Abstract: An unproved optical bench for use in an optical system, such as a miniaturized laser transmitter, or the like. The optical bench has a housing with a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed therein. Optical elements of the optical system in which the optical bench is used are secured, such as by bonding, in the plurality of V-shaped grooves. The optical bench thus rigidly mounts the optical elements of the optical system to produce a compact and lightweight structure that is relatively insensitive to environmental extremes.

Abstract: A system and a method of designing and mechanical packaging of pumped laser resonator elements to minimize their size. All the elements of the compact pumped laser resonator assembly are placed on a monolithic block mount, which substitutes and functions as a laser diode heatsink, a laser resonator cavity mount, and an optical bench. The laser optical cavity has a plurality of bends, in order to decrease the size of the assembly, and the laser resonator optical elements include fold prisms, a reflector, a retroreflector and an intracavity optical Q-switch. A miniaturized diode array pumped laser resonator assembly using a miniature monolithic block mount may have a volume of less than one cubic inch and dimensions less than or equal to about 30 mm.times.25 mm.times.13 mm in metric units, and may weigh less than two ounces or 56 g, while providing a laser power of more than 1 mJ, thereby creating a very small but highly powerful pumped laser resonator assembly.

Abstract: A conductively cooled flashlamp (30) for use solid state lasers. The flashlamp (30) has an elongated heat sink (31) with a reflective center channel (32), and a flashlamp tube (12) disposed in the channel (32) that extends beyond the ends of the channel (32). Heat conducting gaskets (37a, 37b) are disposed around respective ends of the envelope (34) that separate the tube (12) from the heat sink (31) to provide an air gap (35) therebetween. Clamps (36a, 36b) contact the gaskets (37a, 37b) and secure the envelope (34) to the heat sink (31). Electrodes (25a, 25b) of the tube (12) extend away from the ends of the tube (12) and heavy wires (38a, 38b) are connected to the electrodes (25a, 25b) and extend longitudinally away from the respective electrodes (25a, 25b). Heat conducting, electrically insulating heat sink members (41a, 41b) are disposed at opposite distal ends of the heat sink (31), and wire clamps (42a, 42b) secure the wires 38a, 38b to the heat sink members (41a, 41b).

Abstract: CO.sub.2 jet spray cleaning apparatus that monitors CO.sub.2 snow plume characteristics. The present invention is a CO.sub.2 jet spray cleaning system that comprises a holding tank for containing liquid CO.sub.2, a spray nozzle coupled to the holding tank, a valve coupled between the holding tank and the spray nozzle, and a temperature sensor coupled to the nozzle for sensing the temperature of a plume of CO.sub.2 that is sprayed by the nozzle and for providing a signal indicative thereof. The system may also comprise a display coupled to the temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the plume of CO.sub.2 to an operator, or an alarm coupled to the temperature sensor for alerting an operator that the temperature of the plume of CO.sub.2 has risen to a predetermined level. Either the displayed signal or the alert signal indicates that the quality of the plume has diminished and that the liquid CO.sub.2 in the holding tank should be replenished. The present CO.sub.2 jet spray cleaning system and CO.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically docking a vehicle with respect to a charge station. First, the system and method automatically aligns a charge probe arm 40 with respect to a vehicle charge port 50. Next, the system and method automatically establish a power connection between the probe 40 and port 50. Next, charging power is delivered through the connection to charge the electric power storage devices of the vehicle. Finally, the charging connection is automatically disconnected by disconnecting the probe 40 from the port 50 once charging is completed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning device (10) having a very fast raster scan and a small angle field of view. The scanning device (10) incorporates a rotating polygon scanning wheel (12) in which a beam of light (24) is reflected off of a first facet (14') of the wheel (12). A reflected beam (32) from the first facet (14') is directed through an optical subsystem that reverses the scanning direction of the beam and redirects the beam onto a second facet (14") of the scanning wheel (12). Since the subsystem optics reverses the scan of the beam, the second facet (14") scans the beam in an opposite direction to that of the first facet (14') and only the difference between the two scans remains. In a first embodiment, the optical subsystem magnifies or demagnifies the beam such that the angle of scan is enlarged or reduced, and thus the second scan will not completely cancel the first scan. Consequently, a very narrow field of view of a particular scene can be scanned very quickly.

Abstract: A technique for passively removing heat from an optical element in a laser system through its optically transmissive faces. Heat is removed by way of optically transmissive heat sinks or other heat conducting media disposed adjacent the optically transmissive surfaces of the optical element. Heat is transferred out of the optical element in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of energy, thus minimizing problems associated with thermal gradients. Devices employing optical elements such as nonlinear frequency conversion crystals and laser crystals may utilize the heat management approach of the present invention to achieve better performance. Heat is transferred to the heat conducting media by direct contact, or through narrow gas-filled gaps disposed between the optical element and the heat conducting media.

Abstract: In a solid state laser assembly (12), arrays (60) of pumping laser diode bars (62), placed on opposed sides of a laser rod (36), are maintained at an optimal operating temperature by a pair of heat pipes (16) physically and thermally coupled at their respective evaporator sections (18) to both the diode bars and the laser rod. The laser assembly includes a pump cavity (34) configured as an I-beam having two pairs of terminal interfaces (58) respectively bounding a pair of elongated U-shaped channels (48). Heat from laser rod (36) is conducted through pump cavity (34) to the heat pipe evaporator sections (18). A mounting block (64) physically and thermally supports each of the diode array assemblies for spreading heat therefrom also to the evaporator sections.