Patents by Inventor Wayne S. Mefferd
Wayne S. Mefferd 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: 7408970Abstract: A laser-resonator terminated by two end mirrors is folded by a plurality of OPS-structures and a plurality of fold-mirrors. The OPS-structures are energized by focused radiation from diode-laser bars. The fold-mirrors are configured and arranged with respect to the OPS-structures and the end-mirrors such that a beam of laser radiation circulating in the resonator has about the same dimensions on each OPS-structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Wayne S. Mefferd, Juan L. Chilla
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Patent number: 5426662Abstract: A laser system is disclosed which is capable of selectively generating radiation at two competing wavelength regions. A gas discharge tube is provided which includes krypton as the lasing medium. A primary mirror is mounted at one of the tube. A switchable mirror assembly is mounted at the other end of the tube. The mirror assembly includes a frame. A cradle is pivotally mounted in the frame and is rotatable between two angular positions. A pair of mirrors are mounted to the cradle in a manner such for each of the two angular positions of the cradle, one of the two mirrors is in optical alignment with discharge tube. Each of the mirrors is provided with a wavelength selective coating which permits operation of the laser at different wavelengths. In the preferred embodiment used for ophthalmic applications, the laser can selectively generate red light or light in the yellow/green regime.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1994Date of Patent: June 20, 1995Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Wayne S. Mefferd, William P. Kolb
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Patent number: 5283797Abstract: A CO.sub.2 slab waveguide laser (10) is disclosed including a pair of spaced apart electrodes (36,38) having opposed light reflecting surfaces. The electrodes are dimensioned in a manner to guide light in a plane perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces. Light parallel to the reflecting surfaces is not constrained other than by the resonator mirrors (30,32). The resonator structure includes a negative branch unstable resonator in the nonwaveguide dimension. A stable resonator is used in the waveguide dimension but the mirror spacing from the end of the guide is based in part on the configuration of the unstable resonator. A unique support structure is disclosed for maintaining the electrodes in a spaced apart orientation without confining the discharge. Further refinements are disclosed for cooling the laser and for accommodating thermal expansion of the parts.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1993Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 5237580Abstract: A CO.sub.2 slab waveguide laser (10) is disclosed including a pair of spaced apart electrodes (36,38) having opposed light reflecting surfaces. The electrodes are dimensioned in a manner to guide light in a plane perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces. Light parallel to the reflecting surfaces is not constrained other than by the resonator mirrors (30,32). The resonator structure includes a negative branch unstable resonator in the nonwaveguide dimension. A stable resonator is used in the waveguide dimension but the mirror spacing from the end of the guide is based in part on the configuration of the unstable resonator. A unique support structure is disclosed for maintaining the electrodes in a spaced apart orientation without confining the discharge. Further refinements are disclosed for cooling the laser and for accommodating thermal expansion of the parts.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1992Date of Patent: August 17, 1993Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 5216689Abstract: A CO.sub.2 slab laser is disclosed having a pair of spaced apart electrodes defining a rectangular discharge region. RF energy is fed through the electrodes to excite the CO.sub.2 gas. A pair of mirrors are located adjacent the electrodes to define the resonant cavity. A recombinant surface is placed between the ends of the electrodes and the mirrors to quench oxidizing species generated by the discharge before they reach the mirrors. In this manner, the degradation of the mirrors is reduced so that the high power performance of the laser can be maintained. The recombinant surfaces can be defined by forming extension regions at the end of the electrodes between which the discharge is minimized. Alternatively, a mirror shield having a beam transmitting aperture can be used to quench the oxidizing species.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1992Date of Patent: June 1, 1993Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Phillip J. Gardner, Donald E. Smith, Joseph L. Dallarosa, Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 5155739Abstract: A CO.sub.2 slab waveguide laser (10) is disclosed including a pair of spaced apart electrodes (36,38) having opposed light reflecting surfaces. The electrodes are dimensioned in a manner to guide light in a plane perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces. Light parallel to the reflecting surfaces is not constrained other than by the resonator mirrors (30,32). The resonator structure includes a negative branch unstable resonator in the nonwaveguide dimension. A stable resonator is used in the waveguide dimension but the mirror spacing from the end of the guide is based in part on the configuration of the unstable resonator. A unique support structure is disclosed for maintaining the electrodes in a spaced apart orientation without confining the discharge. Further refinements are disclosed for cooling the laser and for accommodating thermal expansion of the parts.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1992Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 5131003Abstract: A CO.sub.2 slab waveguide laser (10) is disclosed including a pair of spaced apart electrodes (36,38) having opposed light reflecting surfaces. The electrodes are dimensioned in a manner to guide light in a plane perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces. Light parallel to the reflecting surfaces is not constrained other than by the resonator mirrors (30,32). The resonator structure includes a negative branch unstable resonator in the nonwaveguide dimension. A stable resonator is used in the waveguide dimension but the mirror spacing from the end of the guide is based in part on the configuration of the unstable resonator. A unique support structure is disclosed for maintaining the electrodes in a spaced apart orientation without confining the discharge. Further refinements are disclosed for cooling the laser and for accommodating thermal expansion of the parts.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1990Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 5052017Abstract: A laser system employing one or more mirror sets having substantially astigmatism-free focusing power sufficient to maintain a desired laser beam diameter, for example, to compensate for thermally-induced distributed lensing. In one class of preferred embodiments, the invention is a high power gas laser system having a folded optical cavity with a periodic intracavity refocusing means to compensate for distributed negative thermal lensing in the hot plasma that comprises the active medium, and thus maintain a substantially constant beam diameter throughout the optical cavity. The periodic intracavity refocusing means preferably includes a corner mirror set (including at least one curved mirror and at least one other mirror) at each corner of the folded optical cavity. In one preferred embodiment, each corner mirror set is a mirror pair including a spherical mirror and cylindrical mirror.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1990Date of Patent: September 24, 1991Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: James L. Hobart, Michael W. Sasnett, Wayne S. Mefferd, Peter N. Allen
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Patent number: 5033061Abstract: A servo alignment method and apparatus for maintaining laser beam alignment. An operating parameter of the laser (such as output beam power) is measured, and error signals are generated from the measured operating parameter signal for controlling the laser beam alignment. In one class of embodiments, modulation signals are supplied to an intra-cavity component of a laser system to modulate the beam path. The beam path may be modulated by reciprocating a laser resonator mirror about a mirror axis or two substantially orthogonal mirror axes. In the latter case, the mirror may be vibrated about the axes either alternately (first about one axis and then about the other) or simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1990Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: James L. Hobart, Wayne S. Mefferd, Bruce Peuse
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Patent number: 5023886Abstract: A laser system employing one or more mirror sets having substantially astigmatism-free focusing power sufficient to maintain a desired laser beam diameter, for example, to compensate for thermally-induced distributed lensing. In one class of preferred embodiments, the invention is a high power gas laser system having a folded optical cavity with a periodic intracavity refocusing means to compensate for distributed negative thermal lensing in the hot plasma that comprises the active medium, and thus maintain a substantially constant beam diameter throughout the optical cavity. The periodic intracavity refocusing means preferably includes a corner mirror set (including at least one curved mirror and at least one other mirror) at each corner of the folded optical cavity. In one preferred embodiment, each corner mirror set is a mirror pair including a spherical mirror and cylindrical mirror.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1988Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: James L. Hobart, Michael W. Sasnett, Wayne S. Mefferd, Peter N. Allen
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Patent number: 5000557Abstract: The subject invention relates to a laser system where the length stability of the resonant cavity is important. Three unique mounting assemblies are disclosed to improve the stability of the cavity. The first assembly relates to a kinematic support for mounting an Invar bar. The second assembly defines a once-piece gimbal pivot ring designed to mount laser mirrors. The final aspect of the invention includes a mounting assembly designed to automatically compensate for changes in length of an Invar support bar due to temperature variations which could alter the cavity length of the laser.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1989Date of Patent: March 19, 1991Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 4939739Abstract: A servo alignment method and apparatus for maintaining laser beam alignment. An operating parameter of the laser (such as output beam power) is measured, and error signals are generated from the measured operating parameter signal for controlling the laser beam alignment. In one class of embodiments, modulation signals are supplied to an intra-cavity component of a laser system to modulated the beam path. The beam path may be modulated by reciprocating a laser resonator mirror about a mirror axis or two substantially orthogonal mirror axes. In the latter case, the mirror may be vibrated about the axes either alternately (first about one axis and then about the other) or simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1989Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: James L. Hobart, Wayne S. Mefferd, Bruce Peuse
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Patent number: 4901966Abstract: The subject invention relates to a laser system where the length stability of the resonant cavity is important. Three unique mouning assemblies are disclosed to improve the stability of the cavity. The first assembly relates to a kinematic support for mounting an Invar bar. The second assembly defines a once-piece gimbal pivot ring designed to mount laser mirrors. The final aspect of the invention includes a mounting assembly designed to automatically compensate for changes in length of an Invar support bar due to temperature variations which could alter the cavity length of the laser.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1988Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 4818089Abstract: The subject invention relates to a laser system where the length stability of the resonant cavity is important. Three unique mounting assemblies are disclosed to improve the stability of the cavity. The first assembly relates to a kinematic support for mounting an Invar bar. The second assembly defines a once-piece gimbal pivot ring designed to mount laser mirrors. The final aspect of the invention includes a mounting assembly designed to automatically compensate for changes in length of an Invar support bar due to temperature variations which could alter the cavity length of the laser.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1987Date of Patent: April 4, 1989Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 4734915Abstract: The subject invention is related to a new and improved bore assembly for use with a gaseous ion laser. Each bore assembly is mountable to a heat conducting member located within the tube. The heat conducting member is provided with a central opening and is connected at the periphery thereof to the inner surface of the tube. The bore assembly of the subject invention includes a discharge confining element having a central channel and formed from a sputter-resistant material such as graphite. An outer support member is provided which is disposed about at least a portion of the discharge confining element and is brazed to the heat conducting member in a manner to mechanically constrain the discharge confining element. During assembly, the opening of the channels of the discharge confining elements are coaxially aligned.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1985Date of Patent: March 29, 1988Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Wayne S. Mefferd, Joseph L. Dallarosa
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Patent number: 4376328Abstract: A method of making a gaseous laser is disclosed using a thin-walled, ceramic tube such as alumina. Heat conducting members are assembled and aligned in a spaced-apart relationship within the tube. Coaxially aligned cylindrical shields are affixed to the heat-conducting members to control gas pumping within the tube. Bore-defining aperatures in the heat-conducting members, or in sputter-resistant discs affixed to the heat-conducting members, are aligned by a mandrel under tension at which time the parts are permanently bonded within the tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1981Date of Patent: March 15, 1983Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventor: Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: 3995166Abstract: A reader-scanner system using a laser as a source of a narrow beam of light and having optical means for directing the light beam from the laser to a scan target area with the optical means generating a pattern comprising a series of intersecting diagonal and horizontal lines relative to the path of objects which pass through the scan target area, with sequential scan pattern sets in the scan target area displaced in the direction of oncoming objects from the previous scan pattern set, with each of the lines defining each scan pattern set approaching the scan target area from a different direction and wherein the optical path of the incoming scan lines is shared by the reflected light as it travels to the system's optical detector.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1975Date of Patent: November 30, 1976Assignee: Coherent RadiationInventors: James L. Hobart, Wayne S. Mefferd
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Patent number: RE31279Abstract: The reflectors in a laser are mounted in precise axial alignment by means of an elongated mounting structure made of a material of low thermal coefficient of expansion which serves to prevent reflector misalignment due to temperature changes in the laser, the elongated mounting structure also including an associated member made of a material of high thermal conductivity which serves to direct heat away from the elongated mounting structure along the length, further reducing any temperature effects thereon. In addition, a kinematic mounting structure is provided for further enhancing the alignment stability characteristics of the plasma tube and resonator structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1979Date of Patent: June 14, 1983Inventors: Wayne S. Mefferd, James L. Hobart