Patents Assigned to Coherent, Inc.
  • IMPEDANCE-MATCHING TRANSFORMERS FOR RF DRIVEN CO2 GAS DISCHARGE LASERS
    Publication number: 20120307852
    Abstract: In a CO2 gas discharge laser energized by a radio frequency (RF) power source a transformer having selectively variable output impedance is used to match output impedance of the power source to the impedance of discharge electrodes of the laser. A similar transformer can be used to impose a selective variable phase-shift on the RF power from the source. The variable impedance transformer can also be used for impedance matching between amplifier stages in the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. HAUER, Patrick T. TRACY
  • Cavity-dumped pulsed solid-state laser with variable pulse-duration
    Patent number: 8325771
    Abstract: In a cavity-dumped, repetitively-pulsed, solid-state laser cavity dumping is protracted over a predetermined time longer than a round-trip time of the resonator of the laser. The cavity dumping is effected by a Pockels cell optical switch. During a dumping period a voltage applied to the Pockels cell falls in a predetermined time. Varying the voltage fall-time varies the duration of pulses provided by the laser, independent of the pulse-repetition frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Y. Wang, Norman Hodgson
  • FREQUENCY-TRIPLED FIBER MOPA
    Publication number: 20120300287
    Abstract: Fundamental-wavelength pulses from a fiber a laser are divided into three or more pulse portions and the three or more portions are separately amplified. Two or more of the amplified fundamental-wavelength pulse-portions are combined and frequency-doubled. The frequency doubled portion is sum-frequency mixed with one or more of the other amplified fundamental wavelength pulse-portions to provide third-harmonic radiation pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Starodoumov, Norman Hodgson, Dmitri Simanovski
  • WAVEGUIDE CO2 LASER WITH MUTIPLY FOLDED RESONATOR
    Publication number: 20120281728
    Abstract: A gas-discharge waveguide CO2 laser has a Z-shaped folded waveguide formed by three ceramic tubes. Ends of the adjacent tubes are shaped and fitted together to form a common aperture. The tubes are held fitted together by spaced-apart parallel discharge electrodes. Four mirrors are arranged to form a laser-resonator having a longitudinal axis extending through the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. DEMARIA, R. Russel AUSTIN
  • LASER PRINTER WITH MULTIPLE LASER-BEAM SOURCES
    Publication number: 20120268548
    Abstract: A laser printer arranged to print a pixellated image on laser sensitive tape includes a carriage on which are arranged two laser-beam sources delivering separately modulated laser-beams and optics for focusing the beams on the tape. The tape is mounted on a tape drive which drives the tape incrementally in one direction. The carriage is translated over the tape in a direction perpendicular to the tape-drive direction, while the modulated beams are focused. Two rows of the pixellated image are drawn across the tape in this manner. The tape is then incremented and a further two rows are drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Jerman, Sergei Govorkov
  • OPTICALLY-PUMPED SURFACE-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR LASER WITH HEAT-SPREADING COMPOUND MIRROR-STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20120269216
    Abstract: A gain-module for use in an OPS-laser includes a multilayer semiconductor gain-structure surmounting a multilayer compound mirror-structure. Within the multilayer compound mirror-structure is a relatively thick layer of diamond which serves as a heat-spreader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei GOVORKOV, Luis Spinelli
  • UNIT-MAGNIFICATION CATADIOPTRIC AND CATOPTRIC PROJECTION OPTICAL SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20120268836
    Abstract: Ring-field, catoptric and catadioptric, unit-magnification, projection optical systems having non-concentric optical surfaces are disclosed. Each system has a system axis with object and image planes on opposite sides of the system axis. The non-concentric surfaces allow for working distances of the object and image planes in excess of 100 millimeters to be achieved, with a ring-field width sufficient to allow a rectangular object-field having a long dimension in excess of 100 mm to be projected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Romeo I. Mercado
  • BROAD-AREA EDGE-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR LASER WITH LIMITED THERMAL CONTACT
    Publication number: 20120263201
    Abstract: A diode-laser having an elongated diode-laser emitter is mounted on a relatively massive heat-sink. Two parallel grooves are machined into the heat-sink to leave a relatively narrow elongated ridge of the heat-sink between the grooves. The ridge has a width about equal to or narrower that the width of the emitter. The diode-laser is mounted on the heat-sink such that thermal communication between the emitter and heat-sink is essentially limited to thermal communication with the ridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: David SCHLEUNING, Kenneth D. Scholz
  • Hermetically-sealed RF feed-through with integrated capacitor
    Patent number: 8290017
    Abstract: A carbon-dioxide (CO2) gas-discharge slab laser includes elongated discharge-electrodes in a sealed enclosure. Radio Frequency (RF) power is supplied to the electrodes via an impedance matching network and a co-axial electrical low inductance transmission line feed-through sealed to the enclosure. The feed-trough includes two spring contacts which are configured to be spring compression push-fit in grooves in edges of the discharge-electrodes. A central conductor of the feed-through is fluid cooled. A capacitor of the impedance matching network is assembled on the central conductor as an integral part of the feed-trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon A. Newman, Vernon A. Seguin, Lanny Laughman, Adrian Papanide
  • DIODE-LASER ILLUMINATOR WITH INTERCHANGEABLE MODULES FOR CHANGING IRRADIANCE AND BEAM DIMENSIONS
    Publication number: 20120257387
    Abstract: Projection apparatus for projecting a radiation spot on a working plane includes a plurality of stacks of diode-laser bars. Each stack provides a beam of laser radiation. The diode-laser bars in each stack are arranged one above another in the fast-axis direction of the diode-laser bars. A corresponding plurality of beam-expanders expands the beam from the corresponding diode-laser bar stack in the slow-axis direction of the diode laser bars only. A focusing lens collects the slow-axis expanded beams and projects the slow-axis expanded beams into the working plane to form the radiation spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Kuchibhotla, Xing Ming Zheng
  • COOLING APPARATUS FOR OPTICALLY PUMPED SEMICONDUCTOR LASER
    Publication number: 20120257647
    Abstract: An OPS-chip is soldered mirror-structure-side down on an upper surface of diamond-heat spreader. A metal frame is also soldered to the upper surface of the heat-spreader. The lower surface of the diamond heat-spreader is either soldered to, or clamped against, a surface of a heat-sink. The dimensions of the frame and the heat spreader are selected such that at a solidification temperature of the solder at the center of the upper surface of the heat-spreader has an effective CTE comparable with that of the OPS-chip. The lower surface of the heat-spreader can be soldered to the heat sink surface or clamped against the heat-sink surface by the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Qi-Ze Shu, Charles King
  • TRANSITION-METAL-DOPED THIN-DISK LASER
    Publication number: 20120250719
    Abstract: A laser includes a Ti:sapphire gain-medium in the form of a thin-disk. The thin-disk gain-medium is optically pumped by pump-radiation pulses having a wavelength in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The pump-radiation pulses have a duration less than twice the excited-state lifetime of the gain-medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman HODGSON, Michael Hertwig, H. Yang Pang
  • HIGH-POWER CW FIBER-LASER
    Publication number: 20120230352
    Abstract: A CW fiber-laser includes a gain fiber having a reflector proximity-coupled to one end, with the other end left uncoated. A laser resonator is defined by the reflector and the uncoated end of the gain-fiber. Pump-radiation from two fast-axis diode-laser bar stacks is combined and focused into the uncoated end of the gain-fiber for energizing the fiber. Laser radiation resulting from the energizing is delivered from the uncoated end of the gain-fiber and separated from the pump-radiation by a dichroic minor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Minelly, Sergei V. Govorkov, Luis A. Spinelli, Douglas William Anthon, Jay Michael Ingalls
  • Hermetically-sealed RF feed-through with integrated capacitor
    Patent number: 8265116
    Abstract: A carbon-dioxide (CO2) gas-discharge slab laser includes elongated discharge-electrodes in a sealed enclosure. Radio Frequency (RF) power is supplied to the electrodes via an impedance matching network and a co-axial electrical low inductance transmission line feed-through sealed to the enclosure. The feed-trough includes two spring contacts which are configured to be spring compression push-fit in grooves in edges of the discharge-electrodes. A central conductor of the feed-through is fluid cooled. A capacitor of the impedance matching network is assembled on the central conductor as an integral part of the feed-trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon A. Newman, Vernon A. Seguin, Lanny Laughman, Adrian Papanide
  • SINGLE-MODE INTRA-CAVITY FREQUENCY-DOUBLED CW SOLID-STATE LASER WITH VOLUMETRIC GAIN-GRATING
    Publication number: 20120224595
    Abstract: A solid state-gain medium is in the form of a thin disk backed by a reflective coating. A laser resonator is formed by the reflective coating and another mirror. Optical pump radiation is directed into the thin-disk gain-medium for energizing the gain-medium and generating a standing wave of fundamental-wavelength radiation in the resonator. The pump-radiation is directed into the gain-medium at an angle to the resonator axis and pump-radiation fringes are formed by interference between incident and reflected pump-radiation. The pump-radiation angle is selected such that the pump-radiation fringes are aligned with antinodes of the fundamental-wavelength standing wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea CAPRARA
  • DELIVERY FIBER FOR SURGICAL LASER TREATMENT AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
    Publication number: 20120215211
    Abstract: An optical surgical fiber assembly for delivering laser radiation from a laser radiation source to a treatment site has a sealed off capillary enclosing a delivery end of the fiber. The capillary is formed from an outermost layer of fused silica and an adjacent layer of boron-doped fused silica having a higher CTE than that of the fused silica. The capillary is shrink-fitted onto the delivery end of the fiber. A compressive stress is imparted to the outermost layer of the capillary as a result of the shrink-fitting process and the CTE difference between the layers. This provides mechanical hardening of the surface of the outermost layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. TUMMINELLI
  • DELIVERY FIBER FOR SURGICAL LASER TREATMENT AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
    Publication number: 20120211145
    Abstract: An method is disclosed for forming an optical surgical fiber assembly for delivering laser radiation from a laser radiation source to a treatment site that includes a sealed off capillary enclosing a delivery end of the fiber. The capillary is formed from an outermost layer of fused silica and an adjacent layer of boron-doped fused silica having a higher CTE than that of the fused silica. The capillary is shrink-fitted onto the delivery end of the fiber. A compressive stress is imparted to the outermost layer of the capillary as a result of the shrink-fitting process and the CTE difference between the layers. This provides mechanical hardening of the surface of the outermost layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard P. TUMMINELLI
  • Intracavity frequency-converted optically-pumped semiconductor optical parametric oscillator
    Patent number: 8243765
    Abstract: In a branched resonator OPS-laser arrangement, a combination of intra-cavity optical parametric generation and intra-cavity frequency conversion provides output radiation in a range between about 550 nanometers about 800 nanometers from an OPS fundamental wavelength in a range between about 900 nm and about 1100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Caprara
  • POWDER-DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR LASER-CLADDING
    Publication number: 20120199564
    Abstract: Powder-delivery apparatus for delivering powdered cladding-material into the vicinity of a laser-beam spot includes a plurality of powder-delivery modules. Each of the modules is arranged to receive the cladding-material and deliver the cladding-material through a plurality of nozzles. The position of the nozzles in the modules with respect to the laser-beam spot is adjustable in three Cartesian axes. The modules are selectively removable from, and attachable to the apparatus. Nozzles in any one of the modules can be selectively prevented from delivering cladding-material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. WASHKO, JR., Harrell Keith Parker, Stephen W. Brookshier
  • OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR PUMPED BY FEMTOSECOND THIN-DISK LASER
    Publication number: 20120200912
    Abstract: Pulses from a mode-locked Yb-doped laser are spectrally broadened, and temporally compressed, then frequency-doubled and used to pump an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO output is tunable over a wavelength range from about 600 nm to about 1100 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Dmitri Simanovski, Andrei Starodoumov