Abstract: A laser unit using circulating cooling water, which may economically maintain the cleanliness of the cooling water and a channel for the cooling water. By a command of an operator, the activation of a water conveying device of the laser unit, the start of the laser oscillation, the stop of the laser oscillation and the stop of the conveying device are sequentially executed. When the laser unit is stopped for a relatively long period, an intermittent conveyance mode is automatically started in the laser unit. In this mode, the conveyance of the water starts after the passing of a first predetermined period of time and the conveyance stops after the passing of a second predetermined period of time. Similarly, the start and the stop of the conveyance of the water by the conveying device are alternately changed. When the laser oscillation should be started, the intermittent conveyance mode is terminated by the operator.

Abstract: A two-dimensional LD (laser diode) array light-emitting device constituted by stacking light-emitting units each having a LD bar and a cooling assembly for cooling the LD bar with a simplified electrical connection structure to reduce manufacturing cost. The cooling assembly is electrically connected with one electrode of the LD bar through the die spacer so that a part of the cooling assembly serves as one electrode of the light-emitting unit. The other electrode of the LD bar is electrically connected with a webbed extending section of a conductive layer of a TAB (tape-automated bonding) sheet so that the conductive layer serves as the other electrode of the light-emitting unit. A space between the adjacent cooling assemblies for arranging the LD bar is adjusted by the spacer sheet intervened between the TAB sheet and the cooling assembly.

Abstract: A cooling device for a semiconductor component which increases mechanical strength thereof and reduces a pressure loss of coolant. Plate members constituting the cooling device are formed with flow passages such as coolant supply and discharge openings, grooves divided by ridges, and through portions separated by projections or partitions. The ridges, projections, and partitions are joined to a adjacent plate member to increase the joining strength, which is further increased by forming the ridges, projections, and partitions of different plate members at the same positions. In the case of laminating the plate members having surfaces formed with solder layers, a number of minute vacant spaces are formed in those joining faces of the plate members which are not formed with passages, etc., and solder filets are formed over the entire joining faces to increase the joining strength. The grooves and through portions can be formed by chemical etching together with outer shapes of the plate members.

Abstract: A laser oscillator capable of executing a high-speed feedback control by reducing the control load of a main processor in the feedback control of the laser output. The laser is excited by an excitation source activated by one or more power supplies. The laser radiation is detected by a power sensor or a photodiode. A detected signal is A/D converted and fed to a sub processor or a high-speed DSP. The sub processor compares the current laser output value to a desired control value and calculates a deviation value in a predetermined period. The sub processor outputs a feedback signal to each of the power supplies according to a command from the main processor. Each power supply adjusts the supplied current to control the laser output. The main processor monitors conditions of the power supplies and controls a coolant circulation device. A factor regarding a load on a sequential control process, which may delay the feedback control, is eliminated and an analog circuit is unnecessary.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device, including an LD array member having a monolithic linear-array configuration and provided with a plurality of emitters, respectively emitting a laser beam, in a parallel arrangement in a single semiconductor crystal. The LD array member includes a main area in which the emitters are disposed in the parallel arrangement, a first inactive area formed outside of the main area, and a second inactive area formed between the emitters disposed side-by-side in the main area. The first inactive area has a dimension larger than the second inactive area, as seen in a direction transverse to the plurality of emitters. The LD array member includes a first facet, in which emitting ends of the emitters are disposed, and a second facet opposite to the first facet; at least one of the first facet and the second facet being covered by a coating material.

Abstract: A cooling device suitable for cooling a laser diode bar constituting a surface illuminating device as a light source for exciting a laser medium of a solid-state laser oscillator of high power. The cooling device is capable of flowing coolant at sufficient flow rate by reducing the pressure loss in the flow passage of the coolant in the device, to realize a light source device of small thickness with high cooling capability and high reliability. The cooling device comprises a first plate member, one or more second plate member and a third plate member to be joined together to form a laminated body. The second plate member has grooved paths formed on both surfaces thereof and having depths greater than a half of thickness of the plate member, and also opened paths for communicating grooved paths formed on the first plate member and the third plate member.

Abstract: A light source device for pumping a solid-state laser medium of a laser generator, which is compact and capable of economically using LD bars constituting the LD stack with easy maintenance. The light source device is constituted by a plurality of LD modules. Each LD module comprises a plurality of cooling devices on which LD bars are respectively mounted and connection plates on both sides thereof. The LD bars are stacked such that longitudinal directions thereof extend perpendicular to a stacking direction thereof. A desired number of LD modules are mechanically connected with each other using the connection plates to form the LD stack. A sealing member is intervened between confronting connection plates of adjacent LD modules, so that flow passages of coolant formed in the respective LD modules are continuously connected. The connection plates have functions of fixedly supporting the cooling devices of each LD module and electrically connecting the adjacent LD modules.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser has emitters that are separated by LD stripes. Grooves are formed in a mounting substrate corresponding to both ends of the semiconductor laser. On mounting, fillets are formed in the grooves by the molten solder, thereby reinforcing the soldering at both ends of the semiconductor laser and enabling uniform bonding strength to be achieved.

Abstract: A laser unit which is reliable and has a simple structure. The laser unit includes a shutter having a reflective member for reflecting a laser beam, a motor for moving the shutter between a position in an optical path of the laser beam and a position out of the optical path, a shutter position control for commanding the motor, and an encoder for detecting a rotational position of the motor. By monitoring a condition of the shutter based on a rotational position of the motor for driving the shutter, it is unnecessary to provide a separate sensor for detecting the position of the shutter or a detecting device for detecting a laser beam, which may be malfunction, and the number of necessary sensors may be decreased.

Abstract: A cooling device is provided wherein are stacked cooling units on which laser diode arrays are mounted, comprising intake openings provided such that they pass through first portions in the cooling units in order to conduct cooling liquid about the peripheries of each of the laser diode arrays, outlet openings provided such that they pass through second portions of the cooling units in order to discharge to the outside of the cooling device the cooling liquid that has cooled each of the laser diode arrays, and inflow openings that pass through third portions in the cooling units, and are connected to the intake openings, and through which cooling liquid is supplied from the outside.

Abstract: A two-dimensional LD (laser diode) array light-emitting device constituted by stacking light-emitting units each having a LD bar and a cooling assembly for cooling the LD bar with a simplified electrical connection structure to reduce manufacturing cost. The cooling assembly is electrically connected with one electrode of the LD bar through the die spacer so that a part of the cooling assembly serves as one electrode of the light-emitting unit. The other electrode of the LD bar is electrically connected with a webbed extending section of a conductive layer of a TAB (tape-automated bonding) sheet so that the conductive layer serves as the other electrode of the light-emitting unit. A space between the adjacent cooling assemblies for arranging the LD bar is adjusted by the spacer sheet intervened between the TAB sheet and the cooling assembly.

Abstract: A light source device for pumping a solid-state laser medium of a laser generator, which is compact and capable of economically using LD bars constituting the LD stack with easy maintenance. The light source device is constituted by a plurality of LD modules. Each LD module comprises a plurality of cooling devices on which LD bars are respectively mounted and connection plates on both sides thereof. The LD bars are stacked such that longitudinal directions thereof extend perpendicular to a stacking direction thereof. A desired number of LD modules are mechanically connected with each other using the connection plates to form the LD stack. A sealing member is intervened between confronting connection plates of adjacent LD modules, so that flow passages of coolant formed in the respective LD modules are continuously connected. The connection plates have functions of fixedly supporting the cooling devices of each LD module and electrically connecting the adjacent LD modules.

Abstract: A cooling device suitable for cooling a laser diode bar constituting a surface illuminating device as a light source for exciting a laser medium of a solid-state laser oscillator of high power. The cooling device is capable of flowing coolant at sufficient flow rate by reducing the pressure loss in the flow passage of the coolant in the device, to realize a light source device of small thickness with high cooling capability and high reliability. The cooling device comprises a first plate member, one or more second plate member and a third plate member to be joined together to form a laminated body. The second plate member has grooved paths formed on both surfaces thereof and having depths greater than a half of thickness of the plate member, and also opened paths for communicating grooved paths formed on the first plate member and the third plate member.

Abstract: A cooling device of a laser diode array includes a stacking of a plurality of metal plate members formed with a branched groove pattern or apertures acting as a cooling water path, by a chemical etching process.

Abstract: A cooling device of a laser diode array includes a stacking of a plurality of metal plate members formed with a branched groove pattern or apertures acting as a cooling water path, by a chemical etching process.

Abstract: A cooling device of a laser diode array includes a stacking of a plurality of metal plate members formed with a branched groove pattern or apertures acting as a cooling water path, by a chemical etching process.

Abstract: A cooling device of a laser diode array includes a stacking of a plurality of metal plate members formed with a branched groove pattern or apertures acting as a cooling water path, by a chemical etching process.

Abstract: A light switching apparatus includes an optically non-linear etalon, a first optical part for applying a signal light of a linear polarization to the optically non-linear etalon, and a second optical part for applying a control light of a circular polarization or elliptical polarization to the optically non-linear etalon. The control light varies a refractive index of an optically non-linear substance of the optically non-linear etalon to thereby perform a switching operation on the signal light.

Abstract: In the travel control method in the mobile robot system including a plurality of mobile robots and the control station for controlling these mobile robot, the control station directs one of a plurality of mobile robots to the destination robot, responding to the direction, searches the route to the destination directed by the control station and sends the result to the control station. The control station which receives this in formation checks if the travel path searched by the mobile robot is already reserved by other mobile robots or not by the reservation table. If not, the control station informs the reserve completion to said mobile robot. The mobile robot which received the information of the reservation completion travels automatically along the travel path which is already reserved.

Abstract: In the travel control method in the mobile robot system including a plurality of mobile robots and the control station for controlling these mobile robot, the control station directs one of a plurality of mobile robots to the destination robot, responding to the direction, searches the route to the destination directed by the control station and sends the result to the control station. The control station which receives this in formation checks if the travel path searched by the mobile robot is already reserved by other mobile robots or not by the reservation table. If not, the control station informs the reserve completion to said mobile robot. The mobile robot which received the information of the reservation completion travels automatically along the travel path which is already reserved.