Abstract: A calculation part calculates a maximum temperature reached which is reached by the coolant or component of each part, in the case of machining in accordance with laser machining conditions that were inputted or set, based on the cooling capacity of a chiller, tank volume of the chiller, heat generation amount from the laser oscillator, heat capacity of a cooled part of the laser device, etc. which are recorded in a recording part, and the temperature of each part measured by temperature detection parts, etc. In the case that the maximum temperature reached would exceed the allowed maximum temperature, a warning is made prior to starting laser machining.

Abstract: A calculation part calculates a maximum temperature reached which is reached by the coolant or component of each part, in the case of machining in accordance with laser machining conditions that were inputted or set, based on the cooling capacity of a chiller, tank volume of the chiller, heat generation amount from the laser oscillator, heat capacity of a cooled part of the laser device, etc. which are recorded in a recording part, and the temperature of each part measured by temperature detection parts, etc. In the case that the maximum temperature reached would exceed the allowed maximum temperature, a warning is made prior to starting laser machining.

Abstract: A shift change practice device capable of improving the effect of learning a shift change operation is provided. The shift change practice device includes: an optimum speed calculation unit that calculates an optimum value or an optimum range of an engine revolution speed in the event of a shift change; a revolution speed comparison unit that determines whether or not a detected revolution speed that is a detected value of the engine revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or whether or not the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in a state where a clutch is disconnected; and a notification instruction unit that instructs a notification device to give a predetermined notification to a driver when the detected revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in the state where the clutch is disconnected.

Abstract: A laser oscillator comprises a heat exchanger which cools a gas medium. The heat exchanger includes a cooling part which performs heat exchange between the gas medium and a cooling medium, a tubular member fixed to a frame body, and a foreign matter collection container. The tubular member is disposed so that the gas medium which flows out of the cooling part moves along an outer surface of the tubular member and then changes a proceeding direction to flow into an inlet portion. The foreign matter collection container collects foreign matters which are separated from a flow of the gas medium.

Abstract: A laser oscillator comprises a heat exchanger which cools a gas medium. The heat exchanger includes a cooling part which performs heat exchange between the gas medium and a cooling medium, a tubular member fixed to a frame body, and a foreign matter collection container. The tubular member is disposed so that the gas medium which flows out of the cooling part moves along an outer surface of the tubular member and then changes a proceeding direction to flow into an inlet portion. The foreign matter collection container collects foreign matters which are separated from a flow of the gas medium.

Abstract: A laser device provided with the function of predicting occurrence of condensation and preventing occurrence of condensation in advance. The laser device is provided with a controlling part calculating a reference temperature for judging whether a cooling water feed device may feed cooling water based on a temperature measured by a thermometer and a humidity measured by a hygrometer, and a comparing part comparing a reference temperature and a cooling water temperature. The cooling water feed device is configured to stop the feed of cooling water after a command for starting up the laser oscillator has been output and the cooling water temperature is lower than the reference temperature and to start or continue the feed of cooling water when the cooling water temperature is the reference temperature or more.

Abstract: A laser processing method including a first step of irradiating a surface of a workpiece with a laser beam with a focal point spaced from the surface, and forming a bottomed hole on the workpiece, which is defined with a tubular inner circumferential face opening at the surface and a bottom face; and a second step of irradiating the bottom face with a laser beam while an assist gas is blown into an opening of the bottomed hole but not blown onto an area surrounding the opening, and forming a through hole penetrating through the workpiece. A laser processing system includes a processing head focusing a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator so as to irradiate a workpiece with the laser beam and blowing an assist gas onto the workpiece; and a control section controlling the first and second steps as an operation of the processing head.

Abstract: A laser processing system that processes a workpiece with a laser includes a processing interruption unit that interrupts laser processing of the workpiece in accordance with an interruption signal, a processing resumption unit that resumes the laser processing of the workpiece after the interruption signal is cancelled, and an interruption point visualizer providing unit that provides the workpiece with an interruption point visualizer that allows an interruption point on the workpiece where the laser processing is interrupted by the processing interruption unit to be visually recognized.

Abstract: An automatic locking system for vehicles includes an electronic control unit. If it is determined that an electronic key is not located in a communication area of an inside-cabin transmitter, the control unit determines whether or not the electronic key is located nearby. As a result, if the electronic key is determined as being located nearby, followed later by a determination that the electronic key is not located nearby, comparison history is stored in a memory. If it is determined that comparison history is stored in the memory and four entry-and-exit doors are closed, the four entry-and-exit doors are locked.

Abstract: A high-power laser unit capable of accurately correcting laser output from low to rated outputs, even when the laser unit has a laser power monitor which may be affected by environmental factors inside or outside the laser unit, by effectively reducing environmental factors. The laser unit has a laser power monitor for measuring laser output, and a laser controller for correcting the laser output by correcting an amount of excitation energy to a laser power supply so that a measurement value coincides with a laser output command value. The laser unit has a laser output commanding part for generating a laser output command. When it is not necessary to correct the laser output command, the laser output command is converted into an excitation energy command value and sent to the power supply. Otherwise, an output correcting part of the laser controller corrects the laser output command.

Abstract: A laser processing method including a first step of irradiating a surface of a workpiece with a laser beam with a focal point spaced from the surface, and forming a bottomed hole on the workpiece, which is defined with a tubular inner circumferential face opening at the surface and a bottom face; and a second step of irradiating the bottom face with a laser beam while an assist gas is blown into an opening of the bottomed hole but not blown onto an area surrounding the opening, and forming a through hole penetrating through the workpiece. A laser processing system includes a processing head focusing a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator so as to irradiate a workpiece with the laser beam and blowing an assist gas onto the workpiece; and a control section controlling the first and second steps as an operation of the processing head.

Abstract: A high-power laser unit capable of accurately correcting laser output from low to rated outputs, even when the laser unit has a laser power monitor which may be affected by environmental factors inside or outside the laser unit, by effectively reducing environmental factors. The laser unit has a laser power monitor for measuring laser output, and a laser controller for correcting the laser output by correcting an amount of excitation energy to a laser power supply so that a measurement value coincides with a laser output command value. The laser unit has a laser output commanding part for generating a laser output command. When it is not necessary to correct the laser output command, the laser output command is converted into an excitation energy command value and sent to the power supply. Otherwise, an output correcting part of the laser controller corrects the laser output command.

Abstract: A gas laser oscillator includes a plurality of discharge tube arrays, each discharge tube array including a plurality of electrical discharge tubes, a support mechanism supporting the plurality of discharge tube arrays, and an optical part optically connecting the plurality of discharge tube arrays. The support mechanism includes a discharge tube linking holder and an elastic member. The elastic member joins the discharge tube linking holder to a first support rod arranged at an upper side as seen in a direction of gravity.

Abstract: An automatic locking system for vehicles includes an electronic control unit. If it is determined that an electronic key is not located in a communication area of an inside-cabin transmitter, the control unit determines whether or not the electronic key is located nearby. As a result, if the electronic key is determined as being located nearby, followed later by a determination that the electronic key is not located nearby, comparison history is stored in a memory. If it is determined that comparison history is stored in the memory and four entry-and-exit doors are closed, the four entry-and-exit doors are locked.

Abstract: A laser unit having a preparatory function for activating the unit and an activation method for the unit, capable of stabilizing the temperature of each component of the laser unit in the preparation stage when the laser unit is activated in a low-temperature or high-temperature environment, and then effectively judging completion of the preparation. During a period of time Ta from T1 to T2, a first trial of laser oscillation is performed. After a period of time Tb in which the laser is not oscillated, a second trial of laser oscillation from T3 to T4. Such an operation is repeated until a predetermined criterion is satisfied. Laser output values P2, P4, P6, . . . , at the last moment in each trial of laser oscillation are recorded. Then, each difference between the laser outputs at the last moments of two neighboring or continuous trials, is calculated. When the difference is lower than a predetermined criterion value, the preparation of the laser unit is judged to be completed.

Abstract: A gas laser oscillator including a plurality of discharge tube arrays, each including a plurality of electrical discharge tubes aligning in an axial direction thereof; a support mechanism supporting the discharge tube arrays with axes thereof extending in directions parallel to each other; and an optical part optically connecting the discharge tube arrays to each other with all of the electrical discharge tubes being arranged optically in series. The optical part includes an output mirror and a rear mirror, disposed at a pair of electrical discharge tubes located at opposite ends of an optically serial arrangement of the discharge tube arrays supported by the support mechanism; and a returning mirror disposed at an optical connection between the discharge tube arrays supported by the support mechanism.

Abstract: A laser unit having a preparatory function for activating the unit and an activation method for the unit, capable of stabilizing the temperature of each component of the laser unit in the preparation stage when the laser unit is activated in a low-temperature or high-temperature environment, and then effectively judging completion of the preparation. During a period of time Ta from T1 to T2, a first trial of laser oscillation is performed. After a period of time Tb in which the laser is not oscillated, a second trial of laser oscillation from T3 to T4. Such an operation is repeated until a predetermined criterion is satisfied. Laser output values P2, P4, P6, . . . , at the last moment in each trial of laser oscillation are recorded. Then, each difference between the laser outputs at the last moments of two neighboring or continuous trials, is calculated. When the difference is lower than a predetermined criterion value, the preparation of the laser unit is judged to be completed.

Abstract: A laser oscillator enabling estimation of the lifetime of the pump light source by a simple configuration, provided with a pump light source, a power source supplying current to the pump light source, a laser crystal outputting laser light by the pump light emitted from the pump light source, a power sensor receiving laser light generated from the laser crystal and outputting a signal corresponding to the intensity of the laser light, a memory storing the operating time of the laser oscillator, and a processor judging if the signal output by the power sensor satisfies a predetermined condition and, if satisfying the predetermined condition, uses the value of the current supplied by the power source to the pump light source and the operating time stored in the memory to estimate the lifetime of the pump light source.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus (10) is provided and comprises a mounting substrate (6), a semiconductor laser chip (1) joined to a mounting surface (6a) of said mounting substrate (6) with solder (5), emitters (3) and non-active mesa portions (4) formed on a joining surface (1a) of said semiconductor laser chip (1) to be joined to said mounting surface (6a) of said mounting substrate (6); each of said emitters (3) and non-active mesa portions (4) being separated from the other by component separating channels (2) formed on said joining surface (1a) of said mounting substrate (1); wherein at least one mesa separating channel for separating said non-active mesa portion (4) is formed in said non-active mesa portion (4) at the joining surface (1a) of the semiconductor chip (1). Thereby, the joining strength of the solder is sufficient for preventing the separation of the semiconductor laser chip from the mounting substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor-laser-pumped solid-state laser apparatus (11) which operates laser oscillation by exciting a solid-state laser medium (1) using a semiconductor laser (2) is described. The semiconductor-laser-pumped solid-state laser apparatus (11) has driving current switching means for switching, in accordance with an external control signal, a driving current between a state in which the driving current not less than an emission threshold value of the semiconductor laser is supplied to the semiconductor laser, and a state in which the driving current smaller than the emission threshold value of the semiconductor laser is supplied to the semiconductor laser. An external control apparatus sends an external control signal to a semiconductor-laser-pumped solid-state laser apparatus even if the laser radiation of the solid-state laser is stopped. Therefore, the electric power consumption of a laser machining system can be reduced and the lifetime of the semiconductor laser can be prolonged.