Patents Examined by Marcus S. Rasco
  • Patent number: 4104598
    Abstract: A laser internal coupling modulation arrangement is disclosed wherein a wire grid polarizer serves as one of the reflectors forming part of the laser optical cavity, as a polarization selector which constrains the laser oscillation to a desired linear polarization, and as an output coupler which couples an orthogonal linearly polarized beam out of the laser optical cavity in response to an amplitude varying modulating signal applied to an electrooptic modulator disposed within the laser optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Abrams
  • Patent number: 4103257
    Abstract: A dye laser comprising a laser dye solution of a compound having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein at least one of the 5, 6 and 8 ring positions is occupied by a nitrogen atom in lieu of the corresponding CR group and X is OH, alkoxy, or amino including amino substituted by at least one of the following: alkyl, aryl, acyl, aracyl, a group which taken together with the nitrogen atom of the amino group forms a heterocyclic ring, or part of one or two 5 or 6 membered aliphatic heterocyclic rings attached to ring A at positions 6 or 8 or both depending on where the N in ring A is located. R.sub.1, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.8 are hydrogen or other groups as defined below. The compounds lase in the blue to near ultraviolet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Peter R. Hammond, Ronald L. Atkins, Ronald A. Henry, Aaron N. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 4103253
    Abstract: A metal vapor laser generating apparatus comprising a laser fine tube having Brewster windows at the ends and containing rare gas, an anode provided near one end of the fine tube, a vessel housing metal which is to be forwarded into the fine tube as vapor and ionized there by discharge, and a branch tube having its one end connected to the fine tube at a point adjacent to the other end of the fine tube. A cathode is provided at the other end of the branch tube and a large number of fine slits are bored through the wall of the branch tube at the central portion thereof, the slitted portion being surrounded by a sealed outer tube loaded with an adsorbent for adsorbing the ionized metal. The size of the slit is adjusted to permit passage of the ionized metal, but not to cause a discharge leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: The Kimmon Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kathumi Tokudome, Michio Ishikawa, Noboru Kamide
  • Patent number: 4103256
    Abstract: A dye laser comprising a laser dye solution of a compound having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein at least one of the 5, 6 and 8 ring positions is occupied by a nitrogen atom in lieu of the corresponding CR group and X is OH, alkoxy, or amino including amino substituted by at least one of the following: alkyl, aryl, acyl, aracyl, a group which taken together with the nitrogen atom of the amino group forms a heterocyclic ring, or part of one or two 5 or 6 membered aliphatic heterocyclic rings attached to ring A at positions 6 or 8 or both depending on where the N in ring A is located. R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.8 are hydrogen or other groups as defined below. The compounds lase in the blue-green to near ultraviolet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Peter R. Hammond, Ronald L. Atkins, Ronald A. Henry, Aaron N. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 4103255
    Abstract: A high power, compact waveguide gas laser having a housing located within a resonant cavity. The housing has a longitudinal chamber situated therein, the chamber being divided into a plurality of waveguides by a plurality of infrared transmitting partitions. During operation of the laser, the leakage of laser radiation between adjacent waveguides through the partitions causes the coupling of the phases of the waveguide modes thereby producing a laser output of high power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Inventor: Howard R. Schlossberg
  • Patent number: 4100507
    Abstract: The present method relates to exciting a gas dynamic CO.sub.2 laser, especially at high stagnation temperatures above 2500.degree. K and at a combustion chamber pressure above 50 bar. A liquid fuel and a liquid oxidizer are injected into the combustion chamber at these operating parameters and the produced laser gas is caused to flow through a Laval nozzle into a resonator. The flow cross sectional area of the Laval nozzle adjacent to the resonator is at least 100 times larger than the flow cross sectional area adjacent to the nozzle neck facing the combustion chamber. The flow of the laser gas through this nozzle cools the gas to about 300.degree. K, whereby an inversion state is produced. The laser for performing this type of operation has a combustion chamber connected through the above mentioned nozzle to a resonator which in turn is connected to a diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Gunthard Born, Hans Hermansdorfer, Gunther Sepp, Gerhard Grosch
  • Patent number: 4100434
    Abstract: A gate controlling apparatus for a thyristor valve including a plurality of series connected thyristors controlled by a narrow gate pulse. The apparatus includes means for judging whether the thyristor valve is to be in the conductive state or not, means for detecting a forward voltage across at least one of the thyristors in the thyristor valve, and an AND circuit for generating an output at a time when an AND condition between the respective outputs of the judging means and the forward voltage detector means is satisfied. The apparatus further includes means for detecting a period of inverse voltage across at least one of the thyristors in the thyristor valve. The forward and inverse voltages may be, respectively, detected by detecting the forward and inverse voltages of specified thyristors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Iyotani, Atsumi Watanabe, Hisao Amano, Fumio Ogata
  • Patent number: 4099140
    Abstract: A continuous flow chemical laser is described in which chlorine dioxide and nitric oxide are reacted to produce atomic chlorine and hydrogen iodide is then introduced into the flow stream to form hydrogen chloride in an excited state. The hydrogen chloride may itself be lased in a transverse flow laser or carbon dioxide may be introduced which may be lased in a longitudinal or transverse flow laser. The required chlorine dioxide may be generated by passing chlorine and helium or another inert gas through loosely packed sodium chlorite. The nitric oxide may be introduced in two successive steps first to yield chlorine monoxide and in the second stage to yield atomic chlorine. The latter reaction facilitates operation in the supersonic transverse flow mode in which the hydrogen iodide and second injection of nitric oxide are made just as the flow stream is being transformed from a subsonic flow rate to supersonic flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Minister of National Defence
    Inventors: David R. Snelling, Robert D. Suart, Kenneth D. Foster
  • Patent number: 4099142
    Abstract: The condensed explosive of a gas dynamic laser is a condensed mixture of or more nonhydrogenous organic explosive compounds, such as TNM, with a sufficient amount of aluminum or zirconium powder to supply energy to the products so that a temperature of at least 1100.degree. K. can be achieved at a nozzle throat at a pressure of not more than 10 atmospheres, in such proportions that .tau..sub.II >.tau..sub.E >.tau..sub.I, which produces a population inversion. Satisfactory examples include TNM alone or combined with HNB in various proportions, mixed with 7.5 to 17.5% of aluminum powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Joseph Hershkowitz, Mary Y. DeWolf Lanzerotti
  • Patent number: 4097753
    Abstract: A comparator circuit for comparing two voltage levels in a C-2C A/D and D/A converter, comprising four cross-coupled active devices (FETs) in a latch arrangement whereby an offset voltage is used to compensate for imbalances in the comparator. The comparator includes a first FET having its gate electrode connected to the output of the D/A converter, and a second FET having its gate electrode connected to an analog input voltage. The first and second FETs each have one of their electrodes connected to a common voltage source. A third and a fourth FET have one of their electrodes connected respectively to the other electrode of the first and second FETs at first and second common nodes, respectively. The output of the comparator is provided at one of such first and second common nodes. The first and second nodes are also respectively connected to the gate electrodes of the fourth and third FETs in a cross-coupled arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter William Cook, James Thomas Parrish, Stanley Everett Schuster
  • Patent number: 4096449
    Abstract: Apparatus is described for producing an electric glow discharge in gas flowing along a channel with the discharge extending in a direction generally transverse to the flow, such apparatus including a first electrode disclosed adjacent a first wall of the flow channel and a generally planar second electrode disposed adjacent a second wall of the flow channel opposed to the first wall, the second electrode being formed of a material having a resistivity in the range of 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.6 ohm-centimeters. Means for electrically energizing the first and second electrodes to establish the glow discharge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Universal Laser Corp.
    Inventor: Jack D. Foster
  • Patent number: 4095127
    Abstract: A base drive regulator for a transistor operation in a switching mode comprising a series transistor regulator between the source of drive voltage and the base of the switching transistor and a diode with its anode element connected to the base of the series transistor regulator and its cathode connected to the collector of the switching transistor. The material used for construction of the switching transistor, series regulator transistor and the diode has similar electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: Rohr Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Arne Nerem
  • Patent number: 4093927
    Abstract: A pulsed gas laser in which a multitude of sheet-form conductors are assembled face to face with aligned apertures defining a beam path through the thickness of the assembly. In the embodiment shown the conductors are paired to form transmission lines, one conductor of each transmission line being interrupted and exposed at the aperture to form a discharge gap while the opposite conductor is electrically isolated from the aperture. The impedance introduced to the transmission line discharge circuit by a suitable aperture is found to be sufficiently low to permit application of a fast rise voltage wave for energizing gas at the gap. Increase in the number of elements in the assembly can progressively increase performance over a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Jeffrey Steven Levine
  • Patent number: 4088394
    Abstract: An electro-optical light control element comprises a pair of transparent electrodes disposed in a predetermined spaced apart relationship, a layer of electro-optical substance disposed between the transparent electrodes and having a light transmission factor variable in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, and a substrate supporting thereon the transparent electrodes and the layer of electro-optical substance. The transparent electrodes and the layer of electro-optical substance together form a control area for controlling the quantity of light passing the transparent electrodes and the layer of electro-optical substance. Conductor electrodes are provided around the control area at a plurality of locations on one of the transparent electrodes and at least one location on the other transparent electrode so that the distribution of the light transmission factor within the control area may be made to substantially conform to a predetermined distribution characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K.K.
    Inventor: Jun Shimomura
  • Patent number: 4088966
    Abstract: A high power density continuous wave (c. w.) gas dynamic laser system is described which includes a non-equilibrium plasma jet for generating excited gaseous species having high vibrational temperature and low gas temperature. Gas flow through the plasma jet is reduced to highly turbulent subsonic flow by an expanding nozzle. Lasing in an optical cavity oriented transversely with respect to the flow of the gaseous plasma extracts vibrational energy from the excited gaseous species as the emerge from the expansion nozzle.The described system also includes, immediately upstream from the optical cavity, an injection system which introduces and uniformly mixes a lasing gaseous species into the highly turbulent subsonic gaseous plasma flow from the plasma jet. Gas sweeps are established in the arms of the optical cavity to cool and sweep high temperature unexcited gas species therefrom in order to reduce absorption in the optical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Inventor: Michael A. Samis
  • Patent number: 4087764
    Abstract: A thin film laser typcially operating in the region of 1,000 to 10,000 A. First and second electrodes are mounted in a fluid container in spaced relation with a dielectric block in the gap between the electrodes and fixed to the first electrode. A voltage pulse applied to the electrodes produces an electric field between the electrodes with a discharge occurring in the thin film of fluid between the dielectric and second electrode. The current discharge excites the fluid, forming simple excited molecules which may have a bound upper state and a dissociative lower state connected by an optical transition. The surfaces of the block and second electrode may form an active optical wave guide for the excited molecules, in which lasing occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Xonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Young
  • Patent number: 4085386
    Abstract: A trigger circuit which operates independently of the main discharge circuit can be used to initiate glow discharge useful for gas laser excitation. By utilizing independent trigger means, such as auxiliary dielectric electrodes, the main discharge can be controlled by modulating only a small part of the total energy input to the laser cavity. The main discharge gap of the laser is prestressed to a voltage below the spark breakdown voltage threshold of the electrode assembly under static conditions but above the glow discharge voltage of the electrode assembly. When the trigger means is pulsed to supply free electrons to the discharge gap the glow discharge is initiated between the electrodes independent of the need for modulating the main power to the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Owen Farish, Richard L. Hundstad
  • Patent number: 4080578
    Abstract: A gas laser system with moderate speed gas glow through the optical cavity to facilitate D.C. excitation of the gas to lasing levels. An electrode assembly is positioned so as to provide a glow discharge transverse to the optical axis within the optical cavity when a high D.C. voltage is applied thereto. By maintaining the high rate of flow of gas through the cavity, the glow discharge is stabilized while the gas medium is maintained at high pressure. Proper choice of electrode geometry and flow rate of the gas through the optical cavity allows the laser system to operate at pressures from a few Torr to atmospheric pressure and above thereby producing a high power CW output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Owen Farish, Richard L. Hundstad, John L. Pack
  • Patent number: 4079270
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device which includes a main thyristor and an auxiliary thyristor for turning off the main thyristor and controls conduction period of the main thyristor according to a given duty factor, a gate control apparatus comprising a phase shifter for producing a square wave output corresponding to the duty factor, an integrator for integrating the output of the phase shifter, a relay circuit having two level settings and receiving the output from the integrator to produce an output which exhibits a hysterisis characteristic corresponding to the two level settings, and an amplifier for turning on the main thyristor in response to the output from the relay circuit and turning on the auxiliary thyristor upon the termination of the output from the relay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ibamoto, Masato Suzuki, Sigeru Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 4079408
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure with an annular collector/subcollector region. The base area with the emitter, is positioned over the collector/subcollector region only, resulting in a smaller base to collector capacitance. Packing density is improved and circuit design flexibility is provided by the ability to change the emitter size without changing the size of the overall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore William Kwap, Ingrid Emese Magdo