Patents Assigned to Coherent, Inc.
  • Tunable femtosecond laser-pulse source including a super-continuum generator
    Patent number: 9515445
    Abstract: A mode-locked fiber MOPA delivers pulses of laser-radiation. A super-continuum generator including a bulk spectral-broadening element and a negative group-delay dispersion (NGDD) device is arranged to receive a pulse from the MOPA and cause the pulse to make a predetermined number of sequential interactions with the broadening element and the NGDD device. After making the predetermined interactions, the pulse is delivered from the super-continuum generator with a very broad spectral-bandwidth and a very short duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Dmitri Simanovski, Andrei Starodoumov
  • MULTI-WAVELENGTH SOURCE OF FEMTOSECOND INFRARED PULSES
    Publication number: 20160294145
    Abstract: A source of femtosecond pulses at center wavelengths of about 940 nm and about 1140 nanometers (nm) includes a mode-locked fiber MOPA delivering pulses having a center wavelength of about 1040 nm. The 1040-nanometer pulses are spectrally spread into a continuum spectrum extending in range between about 900 nm and about 1200 nm and having well defined side-lobes around the 940-nm and 1140-wavelengths. Radiation is spatially selected from these side-lobes and delivered as the 940-nm and 1140-nm pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventors: Dmitri SIMANOVSKI, Norman HODGSON
  • Water-cooled carbon-dioxide laser
    Patent number: 9419404
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide waveguide-laser includes an elongated resonator compartment and an elongated power supply compartment. The resonator and power-supply compartments are separated by a water-cooled heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Mueller
  • Via-hole drilling in a printed circuit board using a carbon monoxide laser
    Patent number: 9414498
    Abstract: Apparatus for drilling a via-hole in a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a carbon monoxide laser deliver laser radiation pulses. The pulses have a relatively broad wavelength-range, and slow rising and falling edges. The rising and falling edges of the pulses are clipped using and acousto-optic modulator. A dispersion-compensator compensates for dispersion in the clipped pulses introduced by the AOM. Achromatic focusing optics focus the dispersion-compensated, clipped pulses on the PCB for the via-hole drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Gongxue Hua, Eric R. Mueller
  • Uniformity adjustment method for a diode-laser line-projector
    Patent number: 9400391
    Abstract: In a line projector a diode-laser beam having an elliptical cross-section is projected onto a Powell lens which spreads the beam to form a line of light. Distribution of power along the line of light is adjusted by rotating the diode-laser beam with respect to the Powell lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Nackerud, Jimson Lounsbury, Patrick Kain
  • Method and apparatus for adjusting pulse parameters in a solid-state chirped-pulse amplifier system
    Patent number: 9385502
    Abstract: Optical apparatus for amplifying pulses in a pulsed laser-beam includes a pulse-stretcher having a single transmission-grating in a multi-pass configuration at a non-normal incidence angle. A regenerative amplifier amplifies stretched pulses in the laser-beam. A pulse-compressor including two spaced-apart reflection-gratings in a multi-pass configuration compresses the amplified pulses. Pulse-parameters of the compressed amplified pulses are optimized by iteratively adjusting the incidence angle of the pulsed laser-beam on the transmission-grating of the pulse-stretcher and the spacing between the reflection-gratings of the pulse-compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Mateusz Plewicki, Jean-Marc Heritier
  • Light-source including a planar array of diode-laser bars
    Patent number: 9377611
    Abstract: A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Govorkov, John H. Jerman
  • CURRENT DRIVER FOR DIODE LASER SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160149376
    Abstract: An architecture for current driver circuitry for diode laser systems is contemplated whereby the circuitry is both modular and minimally complex with respect to the number of components and connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich RITTER, Jerry CHANG
  • Laser-scribing of chemically strengthened glass
    Patent number: 9328011
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for scribing a contained crack or vent in a chemically strengthened glass sheet. The glass has shallow surface regions under compressive stress, bounding a central region under tensile stress. The vent is formed by rapidly bulk-heating the glass, using radiation from a carbon monoxide laser, to a depth just below a surface compressive region and extending marginally into the tensile stress region then rapidly cooling the heated region with a water mist spray. The glass sheet can be subsequently divided along the vent by application of mechanical or thermal stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Washko, Jr., Xinghua Li, Walter R. Bosenberg
  • Laser label-printer
    Patent number: 9290009
    Abstract: A laser label printer for use with a laser markable medium includes a laser-diode fiber-coupled to an optical train, which includes a focusing lens for focusing the radiation on the medium. The focusing lens is traversed across the medium, with incremental motion of the medium between traverses, for line by line printing of the label. The printer includes a feature for protecting the focusing lens from contamination, and self-diagnostic and adjustment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Govorkov, John H. Jerman
  • Intelligent laser interlock system
    Patent number: 9281653
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for shutting down a laser system in an intelligent and flexible manner. An intelligent laser interlock system includes both hardwired components, and intelligent components configured to execute computing instructions. The hardwired components and the intelligent components are configured to shutdown the laser system to one or more alternative shutdown states in response to one or more interlock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Stadler, David Goldman, Mark Farley, Michael Mielke
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO A SIDE-FIRE MEMBER HAVING A DOPED SILICA COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20160054525
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may Include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicants: COHERENT, INC., BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Richard P. Tumminelli
  • Beam-control apparatus for gas-discharge slab-laser
    Patent number: 9246301
    Abstract: In a CO2 gas-discharge slab-laser comprising an unstable resonator constrained by a waveguide formed by planar discharge-electrodes, parasitic side-lobes appear on either side of a delivered main mode in a direction perpendicular to the electrode plane. A rotationally adjustable aperture is provided for transmitting the main mode and blocking the parasitic side-lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Gongxue Hua
  • Tunable femtosecond laser-pulse source including a super-continuum generator
    Patent number: 9240663
    Abstract: A mode-locked fiber MOPA delivers pulses of laser-radiation. A super-continuum generator including a bulk spectral-broadening element and a negative group-delay dispersion (NGDD) device is arranged to receive a pulse from the MOPA and cause the pulse to make a predetermined number of sequential interactions with the broadening element and the NGDD device. After making the predetermined interactions, the pulse is delivered from the super-continuum generator with a very broad spectral-bandwidth and a very short duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Dmitri Simanovski, Andrei Starodoumov
  • Mode-locked optically pumped semiconductor laser
    Patent number: 9236708
    Abstract: A laser includes an optically pumped semiconductor OPS gain-structure. The apparatus has a laser-resonator which includes a mode-locking device for causing the laser to deliver mode-locked pulses. The resonator has a total length selected such that the mode-locked pulses are delivered at a pulse repetition frequency less than 150 MHz. An optical arrangement within the resonator provides that radiation circulating in the resonator makes a plurality of incidences on the OPS gain-structure with a time less than the excited-state lifetime of the gain-structure between successive incidences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian MacGillivray, Andrea Caprara, Sergei Govorkov
  • Optical pumping apparatus for slab lasers and amplifiers
    Patent number: 9231363
    Abstract: An optical amplifier includes a solid state gain-element. The gain-element is pumped by pump-radiation from a diode-laser bar. The diode-laser radiation is delivered from the diode-laser bar to the gain-element entirely via a tapered light-guide which guides the radiation only in a fast-axis direction of the diode laser bar. The tapering of the light-guide reduces fast-axis divergence of the pump-radiation by about a factor of ten. The pump-radiation is delivered to the gain-element as a line of radiation homogenized in the fast-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hertwig, Sergei Govorkov
  • Methods and apparatus related to a side-fire member having a doped silica component
    Patent number: 9207402
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Richard P. Tumminelli
  • LIGHT-SOURCE INCLUDING A PLANAR ARRAY OF DIODE-LASER BARS
    Publication number: 20150333483
    Abstract: A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: COHERENT, INC.
    Inventors: Sergei GOVORKOV, John H. JERMAN
  • Optical parametric oscillator pumped by femtosecond thin-disk laser
    Patent number: 9188833
    Abstract: Pulses from a mode-locked Yb-doped laser (12) are spectrally broadened in an optical fiber (28), and temporally compressed in a grating compressor (32), then frequency-doubled (34) and used to pump an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) (40). The OPO output is tunable over a wavelength range from about 600 nm to about 1100 nm. Mode-locking in the Yb-doped laser (12) is accomplished with a SESAM (14) or by Kerr-lens mode-locking with a Kerr medium (82) and a hard aperture (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Dmitri Simanovski, Andrei Starodoumov
  • Optical parametric oscillator with embedded resonator
    Patent number: 9190798
    Abstract: An optical parametric oscillator includes one unidirectional enhancement resonator for optical pump-radiation and a second unidirectional resonator at least partially coaxial with the enhancement resonator. An optically nonlinear crystal is located in the coaxial portion of the resonators and converts the optical pump-radiation to signal radiation having a wavelength longer than that of the pump radiation and idler radiation having a wavelength longer than that of the signal radiation. The second resonator resonates the signal-wavelength radiation and delivers a fraction of that radiation as output radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Caprara, Luis A. Spinelli, Arnaud Lepert