Particular Pumping Means Patents (Class 372/69)
  • Patent number: 8588267
    Abstract: An array of optical fibers includes a plurality of optical fibers. Each optical fiber includes a core having a substantially rectangular cross section, and cladding surrounding the core. The cladding includes a pair of substantially parallel flats. The array of optical fibers can be used in combination with a plurality of laser diodes to provide a laser pump whereby an input end of each optical fiber is optically coupled to the output of a respective one of the plurality of laser diodes, and where the output ends of the optical fibers are arranged in an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Panak
  • Patent number: 8565281
    Abstract: Strongly confined semiconductor quantum dots theoretically offer for broadband and continuous tunability of their emitting wavelength based upon simply varying the particle size. However, prior art consistently has demonstrated a lower particle size limit below which optical gain cannot be achieved, for example 2.3 nm for CdSe in toluene. As such the prior art points to combinations of alternative materials and host media as the route to achieving the goal of broadband emission sources using quantum dots. However, according to the invention optical gain can be achieved in quantum dots below these previous experimental limits by resonantly pumping the quantum dots to a specific excitonic state, i.e. electron position relative to the quantum dot, such that the multiexcitonic interferences are minimized. Using this approach optical gain in CdSe of R=2.1 nm and 1.5 nm has been demonstrated in the yellow/amber region of the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventors: Patanjali Kambhampati, Ryan Cooney, Samuel Sewall
  • Publication number: 20130272335
    Abstract: Nanolaser for generating coherent electromagnetic radiation, comprising at least one nanoparticle of metal, preferably silver, or semiconductor, at least one exciting element, preferably a quantum dot, for exciting plasmon resonance of the at least one nanoparticle, wherein the at least one nanoparticle and the at least one exciting element are embedded in a matrix of Photonic or Polaritonic Band-gap (PGB)-material, preferably Silica Carbide (SiC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: King Saud University
  • Patent number: 8559473
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical laser system. The system includes a laser generator to generate laser radiation to cause water absorption levels that approximate water absorption levels achieved with a CO2 laser, and one or more fibers coupled to the laser generator to deliver the generated laser radiation. In some embodiments, the laser generator is configured to generate radiation at multiple possible wavelengths in a range of between about 2.4 ?m to about 2.75 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lumenis Ltd.
    Inventors: Asa Fein, Alon Goldring
  • Patent number: 8537871
    Abstract: A high power cladding light stripper and high power laser systems using the same are described. A cladding light stripper includes a housing, a section of fiber disposed in relation to the housing wherein a portion of the section of fiber has an exposed cladding region, a plurality of glue regions sequentially arranged adjacent to each other along the section of fiber and covering the exposed cladding region, and wherein at least one glue region between a first glue region and a last glue region of the plurality of glue regions has a refractive index higher or lower than both an adjacent previous glue region and an adjacent subsequent glue region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: nLIGHT Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Matthieu Saracco
  • Patent number: 8538270
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for frequency conversion of radio frequency (RF) or microwave signals based on photonic processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.
    Inventors: David Seidel, Vladimir S. Ilchenko, Andrey B. Matsko
  • Patent number: 8532150
    Abstract: Techniques and devices for generating laser light that use large mode area fiber amplifiers and designed coiling fiber sections to achieve desired operations in a fundamental fiber mode with high pulse quality and optical beam quality while reducing presence of high order fiber modes in continuous wave (CW) and pulsed laser devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Calmar Optcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Sha Tong, Jerry Prawiharjo, Anthony Hong Lin
  • Patent number: 8529760
    Abstract: A device and method of using same, wherein the device includes a collimated light source operable to generate a collimated light source beam, the collimated light source beam comprising a beam cross-section. The device further includes at least one body defining a first channel in a first plane, the first channel comprising a first channel cross-section, the first channel being oriented to receive the collimated light source beam such that the beam cross-section completely overlaps the first channel cross-section. Optionally, the body defines a second channel in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, wherein the body defines a third channel in a third plane orthogonal to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sean J. Hart, Alexander V. Terray
  • Publication number: 20130223469
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing crystalline materials by atomic layer deposition, allowing for high control of localized doping. Such materials may be fibers or films suitable for use in optoelectronics and lasers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Proslier, Nicholas G. Becker, Michael J. Pellin, Jeffrey Klug, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20130215923
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light beam has a solid-state laser to emit a polarized input laser light beam that has a first aspect ratio of etendue R1. First and second cylindrical lenses collimate the light along orthogonal directions. An edge of a bisecting reflective surface splits the laser light beam into a first portion directed along a first beam path and a second portion along a second beam path, wherein the first and second beam paths each contain emitted light from the solid-state laser. One or more folding reflective surfaces are disposed along the first or second or both beam paths. A polarization rotator rotates polarization of the light along the second beam path. A polarization combiner combines light from the first and second beam paths to form an output beam, wherein the output beam has a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Joshua Monroe Cobb
  • Patent number: 8514906
    Abstract: A compact laser in accordance with an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure includes a compact resonator structure using a non-planar resonator geometry of bulk components. The laser further includes a laser gain medium and a pump source integrated within an optical path of the resonator. Some embodiments contain modifications to the resonator structure for integration of the laser gain medium, for controlling the output from the laser, and/or for controlling the physical and operational parameters of the laser. Some embodiments contain modifications to the laser gain medium or other bulk components of the resonator to integrate these bulk components within the resonator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: James Thomas Murray
  • Patent number: 8514899
    Abstract: A laser system may include a master oscillator that outputs pulsed laser light, an amplification device that amplifies the pulsed laser light outputted from the master oscillator, and a controller that controls the master oscillator and the amplification device. The master oscillator may have a pumping laser that outputs pumping light, a seed laser that is oscillated by the pumping light, an amplifier that amplifies the pulsed laser light outputted by the seed laser using the pumping light, and at least one optical shutter disposed in the optical path between the seed laser and the amplifier. The controller may control the opening and closing of the optical shutter and discharging of the amplification device so that the amplification device discharges when the pulsed laser light that has passed through the optical shutter passes through the amplification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Onose
  • Patent number: 8509588
    Abstract: An amplifying optical fiber includes a core containing oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, phosphorus, bismuth, aluminum, gallium with a concentration of bismuth oxide of 10-4-5 mol %, a total concentration of silicon and germanium oxides of 70-99.8999 mol %, a total concentration of aluminum and gallium oxides of 0.1-20 mol % wherein both aluminum and gallium oxide are present and a ratio of aluminum oxide to gallium oxide is at least two, and a concentration of phosphorus oxide from 0 to 10 mol %, and provides a maximum optical gain at least 10 times greater than the nonresonant loss factor in the optical fiber. An outside oxide glass cladding comprises fused silica. The core has an absorption band in the 1000 nm region, pumping to which region provides an increased efficiency of power conversion of pump light into luminescence light in the 1000-1700 nm range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Fiber Optics Research Center of The Russian Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Evgeny Mikhailovich Dianov, Vladislav Vladimirovich Dvoirin, Valery Mikhailovich Mashinsky, Alexei Nikolaevich Guryanov, Andrei Alexandrovich Umnikov
  • Patent number: 8467429
    Abstract: A laser comprises an end pump light source and a gain medium having a first end, a second end, and four sides comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side. The end pump light source is optically coupled to the first end and pumps the gain medium. The first side and the third side are tapered inwardly from the first end to the first end to the second end at a taper angle ? relative to a longitudinal lasing axis and have a polished finish capable of reflecting light inside the gain medium. The second side and the fourth side are substantially parallel to the longitudinal lasing axis have a ground blasted finish. The first side is also tilted inwardly at a slant angle ? from the fourth side to the second side. A laser beam R0 exits the second end of the gain medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Innova, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Cem Gokay
  • Patent number: 8442091
    Abstract: The invention provides microchannel lasers having a microplasma gain medium. Lasers of the invention can be formed in semiconductor materials, and can also be formed in polymer materials. In a microlaser of the invention, high density plasmas are produced in microchannels. The microplasma acts as a gain medium with the electrodes sustaining the plasma in the microchannel. Reflectors are used with the microchannel for obtaining optical feedback to obtain lasing in the microplasma gain medium in devices of the invention for a wide range of atomic and molecular species. Several atomic and molecular gain media will produce sufficiently high gain coefficients that reflectors (mirrors) are not necessary. Microlasers of the invention are based on microplasma generation in channels of various geometries. Preferred embodiment microlaser designs can be fabricated in semiconductor materials, such as Si wafers, by standard photolithographic techniques, or in polymers by replica molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Park, J. Gary Eden, Paoyei Chen, Paul A. Tchertchian, Thomas M. Spinka
  • Patent number: 8432943
    Abstract: A compact, light weight laser beam combiner includes a pair of concentric annular shells defining an annular cavity of an annular ring resonator having an annular solid laser gain medium disposed therein. The output ends of a plurality of low power and brightness fiber lasers are coupled into the cavity of the resonator such that fiber laser beams cause the gain medium in the resonator cavity to lase and produce an annular beam of laser light. Optical elements of the resonator are operable to feed a first portion of the laser light back through the resonator cavity to support regenerative lasing of the laser medium and to couple off a second portion of the laser light in the form of a circular beam of high power and high brightness laser light. A fluid may be circulated through the resonator cavity to cool the laser medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alan Z. Ullman, Dennis G. Harris
  • Patent number: 8428094
    Abstract: A surface-emitting semiconductor laser is described, with a semiconductor chip (1), which has a substrate (2), a DBR-mirror (3) applied to the substrate (2) and an epitaxial layer sequence (4) applied to the DBR mirror (3), said layer sequence comprising a radiation-emitting active layer (5), and with an external resonator mirror (9) arranged outside the semiconductor chip (1). The DBR mirror (3) and the substrate (2) are partially transmissive for the radiation (6) emitted by the active layer (5) and the back (14) of the substrate (2) remote from the active layer (5) is reflective to the emitted radiation (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Lindberg, Stefan Illek
  • Publication number: 20130089119
    Abstract: A laser having a standing wave resonator including a first resonator section, which has at least a first end mirror and a second resonator section, which has at least a second end mirror. At least one of the optical elements of the first resonator section is embodied in focusing fashion. Accordingly, the beam axes of the laser beam which arrives upon respective tiltings of at least one of the optical elements in the second resonator section have at least one crossing point, which lies in the pump region of the laser medium or is at a distance from the pump region which amounts to less than the Rayleigh length. The radius (w) of the laser beam is less than five times the radius (w) of the laser beam in the pump region of the laser medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: HIGH Q LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Kopf
  • Patent number: 8411710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser apparatus with a structure for realizing a fast response in carrying out a start and an end of output of pulsed laser light while effectively suppressing damage to an optical amplifying medium. The laser apparatus is provided with a seed light source, an optical amplification section, a pulse modulator, a pump power controller, and a main controller. The pulse modulator receives an output start instruction and an output end instruction fed from the main controller and controls a start and an end of output of seed light from the seed light source. The pump power controller receives a pump trigger signal fed from the main controller and increases or decreases a power of pump light supplied to the amplification section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinobu Tamaoki
  • Patent number: 8406267
    Abstract: A solid-state gain element including a thin doped region in which an optical signal propagates through the thin doped region at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region, reflects at a boundary of the thin doped region, and passes through the thin doped region again. An optical pump beam propagates through the thin doped region also at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region. In one example, the gain element and source of the pump beam are configured such that there is total internal reflection of the pump beam at the boundary of the thin doped region for a second pumping pass through the thin doped region. In another example, an elliptically symmetric laser beam is used to create a circularly symmetric gain region in the thin doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel J Ripin, Tso Yee Fan, Anish K Goyal, John Hybl
  • Patent number: 8369374
    Abstract: A light source device wherein the high-temperature plasma state after the start of the lighting is maintained stably and the light emission can be maintained stably and a decrease of the lighting life cycle by means of a heating of the light emission tube is suppressed comprises a light emission tube, in which a light emitting means is enclosed, and a pulsed laser oscillator part emitting a pulsed laser beam towards said light emission tube, wherein a continuous-wave laser oscillator part is provided emitting a continuous-wave laser beam towards said light emission tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Energetiz Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Yokota
  • Patent number: 8340141
    Abstract: A method of operating an all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system is provided. The steps includes providing an all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system having a pulse pump light source, a fiber saturable absorber, an assistant light source, at least a dispersion fiber, and a light coupling output; generating a broadband ASE via the pulse pump light source; making the all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system switch passive mode locking via the fiber saturable absorber; decreasing the restoring period of the fiber saturable absorber via the assistant light source; providing dispersion compensation via the dispersion fiber to output an ultra short pulse; and partially outputting a laser passing through the all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system via the light coupling output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Wen Chang, Chien-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 8320425
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, devices and methods for pumping rod shaped solid state lasers with interchangeable arrays of diode laser pump sources that allows for rapid change of the diode laser array pump source without affecting or altering the solid state laser resonator. An embodiment includes a roof top structure having a light scattering reflection roof-top portion, sides with an interior specular reflecting surface and base opposite the top portion. The cavity includes a laser rod within the top portion of the structure positioned between opposing side walls, laser rod optics, and a pump source connected with the base plate to pump the laser rod. The pump cavity can include a mechanism for automating the rapid interchangeability of the pump source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Chen, Michael Bass
  • Patent number: 8275015
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating a side-pumped passively Q-switched non-planar ring oscillator. The method introduces a laser into a cavity of a crystal, the cavity having a round-trip path formed by a reflection at a dielectrically coated front surface, a first internal reflection at a first side surface of the crystal at a non-orthogonal angle with the front, a second internal reflection at a top surface of the crystal, and a third internal reflection at a second side surface of the crystal at a non-orthogonal angle with the front. The method side pumps the laser at the top or bottom surface with a side pump diode array beam and generates an output laser emanating at a location on the front surface. The design can include additional internal reflections to increase interaction with the side pump. Waste heat may be removed by mounting the crystal to a heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Steven X. Li
  • Patent number: 8254415
    Abstract: A GaN-based semiconductor laser (1) emits first laser light of a single polarization and having a first wavelength. An optical resonator (30) includes a solid-state laser medium which is excited by incidence of the laser light and which oscillates second laser light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A polarization switch (6) switches over at least one of polarization directions of the first laser light and the second laser light to thereby change the wavelength of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30) or the intensity ratio between a plurality of laser light to be emitted from the optical resonator (30). With the above arrangement, a plurality of laser light can be used effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kiminori Mizuuchi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Tetsuro Mizushima
  • Patent number: 8218597
    Abstract: A diode pumped solid-state laser for high shock, high vibration environments such as those found in laser ignition systems for artillery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Josiah W. Fay, Joseph Leone, Henry Kerwien, Thomas DeVoe, Gregory Burke, Arthur A. Karpinski
  • Patent number: 8213469
    Abstract: A linear-cavity all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system is provided. The all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system includes a pulse pump light source, a gain fiber, a first fiber signal pump combining unit, a broadband optical isolator, a fiber saturable absorber, an assistant light source, a second fiber signal pump combining unit, and a light coupling output. A broadband amplified spontaneous emission, emitted by the first fiber signal pump combining unit, which is connected to the pulse pump light source and the gain fiber, passes through the broadband optical isolator. The second fiber signal pump combining unit is connected to the assistant light source and the fiber saturable absorber. An ASE signal actively provides passive mode locking of the cavity, and the light coupling output partially outputs the laser. A dispersion fiber controls the temporal width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Wen Chang, Chien-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 8204094
    Abstract: A laser comprises an end pump light source and a gain medium having a first end, a second end, and four sides comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side. The end pump light source is optically coupled to the first end and pumps the gain medium. The first side and the third side are tapered inwardly from the first end to the first end to the second end at a taper angle ? relative to a longitudinal lasing axis and have a polished finish capable of reflecting light inside the gain medium. The second side and the fourth side are substantially parallel to the longitudinal lasing axis have a ground blasted finish. The first side is also tilted inwardly at a slant angle ? from the fourth side to the second side. A laser beam R0 exits the second end of the gain medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Innova, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Cem Gokay
  • Patent number: 8192790
    Abstract: Arcing is minimized in a discharge chamber of a gas laser system by utilizing an electrode which comprises a surface portion capable of functioning as one of an anode and a cathode in order to energize a gas mixture in a discharge chamber of the gas discharge laser system, a shoulder portion being positioned on either side of the surface portion and being exposed to the gas mixture, and a coating layer made of electrically insulating material, wherein the coating layer is attached to the shoulder portion by a cold spraying method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Coherent GmbH
    Inventors: Igor Bragin, Rustem Osmanow, Jürgen Bäumler, Michael Semling
  • Patent number: 8179928
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series and a second laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series. Each high-reflector grating has an associated spectral bandwidth. The first laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a first spectral bandwidth and the second laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a second spectral bandwidth. A fiber coupler is coupled to a second end of the first laser cavity and to a second end of the second laser cavity. The fiber coupler is configured to receive optical energy from the first laser cavity having a third spectral bandwidth greater than the first spectral bandwidth, and receive optical energy from the second laser cavity having a fourth spectral bandwidth greater than the second spectral bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Vytran, LLC
    Inventor: Baishi Wang
  • Patent number: 8175132
    Abstract: A laser device which causes lasing with a use of a semiconductor quantum dot is provided with: a laser member (11) in which the semiconductor quantum dot is formed; a resonator (14) for resonating light generated in the laser member (11); and a pump laser (15) for irradiating the laser member (11) with excitation light whose energy corresponds to two-photon resonant excitation, so as to form a biexciton state in the semiconductor quantum dot by the two-photon resonant excitation. In this way, a laser device which enables lasing using efficient light emission is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Tadashi Itoh, Masaaki Ashida
  • Patent number: 8170071
    Abstract: Provided is a laser apparatus including: a DFB fiber laser 40 including, as an amplitude medium, a rare earth doped silica optical fiber codoped with a high concentration of aluminum; an optical feedback path 50 formed by a ring-shaped optical fiber; and an optical coupler 70 a) feeding back a part of an output of the DFB fiber laser 40 to the DFB fiber laser 40 via the optical feedback path 50, and b) outputting, to outside, another part of the output of the DFB fiber laser 40, where the optical fiber forming the optical feedback path 50 is longer than a length at which a relaxation oscillation noise in the output to the outside becomes ?110 dB/Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Nakazawa, Akihito Suzuki, Toshihiko Hirooka, Masato Yoshida, Kazunori Shiota
  • Patent number: 8165178
    Abstract: An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is described that efficiently converts a near-infrared laser beam to tunable mid-infrared wavelength output. In some embodiments, the OPO includes an optical resonator containing a nonlinear crystal, such as periodically-poled lithium niobate. The OPO is pumped by a continuous-wave fiber-laser source having a low-power oscillator and a high-power amplifier, or using just a power oscillator. The fiber oscillator produces a single-frequency output defined by a distributed-feedback (DFB) structure of the fiber. The DFB-fiber-laser output is amplified to a pump level consistent with exceeding an oscillation threshold in the OPO in which only one of two generated waves (“signal” and “idler”) is resonant within the optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Angus J. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20120087386
    Abstract: An apparatus/method may comprise a line narrowed pulsed lithography laser light source which may comprise: a seed pulse providing laser system which may comprise: a first pulsed seed laser producing seed pulses at a rate of X kHz; a second pulsed seed laser producing seed pulses at a rate of X kHz; an amplification system which may comprise: a first amplifier gain system which may comprise a first and a second pulsed gas discharge amplifier gain medium, each with a nominal center wavelength in the UV range, and each operating at ½X kHz on output pulses from the first seed laser; a second amplifier gain system which may comprise a first and a second pulsed amplifier gain medium, each with a nominal center wavelength in the UV range, and each operating at ½X kHz on output pulses from the second seed laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: CYMER, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J.W. Brown, William N. Partlo, Richard L. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 8155160
    Abstract: A device is provided for igniting a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine with the aid of electromagnetic radiation, in particular light. The device includes at least two laser radiation sources, each having an optical resonator. The resonators are spatially oriented with respect to one another in such a way that modes of the laser radiation sources are coupled to one another and are able to generate time-shifted pulses of the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Herden, Martin Weinrotter, Heiko Ridderbusch
  • Patent number: 8144740
    Abstract: An apparatus/method may comprise a line narrowed pulsed lithography laser light source which may comprise: a seed pulse providing laser system which may comprise: a first pulsed seed laser producing seed pulses at a rate of X kHz; a second pulsed seed laser producing seed pulses at a rate of X kHz; an amplification system which may comprise: a first amplifier gain system which may comprise a first and a second pulsed gas discharge amplifier gain medium, each with a nominal center wavelength in the UV range, and each operating at ½X kHz on output pulses from the first seed laser; a second amplifier gain system which may comprise a first and a second pulsed amplifier gain medium, each with a nominal center wavelength in the UV range, and each operating at ½X kHz on output pulses from the second seed laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. W. Brown, William N. Partlo, Richard L. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 8077748
    Abstract: A laser includes a gain stage and a pump stage. The gain stage includes a fiber link that terminates at a pair of ends and includes a doped fiber. The pump stage includes a glass volume, the glass volume having a pair of fiber interface ports at which the pair of ends of the fiber link are disposed, respectively, for attachment of the gain stage and the pump stage in a ring laser assembly. The pump stage includes a plurality of intrinsic waveguides defined in the glass volume and disposed along in-bulk propagation paths within the glass volume for light travel through the ring laser assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Translume, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Dugan, Ali Said, Philippe Bado
  • Patent number: 8068743
    Abstract: An optoelectronic timing system includes an adaptive frequency generator system in which optical pulses are developed by a semiconductor laser. The pulses are directed into a number of time-quantifiable optical paths. Time quantification for a pulse is based upon the time required for a pulse to travel a particular length at the speed of light. Pulses are recombined at a nodal point and exhibit a numerical relationship with the periodicity of the issued pulse train equal to the numerical relationship between the lengths of the number of optical waveguides. A pulse detector and a regenerator are coupled to the semiconductor laser. A regeneration waveguide having a length equal to the longest of the optical paths is coupled to receive pulses from the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: LightTime, LLC
    Inventor: James P. Siepmann
  • Patent number: 8064488
    Abstract: A compact high average power mid infrared range laser for ultrasound inspection. The laser comprises one of a Nd:YAG or Yb:YAG laser pumped by a diode at 808 nm to produce a 1 micron output beam. The 1 micron output beam is directed to an optical parametric oscillator where the beam wavelength is converted to 1.94 microns and conveyed to a mid infrared emission head. The emission head comprises one of a Ho:YAG or Ho:YLG laser optically coupled with a second optical parametric oscillator. The second optical parametric oscillator forms a generation output beam for creating ultrasonic displacements on a target. The generation output beam wavelength ranges from about 3 to about 4 microns, and can be 3.2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Drake, Jr., Marc Dubois, Peter W. Lorraine, John B. Deaton, Jr., Robert Filkins
  • Patent number: 8040925
    Abstract: A broadband fiber laser provides a lasing cavity including a reflective minor and at least one fiber Bragg grating for further providing a lasing signal to resonate and be amplified therein. Alternatively, the wavelength of the fiber laser can be either fixed or tunable by varying the central wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating and/or by adjusting the switching status of an optical switch pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shien-Kuei Liaw, Guo-Sing Jhong, Jian-An Chen
  • Patent number: 8040927
    Abstract: A ring-cavity or linear-cavity all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system and method of operating the same are provided. The all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system includes a pulse pump light source, a gain fiber, a first fiber signal pump combining unit, a broadband optical isolator, a fiber saturable absorber, an assistant light source, a second fiber signal pump combining unit, and a light coupling output. The first fiber signal pump combining unit is respectively connected to the pulse pump light source and the gain fiber to emit broadband amplified spontaneous emission, then the broadband amplified spontaneous emission passes through the broadband optical isolator. The second fiber signal pump combining unit is respectively connected to the assistant light source and the fiber saturable absorber. An ASE signal actively provides passive mode locking of the cavity, and the light coupling output partially outputs the laser. A dispersion fiber controls the temporal width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Wen Chang, Chien-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 8009707
    Abstract: An rf pulse compressor has a single high Q cavity resonator fed by a four port hybrid coupler which is connected to the resonator at coupling ports located at the intersection of two of the resonator's orthogonal axes with the resonator cavity walls. The hybrid coupler divides pulse power from an rf pulse power source and excites two space and phase orthogonal modes in the single cavity, the stored energy of which aids in producing compressed pulses at the output of the hybrid. On-axis perturbations in the cavity walls can be used to lock the orthogonal orientation of the modes excited in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Ray M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8002413
    Abstract: There is provided a light source unit which includes a luminescent light source which receives excitation light so as to emit light of a predetermined wavelength band, excitation light sources which shine excitation light on to the luminescent light source, a reflection space having the luminescent light source in an interior thereof and an emission space which emits luminescent light source light emitted from the reflection space from an emission port whose area is made smaller than the area of the luminescent light source and a projector which employs the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Narikawa
  • Patent number: 7986454
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tunable generation of terahertz waves at room temperatures are provided. The apparatus for tunable terahertz generation comprises: (A) a terahertz antenna further comprising a magnon gain medium; (B) a means for generating the nonequilibrium magnons in the magnon gain medium; wherein the terahertz antenna is configured to emit generated terahertz photons; and (C) a means for tuning frequency of terahertz photons emitted by the terahertz antenna. The magnon gain medium is selected from the group consisting of: {a ferromagnetic semiconductor; a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS); a half-metallic ferromagnet (HMF); and a ferromagnetic conductor, with a gap in the density of states of the minority electrons around the Fermi energy}.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Terahertz Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yehiel Korenblit, Boris G. Tankhilevich
  • Patent number: 7978738
    Abstract: A wavelength converter comprising an arsenic sulfide (As—S) chalcogenide glass fiber coupled to an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) crystal and a laser system using an OPO crystal coupled to an As—S fiber are provided. The OPO receives pump laser radiation from a pump laser and emits laser radiation at a wavelength that is longer than the pump laser radiation. The laser radiation that is emitted from the OPO is input into the As—S fiber, which in turn converts the input wavelength from the OPO to a desired wavelength, for example, a wavelength beyond about 4.4 ?m. In an exemplary embodiment, the OPO comprises a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. The As—S fiber can include any suitable type of optical fiber, such as a conventional core clad fiber, a photonic crystal fiber, or a microstructured fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Leslie Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 7974318
    Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to the field of lasers and in particular to a laser source having a neodymium-doped crystal (2; 23) or fiber and pumpable by pumping means (3; 25) and a non-linear Raman effect converter stimulated in methane (4; 32), characterized in that the crystal (2; 23) or fiber pumped by said pumping means (3; 25) is able to emit a laser radiation at a wavelength between 1.31 and 1.36 ?m and in that the Raman converter (4; 32) is able to convert the radiation generated by the crystal (2; 23) or by the fiber into at least one second radiation (7; 36) with a wavelength between 2 and 2.3 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint-Louis
    Inventors: Antoine Hirth, Christelle Kieleck
  • Patent number: 7944954
    Abstract: A laser apparatus with all optical-fiber includes a plurality of pumping light sources in different wave bands and an optical-fiber laser system. The optical-fiber laser system includes an optical fiber at least doped with erbium (Er) element and doped with or not doped with ytterbium (Yb) element according to a need. The optical-fiber laser system outputs a laser light through the pumping light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Wun Jhang, Chien-Ming Huang, Hsin-Chia Su, Shih-Ting Lin, Li-Ting Wang, Hong-Xi Cao
  • Patent number: 7929583
    Abstract: A system and method for optical frequency conversion having asymmetric output include a coherent light apparatus. The coherent light apparatus includes a coherent light source that produces a first coherent light, a frequency converter optically coupled to the coherent light source, and a coupling optic optically coupled between the coherent light source and the frequency converter. The frequency converter converts the first coherent light to a second coherent light at a second frequency and includes an asymmetric frequency converter (AFC) that nonlinearly converts the first coherent light to the second coherent light with the frequency conversion being more efficient in a first direction than in a second direction. A resonant cavity formed about the AFC circulates the first coherent light and transmits the second coherent light propagating in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory A. Magel
  • Patent number: 7922336
    Abstract: A light source device for a display device for projecting an image on a screen is provided, the light source device for display device including a light source unit operable to output light; an image outputting unit operable to output an image by giving an image signal to the light; and a control circuit operable to switch the image output from the image outputting unit between a normal image and a mirror reversed image formed by reversing the normal image right and left by controlling the image signal, such that outputting type is switched between a front projection in which the image is projected onto the screen from a front on the same side as the viewing side, and a rear projection in which the image is projected onto the screen from a rear plane on the opposite side to the viewing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yokoyama, Ken'ichi Kasazumi
  • Patent number: 7920616
    Abstract: A method/apparatus may comprise a laser light source which may comprise a solid state seed laser system producing a seed laser output having a nominal center wavelength at a pulse repetition rate; a first and a second gas discharge laser amplifier gain medium each operating at a pulse repetition rate less than that of the seed laser system; a beam divider providing each of the respective first and second amplifier gain mediums with seed laser output pulses; a frequency converter modifying the nominal center wavelength of the output of the seed laser to essentially the nominal center wavelength of the amplifier gain medium; a beam combiner combining the outputs of the respective amplifier gain mediums to provide a light source output having the pulse repetition rate of the seed laser; a coherence buster operating on either or both of the output of the seed laser or amplifier gain mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. W. Brown, William N. Partlo, Richard L. Sandstrom