Abstract: A laser beam treatment system that delivers laser beam pulses to a dental treatment area according to a particular pattern is described. In various instances, the spacing of the pattern (e.g., locations at which pulses are delivered and the distances therebetween) and/or the timing of the pattern (e.g., amount of time between the delivery of pulses to a first location and a later location that abuts the first location) can have a demonstrable effect on ablation performance. The effects can include, for example: improved ablation efficiency, improved surface smoothness, improved material removal rate, and/or the absence of melt, carbonization or other negative surface features.

Abstract: A dental laser system for treatment of hard and/or soft tissue includes a main chamber housing optical and primary fluid supply subsystems, for directing a laser beam and fluid to a treatment area. A hand piece affixable to the main chamber, includes mating optical and secondary fluid supply subsystems. The hand piece can be rotatable or re-orientable about an optical axis within the hand piece. A lock can maintain a selectable angular orientation of the hand piece relative to the main chamber. A coupling can maintain a fluidic communication between the primary and secondary fluid supply subsystems even when the hand piece is rotated or re-oriented. A sensor and controller can sense a selected angular orientation of the hand piece and adjust the main optical subsystem according to the sensed angular orientation, to align the two optical subsystems. The laser may be controlled using a variable speed foot pedal.

Abstract: A switching matrix enables switching of optical signals from any of a plurality of optical input paths to selected optical output paths, without requiring physical re-connecting of the inputs or outputs. Plural broad-band optical waveguides are defined preferably in otherwise non-transmissive quartz crystalline wafers, to provide relatively high signal isolation. The wafers are fused to electronic shutter windows situated in an array and discretely operable under processor x-y address control. Optical signals passed through actuated electronic shutter windows are summed in output wafers, having waveguide structure generally reverse to that of the input quartz wafers. Through selected segment actuation, optical signals from selected optical input paths may be transmitted or blocked at the electronically controlled shutter array, for being output on selected optical output paths. Alternatively, fiber optic bundles may replace input or output quartz wafers.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring current waveforms produced by lightning strikes which generate currents in an elongated cable. These currents are converted to voltages and to light waves for being transmitted over an optical cable to a remote location. At the remote location the waves are reconstructed back into electrical waves for being stored into a memory. The information is stored within the memory with a timing signal so that only different signals need be stored in order to reconstruct the wave form.