Abstract: A laser marking apparatus has a number of individual laser devices (1) mounted at angles to one another. The output ends (2) of the laser devices are disposed closely adjacent to one another and a number of laser beam redirectors (5) are disposed to intercept the laser beams (3) emitted from the laser output ends (2) so as to extend the length of the laser beam paths and to decrease the angle between said laser beams (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-channel RF-excited gas laser device which has an elongate tubular dielectric housing 1. The housing has a common elongate ground electrode 2 therein and a plurality of laser channels 4 defined within and extending along the ground electrode 2 adjacent to an interior surface 3 of the dielectric housing. A laser gas is provided within the dielectric housing and a plurality of RF electrodes 7 are disposed adjacent to and extending along an external surface 8 of the dielectric housing 1. Each RF electrode 7 is disposed in registration with one of the laser channels 4.

Abstract: A galvanometer optics assembly includes a housing which has a laser beam input which is optically coupled to the laser beam output of the laser marking apparatus, a first laser beam output and a second laser beam output, a stationary mirror which is fixedly coupled to the housing and is optically coupled to the laser beam input of the housing, a galvanometer mirror which is rotatively coupled to the housing and is optically coupled to the stationary mirror, a galvanometer optics motor which has a shaft which is fixedly coupled to the galvanometer mirror so that the galvanometer mirror may be optically coupled to either the first laser beam output or the second laser beam output and a galvanometer controller which is electrically coupled to the galvanometer optics motor. The galvanometer optics assembly is for use with a laser marking apparatus which includes a housing and and a laser beam output which is optically coupled to the lasers.

Abstract: An asymmetric RF excited gas laser includes an elongated chamber, a first reflector and a second reflector, a first supporting mechanism, a ribbon of a metal conductor and a impedance-matching circuit. The elongated chamber is of cross-sectional dimensions suitable for confining a laser gas discharge and is formed from a dielectric material. A laser gas is disposed in the elongated chamber. The first and second reflector reflect and guide light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated chamber so that the light energy is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated chamber as the light energy travels longitudinally the length of the elongated chamber. The first supporting mechanism supports the elongated chamber and forms negative electrode. The first supporting mechanism has cooling tubes and is electrically coupled to ground. The ribbon of the metal conductor forms a positive electrode which is disposed along the elongated chamber.

Abstract: A laser marking apparatus provides markings of enhanced readability in an outer jacket of repetitively spaced sections along the length of a moving cable which is delivered from a supply source. The cable is advanced under tension and is wound onto a take-up spool. The outer jacket is of a specified color and has an outer surface. The laser marking apparatus includes a first guide roller, a laser marker, an applicator, a coarse brush roller with a first driving mechanism, a fine brush roller with a second driving mechanism and a second guide roller. The first and second guide rollers are disposed adjacent to the supply source before the laser marker and before the take-up spool after the fine brush roller, respectively, in order to guide the cable along a path of travel so that the outer jacket passes adjacent to the laser marker. The laser marker inscribes in the outer jacket markings opening to the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A transversely RF excited gas laser with an internally folded resonator includes an elongated chamber of cross-sectional dimensions suitable for confining a laser gas discharge, a plurality of reflectors and a laser gas. The reflectors form a stable folded laser resonator cavity of a compact geometry in order to efficiently extract laser power from the laser resonator cavity. There are at least two of the reflectors and at least one of the plurality of reflectors is concave. The laser gas is disposed in the folded resonator cavity which reflect and guide light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated chamber. The transversely RF excited gas laser with an internally folded resonator also includes a pair of electrodes and a pair of cooling electrodes. The electrodes are transversely disposed on the elongated chamber and excite the laser gas. The cooling electrodes are transversely disposed on the elongated chamber and electrically coupled to ground.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas/saline valve for use in an gas/saline insufflation system which includes a gas insufflator and a saline source. The gas insufflator is fluidly coupled to a gas inlet of an arthroscopic attachment by a first tubing. The saline source is fluidly coupled to a saline inlet of an arthroscope by a second tubing. The gas/saline valve includes a housing with an open end and a gas/saline control knob. The housing has a first bore and a second bore. The housing also has a first slotted chamber and a second slotted chamber both of which are contiguous to the first and second bores, respectively, and within which the first and second tubings, respectively, are disposed. The gas/saline control knob has a solid cylinder which has a first semi-cylindrical notch and a second semi-cylindrical notch so that when the solid cylinder is disposed inside the housing, the first and second semi-cylindrical notches are aligned with the first and second slotted chambers, respectively.

Abstract: A laser thermal testing method and system for use in testing a fire alarm system which has a plurality of heat-sensors which are remotely distributed throughout a protected area. The laser thermal testing system includes a first laser and a second laser. The first laser generates an aiming beam of coherent electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum. The laser thermal testing system also includes a movable reflector which reflects the aiming beam. The movable reflector is optically coupled to the first laser. The movable reflector is first moved in order to align the aiming beam in an aligned position so that the aiming beam is reflected onto one of the heat-sensors. The movable reflector is then fixedly secured in the aligned position. The second laser generates a heating beam of coherent electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas insufflation apparatus which is used with an arthroscopic attachment having a gas inlet. A cylinder contains gas at a high pressure. A single stage regulator is fluidly coupled to the cylinder in order to regulate the inlet pressure of the gas. The gas insufflation apparatus includes a filter, an inlet relief valve and an inlet pressure gauge. The filter is fluidly coupled to the single stage regulator. The inlet relief valve insures that the inlet pressure of the gas does not exceed a predetermined pressure. The inlet pressure gauge reads the inlet pressure. The gas insufflation apparatus also includes a control valve and a flow meter. The control valve turns the flow of the gas through the gas insufflation apparatus on and off. The flow meter measures the flow of the gas through the gas insufflation apparatus. The gas insufflation apparatus further includes a first regulator and a second regulator.

Abstract: Apparatus for inscribing characters or other symbols onto moving articles or substrate. The symbols or characters are defined by a matrix having a predetermined number of rows and columns. The apparatus includes a plurality of individual lasers, each dedicated to write a predetermined character row. Columns are written in sequence as the article passes the laser head. Light energy from the lasers is directed by mirrors to an exit lens which focuses the laser beams onto the articles or substrate to be marked. Separate laser mirrors provide reduction in laser beam spacing thereby facilitating a correspondingly foreshortened laser beam path. The lasers are arranged into two groups and interleaved to form the desired character row spacing without mirror overlap or shadowing.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas laser which includes an elongated chamber of cross-sectional dimensions which is suitable for confining a laser gas discharge and which is formed from a dielectric material. A laser gas is disposed in the elongated chamber. The gas laser also include a pair of reflector which reflect and guide light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated chamber so that said light energy is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated chamber as the light energy travels longitudinally the length of the elongated chamber. The gas laser also includes a first pair of electrode plates and a second pair of electrode plates for transversely exciting the laser gas. Each of the first pair and second pair of electrode plates is formed from an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: The present invention is a configuration of electrodes in a transversely excited gas laser which includes an elongated cylindrical chamber with a laser gas confined therein, a pair of reflectors which reflect light energy from a discharge of the laser gas within the chamber so that the light energy travels longitudinally the length thereof, an rf generator which applies a voltage of alternating polarity between the electrodes at a frequency ranging from 10 Mhz to about 3 GHz to establish the laser gas discharge, a coupling circuit which matches the steady state reactive impedance of the chamber to the impedance of the rf generator and couples the rf generator to the electrodes. The configuration of the electrodes, each of which is formed from an electrically conductive material and is in the shape of a continuous helix, includes a first electrode and a second electrode each of which is disposed opposite to the other on the outer surface of the chamber in a first plane.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved gas laser which includes an elongated cylindrical chamber of cross-sectional dimension which has an internal cylindrical wall and which is suitable for confining a laser gas discharge. The internal cylindrical wall has a plurality of grooves extruded on its internal wall surface. A laser gas is disposed in the elongated cylindrical chamber. A pair of reflectors reflect light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated cylindrical chamber so that the light energy travels longitudinally the length of the elongated cylindrical chamber and is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated cylindrical chamber. The improved gas laser also includes a pair of electrode plates which excite the laser gas and an rf generator which applies a voltage between the pair of electrode plates in order to establish a laser gas discharge in said laser gas. The plurality of grooves provide optical mode control.

Abstract: A ball is formed at the tip of a wire by an arc. The arc is initiated and maintained across an air gap between the wire tip and an electrode by applying timed RF and DC voltages between them.

Abstract: A waveguide gas laser is disclosed excited with bursts of a transverse rf electric field at a frequency ranging from about 30 MHz to about 3 GHz. The bursts have a duration ranging from about 0.1 .mu.sec. to about 10 .mu.sec. and a repetition rate ranging from about 500 Hz to about 100 kHz. This excitation is sufficiently rapid to produce gain switching in the laser gas, resulting in high peak power, short duration, single-line laser output pulses.

Abstract: A sealing system including an elongated cylindrical member which has a first open end and a flat circular peripheral edge adjacent to the first open end and a circular member having has a flat surface which is disposed adjacent, but not contiguous, to the flat circular peripheral edge of the elongated cylindrical member. The sealing system also includes a coupling mechanism which mechanically couples the flat surface of the circular member to the first open end of the elongated cylindrical member. The improved seal is inserted between the flat surface of the circular member and the flat circular peripheral edge of the elongated cylindrical member to which the coupling mechanism applies a compressive force. The improved seal includes an annular member which has an outer surface and which is formed from a hard metallic material, which is relatively non-deformable by the compressive force, and which has a substantially circular cross-section. The annular member has a slot adjacent to its outer peripheral edge.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved laser bore and electrode structure including an elongated chamber for use in combination with a gas laser within which a laser gas is disposed. The laser also includes first and second reflectors which reflect light energy from the laser gas discharge within the elongated chamber so that the light energy travels longitudinally the length of the elongated chamber and first and second electrodes which transversely excite the laser gas. Each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive material and they are disposed opposing each other. An energy generator applies a voltage of alternating polarity between the first and second electrodes at a frequency ranging from 10 Mhz to about 3 GHz to establish a laser gas discharge in the laser gas.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved coupling circuit for use in combination wth a gas laser including a laser bore and electrode structure which includes an elongated chamber of cross-sectional dimensions suitable for confining a laser gas discharge with the elongated chamber being formed from a dielectric material and an opposing pair of parallel electrode plates, which are formed from an electrically conductive material, for transversely exciting a laser gas. An rf generator applies a voltage of alternating polarity between the pair of parallel electrode plates at a frequency ranging from 10 MHz to about 3 GHz to establish a laser gas discharge in the laser gas. A pair of optical reflectors for reflecting and guiding light energy from the laser gas discharge so that the light energy is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated chamber as the light energy travels longitudinally the length thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved drum mechanism for use in combination with an automatic photographic processing system which includes a housing, a bi-directional motor that has a shaft and that is mounted on the housing, a control unit for controlling the bi-directional motor and a drain tray that is mounted on the housing. The automatic photographic processing system also includes a fluid injector unit for injecting fluids into said improved drum mechanism that is electrically coupled to the control unit and that is mounted on the housing.

Abstract: An electrically excited laser is disclosed wherein a laser gas is caused to flow along a gas flow channel and through an excitation region thereof in which an electric discharge is established between an anode and a cathode disposed substantially flush with respective opposing walls of the gas flow channel, and wherein an electron beam is introduced into the excitation region along a direction parallel to the discharge direction. A shield arrangement is provided immediately downstream from the laser excitation region to confine the discharge to the region directly between the anode and the cathode. The shield arrangement includes a plurality of planar electrically insulating rack members disposed across the gas flow channel in respective spaced planes parallel to both the direction of the discharge and the gas flow direction, and a plurality of planar shelf members carried by the rack members and oriented with their board surfaces transverse to the rack members.