Patents Assigned to Spectra-Physics
  • Patent number: 5705802
    Abstract: An optical system and method for data reading. The preferred system is directed to a scanner which includes a multiple beam source, such as a laser diode and a beam splitter which generates first optical beam and a second optical beam, the first optical beam being directed toward one side of a scanning optical element such as a rotating polygon mirror and to a first mirror array, the second optical beam is being simultaneously directed toward a second optical element such as another side of the rotating polygon mirror and then to a second and a third mirror array. The first mirror array is configured to generate a scan pattern through a vertical window and the second and third mirror arrays are configured to generate scan patterns passing through a horizontal window. In combination, the three mirror arrays generate three sets of scan lines so as to scan the bottom and all lateral sides of an object being passed through the scan volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohan LeeLaRama Bobba, Jorge Luis Acosta, Timothy Joseph Eusterman, James W. Ring, Alexander McQueen
  • Patent number: 5706090
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a container for measurement of wear in the container lining. The method comprises taking a reference picture by a camera means of a set of at least three reference marks mounted on the container, and performing reference measurement of the container lining with a measuring device emitting and receiving optical radiation. Later, in the actual measurement situation, a measurement picture is taken of the set of reference marks with the camera means, and the actual measurement of the wear in the container lining is performed with the measurement device emitting and receiving optical radiation. By comparing the measurement situation picture with the reference picture, correction factors are calculated, on the basis of which the actual measurement of the wear in the container lining and the previously made reference measurement of the container lining are combined so as to be represented in the same coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Visiontech Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Jokinen
  • Patent number: 5703347
    Abstract: An interface selection and configuration system for a computer peripheral in which configuration for the peripheral and/or the host interface is at least in part accomplished by the interface connector cable. In a preferred embodiment, the computer peripheral is equipped with one or more hardware interfaces. The interface connector cable has a first end connector for attaching to the computer peripheral. The first end connector of the interface connector cable is typically a multiple pin connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals, the first end connector including at least one electrical connection between two pins for completing a circuit within the computer peripheral thereby enabling the computer peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad R. Reddersen, Phillip W. Shepard, Rockie D. Moch, Jon Paul Charles Williams
  • Patent number: 5696780
    Abstract: A multi-axial mode frequency conversion system includes two resonators. At least two resonator mirrors define a first resonator cavity. A gain medium is positioned in the first resonator cavity. A pump source supplies energy to the gain medium. The first resonator cavity produces a first beam with a plurality of axial modes that are incident on a doubling crystal in the first resonator and produce a frequency doubled output beam. The first resonator cavity provides a sufficient number of axial modes to oscillate so that the doubled output beam has a noise of less than 3% RMS. At least two resonator mirrors define a second resonator cavity coupled to the output beam from the first resonator cavity. The second resonator is configured to provide resonant enhancement of at least a portion of the plurality of axial modes. A non-linear optical material is positioned in the second resonator and configured to produce a harmonic output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan-Willem Pieterse, James D. Kafka, Shinan S. Sheng, William L. Nighan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5671244
    Abstract: A mirror mount assembly has a base plate positioned at one end of a laser resonator, and a movable plate spaced from and positioned substantially parallel to the base plate. One or more elastic springs are connected between the base plate and the moveable plate to provide tip and tilt of the movable plate and translation of the moveable plate away from or towards the base plate. The elastic springs include a bushing made of an elastic material, and at least three elastic dimples formed in the bushing circumferentially in a plane across a bushing longitudinal axis. Further, the elastic spring has a bushing made of an elastic material capable of elastic expansion and contraction. The bushing includes a threaded interior side and a longitudinal axis from a first open end of the bushing to a second open end of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra--Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Reeder
  • Patent number: 5651020
    Abstract: A high power diode pumped laser is disclosed which has at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler. At least one laser crystal with strong thermal focussing properties is included. The laser includes at least one diode pump source supplying a pump beam to the laser crystal, producing a thermal lens in the laser crystal. The combination of the laser crystal, thermal lens, resonator mirrors and output coupler create a confocal-to-concentric resonator. An output beam is generated, which may be polarized. Further, a Q-switch may be included in the resonator, particularly when the laser crystal is Nd:YAG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Nighan, Jr., Mark S. Keirstead, David R. Dudley
  • Patent number: 5641958
    Abstract: An optical system and method for data reading in which a light source generates an optical beam directed toward an object to be read and a variable aperture mechanism positioned in the outgoing light path establishes at least two separate focal planes. The variable aperture device may comprise a variable aperture system in which the size of the aperture is selectively varied about a range within the diffractive limit of the light beam. A preferred aperture mechanism is a liquid crystal aperture with one or more aperture regions which are selectively or consecutively activated. The optical system therefore establishes two or more separate waist locations from a single light source resulting in greater depth of field or multiple depths of field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Rudeen
  • Patent number: 5638397
    Abstract: A high power diode pumped, acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO.sub.4 laser includes at least one resonator mirror and an output coupler defining a resonator cavity. At least one acousto-optic Q-switch device and at least one laser crystal, with strong thermal focussing properties, are positioned in the resonator. One or more diode pump sources supply a pump beam to the laser crystal or crystals to generate an output beam. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Nighan, Jr., Mark S. Keirstead, David R. Dudley
  • Patent number: 5638388
    Abstract: A diode pumped, multiaxial mode, intracavity frequency doubled laser resonator has high amplitude stability, meaning that the percent root mean square noise (%RMS) of the doubled output beam power is low. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to a laser crystal positioned in a resonator cavity and produces a multiaxial mode infrared beam that is incident on a doubling crystal, also positioned in the resonator. A frequency doubled output beam is produced that has an RMS of less than 3%, and in some cases less than 0.2%. The laser is highly efficient, provides high output power, and its output beam is of high spatial quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Nighan, Jr., John Cole
  • Patent number: 5635699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading encoded symbols such as bar code labels at any orientation to a raster scanning device. A pattern of virtual scan lines is selected over the two-dimensional imaging region according to the specifications of the images to be read. The pattern is generated by defining a family of parallel lines of a certain spacing and rotating the family by a specified angle until the two-dimensional imaging region is covered. Only the data at selected raster locations on the virtual scan lines is stored and processed. One-dimensional signal processing methods are used to detect edges and decode the encoded symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig D. Cherry, Robert J. Actis
  • Patent number: 5625491
    Abstract: A broad band polarizing beam splitter includes a first prism, including an incident beam surface, and an interface surface. A second prism is also included with an interface surface. The second prism is positioned adjacent to the first prism with the interface surfaces of the first and second prisms being adjacent to each other. A coating is disposed between the two interface surfaces. The coating is made of a geometric or arithmetic progression of layer thicknesses of alternating high and low refractive indices. A ratio of high refractive index to low refractive index is 1.1 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc K. von Gunten, Ron P. Bevis
  • Patent number: 5612782
    Abstract: A calibration method especially for calibrating a reflection spectrometric gauge, such as an oil film gauge. In the method, calibration is conducted by measuring the gauge response by means of a calibration unit and a solid, stable permanent sample (37) provided on it as a calibration sample. A change that simulates a certain substance concentration is generated by the stable permanent sample (37) in the reflection spectrum, and the gauge response is calibrated on the basis thereof. In the invention, the gauge response is calibrated by using at least two calibration samples (37, 39) having different absorption responses, said two calibration samples being said permanent sample (37) and a second calibration sample (39). For calibration, roughness compensation is performed, in which the gauge response is corrected on the basis of the measurement of the optical response of the surface to be measured and the known data on roughness dependence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Visiontech Oy
    Inventors: Heimo Keranen, Mika Christophliemk
  • Patent number: 5608742
    Abstract: A laser or laser amplifier apparatus has a diode pump source producing a polarized pump beam. A laser head includes a gain medium that produces an output beam. One or more optical fibers are coupled to the diode pump source and deliver the pump beam to the laser head. A depolarization device is coupled to the diode pump source, laser head or optical fiber and produces an depolarized pump beam. By depolarizing the output beam, movement, including rotation, of the pump source does not comprise the output beam produced from the laser head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5594231
    Abstract: A scanner window through which a laser beam is projected to define a scanning pattern comprises a substrate formed of light transmissive material which allows the laser beam to project through a light transmissive hard material layer deposited onto the substrate, and a light transmissive lubricous coating deposited onto the hard material resulting in the scanner window having improved resistance to abrasive wear. The present invention is also directed to a method of producing such a scanner window. The present method may incorporate various deposition techniques to form a wear resistant scanner window in accordance with the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel F. Pellicori, Sean Sullivan, Michael J. Ahten
  • Patent number: 5590149
    Abstract: A mirror mount assembly has a base plate positioned at one end of a laser resonator, and a movable plate spaced from and positioned substantially parallel to the base plate. One or more elastic springs are connected between the base plate and the moveable plate to provide tip and tilt of the movable plate and translation of the moveable plate away from or towards the base plate. The elastic springs include a bushing made of an elastic material, and at least three elastic dimples formed in the bushing circumferentially in a plane across a bushing longitudinal axis. Further, the elastic spring has a bushing made of an elastic material capable of elastic expansion and contraction. The bushing includes a threaded interior side and a longitudinal axis from a first open end of the bushing to a second open end of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Reeder
  • Patent number: 5579422
    Abstract: A laser system includes a laser diode source with a plurality of output facets. The laser diode source produces a divergent output along an emission path. A microlens is optically coupled to the diode source. The microlens receives the divergent output along the emission path and modifies the divergence of the output in a high numerical aperture direction of the microlens A power source is coupled to the laser diode source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Head, Thomas M. Baer
  • Patent number: 5577060
    Abstract: A diode pumped laser includes a resonator mirror and an output coupler, defining a laser resonator with a resonator optical axis. A strong thermal lens laser crystal with a TEM.sub.00 mode diameter is mounted in the resonator along the resonator optical axis. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal in the laser resonator, and produces an output beam with a diameter larger than the TEM.sub.00 mode diameter to reduce thermal birefringence. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source. A polarizing element can be positioned in the resonator, along with a aperture stop The laser operates well over a large range of pump powers. Its slope efficiency in the TEM.sub.00 mode is greater than 40%, with an overall efficiency greater than 25%. One of the lasing crystals used is Nd:YVO.sub.4. This material exhibits high gain and a short upper state lifetime. These properties make it attractive in designing a Q-switched laser, or one that is insensitive to optical feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Nighan, Jr., Mark S. Keirstead
  • Patent number: 5577058
    Abstract: An oscillator system which produces a single mode output from a multimode seed beam and a multimode optical power source. The seed source employed in the oscillator system produces a multimode seed beam that is used to injection seed a multimode optical power source. The optical power source has a short cavity such that the longitudinal modes of the multimode optical power source are sufficiently spaced apart that a mode of the optical power source can be positioned relative to the multimode seed beam such that the seed beam does not significantly overlap with neighboring longitudinal modes of the optical power source. By positioning a single longitudinal mode to overlap with the seed beam where the seed beam does not significantly overlap with neighboring longitudinal modes of the optical power source, a high energy single longitudinal mode output is produced. The multimode seed beam preferably has a bandwidth, defined as the full width half maximum of the spectral output, of between about 0.025 cm.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: James Kafka, Vincent J. Newell, Michael Watts
  • Patent number: 5565668
    Abstract: An optical system and method for data reading having a light source which generates an optical beam directed toward an object to be read and a focusing system in the outgoing light path which establishes multiple beam functions. In a preferred application, a scanning system includes a multifocal lens having a single lens element having an inner lens portion of a first focal length and an outer annular lens portion with a second focal length, the optical system of a bar code scanner therefore establishing two separate focal positions from a single light source. Alternately, the system includes a focusing lens system with an corrector element disposed in the outgoing optical path, the corrector element having a plurality of optical zones, each zone having a different optical characteristic for modifying a portion of the outgoing optical beam. A zone may be a refractive region, a reflective region, a diffractive region, an empty region, a window region, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad R. Reddersen, Thomas C. Arends
  • Patent number: 5563402
    Abstract: An interface selection and configuration system for a computer peripheral in which configuration for the peripheral and/or the host interface is at least in part accomplished by the interface connector cable. In a preferred embodiment, the computer peripheral is equipped with one or more hardware interfaces. The interface connector cable has a first end connector for attaching to the computer peripheral. The first end connector of the interface connector cable is typically a multiple pin connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals, the first end connector including at least one electrical connection between two pins for completing a circuit within the computer peripheral thereby enabling the computer peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad R. Reddersen, Phillip W. Shepard, Rockie D. Moch, Jon P. C. Williams