Patents by Inventor James D. Kafka
James D. Kafka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11705688Abstract: A laser system having a multi-pass amplifier system which includes at least one seed source configured to output at least one seed signal having a seed signal wavelength, at least one pump source configured to output at least one pump signal, at least one multi-pass amplifier system in communication with the seed source and having at least one gain media, a first mirror, and at least a second mirror therein, the gain media device positioned between the first mirror and second mirror and configured to output at least one amplifier output signal having an output wavelength range, the first mirror and second mirror may be configured to reflect the amplifier output signal within the output wavelength range, and at least one optical system may be in communication with the amplifier system and configured to receive the amplifier output signal and output an output signal within the output wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: NEWPORT CORPORATIONInventors: David E. Spence, Bor-Chyuan Hwang, Curtis Rettig, Thomas Sosnowski, Georg Wien, Victor Terpugoff, James D. Kafka
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Publication number: 20200373727Abstract: A laser system having a multi-pass amplifier system which includes at least one seed source configured to output at least one seed signal having a seed signal wavelength, at least one pump source configured to output at least one pump signal, at least one multi-pass amplifier system in communication with the seed source and having at least one gain media, a first mirror, and at least a second mirror therein, the gain media device positioned between the first mirror and second mirror and configured to output at least one amplifier output signal having an output wavelength range, the first mirror and second mirror may be configured to reflect the amplifier output signal within the output wavelength range, and at least one optical system may be in communication with the amplifier system and configured to receive the amplifier output signal and output an output signal within the output wavelength range.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: NEWPORT CORPORATIONInventors: David E. Spence, Bor-Chyuan Hwang, Curtis Rettig, Thomas Sosnowski, Georg Wein, Victor Terpugoff, James D. Kafka
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Patent number: 10784646Abstract: A laser system having a multi-pass amplifier system which includes at least one seed source configured to output at least one seed signal having a seed signal wavelength, at least one pump source configured to output at least one pump signal, at least one multi-pass amplifier system in communication with the seed source and having at least one gain media, a first mirror, and at least a second mirror therein, the gain media device positioned between the first mirror and second mirror and configured to output at least one amplifier output signal having an output wavelength range, the first mirror and second mirror may be configured to reflect the amplifier output signal within the output wavelength range, and at least one optical system may be in communication with the amplifier system and configured to receive the amplifier output signal and output an output signal within the output wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Newport CorporationInventors: David E. Spence, Bor-Chyuan Hwang, Curtis Rettig, Thomas Sosnowski, Georg Wein, Victor Terpugoff, James D. Kafka
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Publication number: 20200119512Abstract: A high-power mode-locked laser system is disclosed herein which includes at least one pump source, at least one laser cavity formed by at least one high reflector and at least one output coupler, and at least one ytterbium-doped optical crystal positioned within the laser cavity in communication with the pump source, the ytterbium-doped optical crystal configured to output at least one output signal of at least 20 W, having a pulse width of 200 fs or less, and a repetition rate of at least 40 MHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: NEWPORT CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph SCHAAR, Ching-Yuan CHIEN, Richard BOGGY, James D. KAFKA, Adi DINER
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Patent number: 10541505Abstract: A high-power ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride laser system is disclosed herein which includes at least one pump source, at least one laser cavity formed by at least one high reflector and at least one output coupler, and at least one ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride optical crystal positioned within the laser cavity in communication with the pump source, the ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride optical crystal configured to output at least one output signal of at least 20 W, having a pulse width of 200 fs or less, and a repetition rate of at least 40 MHz.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Newport corporationInventors: Joseph Schaar, Ching-Yuan Chien, Richard Boggy, James D. Kafka, Adi Diner
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Patent number: 10297969Abstract: The present application discloses various embodiments of a high peak power laser system which includes a diode pump source configured to directly pump at least one optical crystal positioned within the laser cavity, the diode pump source emitting at least one pump beam comprised of two or more vertically stacked optical signals having a wavelength from about 400 nm to about 1100 nm., the optical crystal configured to output at least one optical output having a wavelength of about 750 nm to about 1100 nm and having an output power of about 25 kW or more.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Newport CorporationInventors: Andrei C. Florean, James D. Kafka
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Publication number: 20190006813Abstract: The present application discloses various embodiments of a high peak power laser system which includes a diode pump source configured to directly pump at least one optical crystal positioned within the laser cavity, the diode pump source emitting at least one pump beam comprised of two or more vertically stacked optical signals having a wavelength from about 400 nm to about 1100 nm., the optical crystal configured to output at least one optical output having a wavelength of about 750 nm to about 1100 nm and having an output power of about 25 kW or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2016Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: Andrei C. Florean, James D. Kafka
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Patent number: 10014652Abstract: A novel broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator is described for use in numerous applications including multi-photon microscopy. The optical parametric oscillator includes at least one sub-picosecond laser pump source configured to output a pump signal having a wavelength of about 650 nm or less and at least one type II optical parametric oscillator in optical communication with the pump source and configured to generate a single widely tunable pulsed optical signal. In one application, an optical system is in optical communication with the optical parametric oscillator and configured to direct at least a portion of the optical signal to a specimen, and at least one analyzing device is configured to receive a signal from the specimen in response to the optical signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Newport CorporationInventors: James D. Kafka, James Clark, Ching-Yuan Chien, Yujun Deng, Andrei C. Florean, David E. Spence
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Publication number: 20180159298Abstract: A laser system having a multi-pass amplifier system which includes at least one seed source configured to output at least one seed signal having a seed signal wavelength, at least one pump source configured to output at least one pump signal, at least one multi-pass amplifier system in communication with the seed source and having at least one gain media, a first mirror, and at least a second mirror therein, the gain media device positioned between the first mirror and second mirror and configured to output at least one amplifier output signal having an output wavelength range, the first mirror and second mirror may be configured to reflect the amplifier output signal within the output wavelength range, and at least one optical system may be in communication with the amplifier system and configured to receive the amplifier output signal and output an output signal within the output wavelength range.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: David E. Spence, Bor-Chyuan Hwang, Curtis Rettig, Thomas Sosnowski, Georg Wein, Victor Terpugoff, James D. Kafka
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Publication number: 20180159292Abstract: A high-power ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride laser system is disclosed herein which includes at least one pump source, at least one laser cavity formed by at least one high reflector and at least one output coupler, and at least one ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride optical crystal positioned within the laser cavity in communication with the pump source, the ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride optical crystal configured to output at least one output signal of at least 20 W, having a pulse width of 200 fs or less, and a repetition rate of at least 40 MHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: NEWPORT CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph SCHAAR, Ching-Yuan CHIEN, Richard BOGGY, James D. KAFKA, Adi DINER
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Publication number: 20160211642Abstract: A novel broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator is described for use in numerous applications including multi-photon microscopy. The optical parametric oscillator includes at least one sub-picosecond laser pump source configured to output a pump signal having a wavelength of about 650 nm or less and at least one type II optical parametric oscillator in optical communication with the pump source and configured to generate a single widely tunable pulsed optical signal. In one application, an optical system is in optical communication with the optical parametric oscillator and configured to direct at least a portion of the optical signal to a specimen, and at least one analyzing device is configured to receive a signal from the specimen in response to the optical signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: James D. Kafka, James Clark, Ching-Yuan Chien, Yujun Deng, Andrei C. Florian, David E. Spence
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Publication number: 20150063830Abstract: The present application is directed to a laser system using Stimulated Raman Scattering and harmonic conversion to produce a continuous wave ultraviolet wavelength output signal. More specifically, the laser system includes a pump source configured to generate at least one pump signal, a resonant cavity resonant at a Stokes wavelength in optical communication with the pump source, a SRS gain device positioned within the resonant cavity and configured to generate at least one SRS output signal at a Stokes wavelength when pumped with the pump signal, and a harmonic conversion device positioned within the resonant cavity and configured to produce a continuous wave second harmonic output signal of the SRS output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: Alan B. Petersen, James D. Kafka
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Patent number: 8902939Abstract: A novel broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator is described for use in numerous applications including multi-photon microscopy. The optical parametric oscillator includes at least one sub-picosecond laser pump source configured to output a pump signal having a wavelength of about 650 nm or less and at least one type II optical parametric oscillator in optical communication with the pump source and configured to generate a single widely tunable pulsed optical signal. In one application, an optical system is in optical communication with the optical parametric oscillator and configured to direct at least a portion of the optical signal to a specimen, and at least one analyzing device is configured to receive a signal from the specimen in response to the optical signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Newport CorporationInventors: James D. Kafka, Ching-Yuan Chien, Yujun Deng, Andrei C. Florean, David E. Spence, Jianping Zhou
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Publication number: 20110180729Abstract: A novel broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator is described for use in numerous applications including multi-photon microscopy. The optical parametric oscillator includes at least one sub-picosecond laser pump source configured to output a pump signal having a wavelength of about 650 nm or less and at least one type II optical parametric oscillator in optical communication with the pump source and configured to generate a single widely tunable pulsed optical signal. In one application, an optical system is in optical communication with the optical parametric oscillator and configured to direct at least a portion of the optical signal to a specimen, and at least one analyzing device is configured to receive a signal from the specimen in response to the optical signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: NEWPORT CORPORATIONInventors: James D. Kafka, Ching-Yuan Chien, Yujun Deng, Andrei C. Florean, David E. Spence, Jianping Zhou
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Publication number: 20110103413Abstract: The present application discloses various embodiments and methods of producing a quasi-CW UV laser system having the pulse duration and bandwidth to optimize harmonic conversion while producing a UV output configured to satisfy the constraints imposed by the optical system in optical communication therewith. More specifically, in one embodiment the present application discloses a method of optimizing at least one characteristic of the output of a laser system and includes providing a laser system having at least one spectral modification element in optical communication therewith, determining at least one optical characteristic of the output of the laser system for a given application, selecting the bandwidth of the output of the laser system to provide the determined characteristic, and adjusting the spectral modification element to provide the selected bandwidth.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Newport CorporationInventors: James D. Kafka, David E. Spence
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Patent number: 7292387Abstract: Frequency conversion methods are taught wherein non-collinear phase matching configurations may be implemented in non-linear crystals used in three wave mixing processes such that the frequency conversion efficiency is enhanced through walk-off compensation while also maximizing conversion efficiency. The harmonic conversion techniques are especially applicable to sum frequency process, and in particular to third harmonic generation.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Spectra-Physics, Inc.Inventors: Hanna J. Hoffman, David S. Spence, Alan B. Petersen, James D. Kafka
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Patent number: 7027477Abstract: An optical system includes a diode pump source and a thin disk gain media. The thin disk gain media has first and second surfaces and is made of a material with an anisotropic thermal expansion. At least one of the first and second surfaces is a cooling surface. The thin disk gain media is cut at an angle to provide substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient in all directions lying in a plane that is parallel to the cooling surface. An optical coupler is positioned between the diode pump source and the thin disk gain media to direct an output from the diode pump source to the thin disk gain media.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Spectra Physics Inc.Inventors: Dirk Sutter, James D. Kafka
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Patent number: 7016107Abstract: A regenerative amplifier system that is optimized for low-gain gain media is provided. The system is configured to include a minimum number of intra-cavity elements while still eliminating the leakage of the seed pulses from the output beam. In addition, the contrast ratio of the amplified pulses is increased even considering the long build-up time that is required in low-gain regenerative amplifiers. This is accomplished using a single Pockels cell between the oscillator and amplifier to select a single seed pulse for the cavity, instead of using a Faraday isolator. This directs the unwanted seed pulses in a separate direction from the output pulse. When the amplified pulse exits the cavity, it is directed in a direction away from the oscillator by the same Pockels cell. Only one additional Pockels cell and one polarizer are required inside the regenerative amplifier cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Spectra Physics, Inc.Inventors: James D. Kafka, Jianping Zhou, Kevin Holsinger
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Patent number: 7003011Abstract: An optical system has a high power diode pump source and a thin disk gain media. An optical coupler is positioned between the diode pump source and the thin disk gain media. The optical coupler produces a beam with a large numerical aperture incident on the thin disk gain media.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Spectra Physics, Inc.Inventors: James D. Kafka, Dirk Sutter
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Patent number: 6891876Abstract: An optical system has a diode pump source, and a gain media made of a material with an anisotropic absorption. The gain media is cut at an angle to produce substantially polarization-independent absorption of a pump beam. An optical coupler is positioned between the diode pump source and the gain media. The optical coupler produces a pump beam that has substantially equal amounts of pump power along any two orthogonal axis that are orthogonal to the pump beam in the gain medium. The wavelength range allowed for the pump source is extended.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Spectra Physics, Inc.Inventors: Dirk Sutter, James D. Kafka