ruby crystal optical gain medium and a high bandgap semiconductor laser diode (LD) or light emitting diode (LED) pump source to directly optically pump the gain medium. The high-bandgap semiconductor LD or LED is a semiconductor device whose chemical composition is chosen to provide output radiation at an approximate wavelength of ˜405 nm. The ruby crystal produces laser output at the relatively short wavelength of ˜694 nm.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: WFK LASERS, LLCInventor: William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 9985410Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing an ultrashort pulsed output beam. A 694 nm pump beam from a first GaN semiconductor laser diode pumped, Q-switched ruby laser is directed into at least one amplifier that includes a broadband gain element doped with trivalent chromium ions (Cr3+). A spectrally linearly chirped low-intensity seed pulse from a master oscillator is directed into the at least one optically pumped amplifier to produce an amplified linear chirped pulsed output beam. A 694 nm second pump beam from a second GaN semiconductor laser diode pumped, Q-switched ruby laser is directed into a power amplifier that also includes a broadband gain element doped with trivalent chromium ions (Cr3+). The amplified linear chirped pulsed output beam is directed into the optically pumped power amplifier to produce a high energy linear chirped pulsed output beam which is then directed into a pulse compressor to produce the ultrashort pulsed output beam.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: WFK Lasers, LLC.Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 9957766Abstract: There are provided using deuterium oxide as a media for transmitting high power lasers to perform laser operations, such as cutting, boring and drilling, a target material. High power laser beams are transmitted through a deuterium oxide beam path to a target material, including material in a pressure containment vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Robert R. Rice, William F. Krupke, Brian O. Faircloth
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Publication number: 20180048111Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing an ultrashort pulsed output beam. A 694 nm pump beam from a first GaN semiconductor laser diode pumped, Q-switched ruby laser is directed into at least one amplifier that includes a broadband gain element doped with trivalent chromium ions (Cr3+). A spectrally linearly chirped low-intensity seed pulse from a master oscillator is directed into the at least one optically pumped amplifier to produce an amplified linear chirped pulsed output beam. A 694 nm second pump beam from a second GaN semiconductor laser diode pumped, Q-switched ruby laser is directed into a power amplifier that also includes a broadband gain element doped with trivalent chromium ions (Cr3+). The amplified linear chirped pulsed output beam is directed into the optically pumped power amplifier to produce a high energy linear chirped pulsed output beam which is then directed into a pulse compressor to produce the ultrashort pulsed output beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: WFK Lasers, LLC.Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Publication number: 20180041002Abstract: A diode pumped solid state laser is provided which includes a ruby crystal optical gain medium and a high bandgap semiconductor laser diode (LD) or light emitting diode (LED) pump source to directly optically pump the gain medium. The high-bandgap semiconductor LD or LED is a semiconductor device whose chemical composition is chosen to provide output radiation at an approximate wavelength of ˜405 nm. The ruby crystal produces laser output at the relatively short wavelength of ˜694 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Applicant: WFK Lasers, LLC.Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 9293885Abstract: A continuous-wave (CW), ultraviolet triply-optically-pumped atomic laser (TOPAL) is disclosed. The inventive laser device includes a laser active media comprising a mixture of a neutral atomic vapor and one or more buffer gases. The gain mixture is placed within a segmented gain cell, allowing for periodic, selected spectral filtering of deleterious ASE transitions; the segmented gain cell, in turn, is placed within an optical cavity with a high Q at a specified ultraviolet wavelength, and is successively, resonantly excited by three drive pump lasers, in three energy-contiguous visible/IR electric-dipole allowed transitions, producing a steady-state electron population inversion density between a high-lying electronic energy level and the ground electronic level, and producing laser emission on a UV transition (within the spectral range ˜230 to ˜370 nm) terminating on the ground electronic level.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Inventors: William F Krupke, David Eimerl
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Publication number: 20150361750Abstract: There are provided using deuterium oxide as a media for transmitting high power lasers to perform laser operations, such as cutting, boring and drilling, a target material. High power laser beams are transmitted through a deuterium oxide beam path to a target material, including material in a pressure containment vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Robert R. Rice, William F. Krupke, Brian O. Faircloth
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Patent number: 9085050Abstract: There are provided using deuterium oxide as a media for transmitting high power lasers to perform laser operations, such as cutting, boring and drilling, a target material. High power laser beams are transmitted through a deuterium oxide beam path to a target material, including material in a pressure containment vessel.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Robert R. Rice, William F. Krupke, Brian O. Faircloth
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Patent number: 8804786Abstract: An optically pumped sulfur monoxide (SO) molecular laser is presented. A near infrared pump light source generates a pump light at wavelengths that match wavelengths of a Q-branch or R-branch absorption transition of a b 1?+ excited electronic state of the SO molecule. The pump light is directed to a vessel containing a laser gain medium including gaseous SO and a buffer gas. The gaseous gain medium may be flowed through the region of output light extraction to remove waste heat deposited in the medium. In some examples output light is generated from any of the R-branch, Q-branch, or P-branch emission transitions between the v=0 vibrationless b 1?+ electronic state and the v=1 vibrational x 3?? ground electronic state. In some other examples, output light is generated from P-branch emission transitions between the v=0 vibrationless b 1?+ electronic state and the v=0 vibrationless x 3?? ground electronic state.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Publication number: 20140133514Abstract: Alkali-vapor laser and related methods of lasing are described herein. In some embodiments, a diode-pumped gas-vapor laser is provided that can be scaled to high power. For example, in one embodiment, a triply-transverse configuration of a diode-pumped-alkali-laser (DPAL) is disclosed in which alkali-buffer gain medium is flowed through an laser chamber (for example, configured as an optical resonator or amplifier) whose optical axis is nominally transverse to the flow direction, and whose pump array radiation is propagated into the alkali-buffer gain medium in a direction nominally transverse to both the direction of gain medium flow and the direction of the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: General AtomicsInventors: William F. Krupke, Jason Stuart Zweiback, Alexander A. Betin
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Publication number: 20140044226Abstract: Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: LOGOS TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: E. Michael Campbell, David Eimerl, William F. Krupke
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Publication number: 20090022201Abstract: Alkali-vapor laser and related methods of lasing are described herein. In some embodiments, a diode-pumped gas-vapor laser is provided that can be scaled to high power. For example, in one embodiment, a triply-transverse configuration of a diode-pumped-alkali-laser (DPAL) is disclosed in which alkali-buffer gain medium is flowed through an laser chamber (for example, configured as an optical resonator or amplifier) whose optical axis is nominally transverse to the flow direction, and whose pump array radiation is propagated into the alkali-buffer gain medium in a direction nominally transverse to both the direction of gain medium flow and the direction of the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICSInventors: William F. Krupke, Jason Stuart Zweiback, Alexander A. Betin
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Patent number: 7286575Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing near-diffraction-limited laser light, or amplifying near-diffraction-limited light, in diode pumped alkali vapor photonic-band-gap fiber lasers or amplifiers. Laser light is both substantially generated and propagated in an alkali gas instead of a solid, allowing the nonlinear and damage limitations of conventional solid core fibers to be circumvented. Alkali vapor is introduced into the center hole of a photonic-band-gap fiber, which can then be pumped with light from a pump laser and operated as an oscillator with a seed beam, or can be configured as an amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Stephen A. Payne, Raymond J. Beach, Jay W. Dawson, William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 7283576Abstract: Optically-pumped group IIB atomic vapor lasers emitting at discrete wavelengths shorter than 230 nm are disclosed. This laser device utilizes an active medium comprising a mixture of a group IIB atomic vapor and one or more buffer gases placed within a doubly-resonant optical cavity that enables the realization of a population inversion between the first 1P1 level and the 1S0 ground level of the group IIB atoms. The laser may operate in a pure continuous-wave mode, or in a high-repetition pulsed mode, at DUV wavelengths of ˜185 nm (mercury), ˜229 nm (cadmium) and ˜214 nm (zinc).Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 7145931Abstract: Optically-pumped mid-infrared vibrational-rotational transition gas lasers and amplifiers with improved efficiency and practicality. Inventive laser and amplifier devices include: laser active media comprising a mixture of alkali vapor, selected hetero-nuclear molecular gas, and one or more buffer gases; conventional semiconductor laser diode pump sources with nanometer scale spectral bandwidths; and preferential laser emission in ro-vibrational transitions among relatively low-lying vibrational levels.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Inventor: William F. Krupke
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Patent number: 7082148Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing near-diffraction-limited laser light, or amplifying near-diffraction-limited light, in diode pumped alkali vapor photonic-band-gap fiber lasers or amplifiers. Laser light is both substantially generated and propagated in an alkali gas instead of a solid, allowing the nonlinear and damage limitations of conventional solid core fibers to be circumvented. Alkali vapor is introduced into the center hole of a photonic-band-gap fiber, which can then be pumped with light from a pump laser and operated as an oscillator with a seed beam, or can be configured as an amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Stephen A. Payne, Raymond J. Beach, Jay W. Dawson, William F. Krupke