Pumping With Optical Or Radiant Energy Patents (Class 372/70)
  • Patent number: 12046866
    Abstract: A multiple frequency comb source apparatus (100) for simultaneously creating a first laser pulse sequence representing a first frequency comb (1) and at least one further laser pulse sequence representing at least one further frequency comb (2), wherein at least two of the first and at least one further pulse sequences have different repetition frequencies, comprises a laser resonator device (10) comprising multiple resonator mirrors including first end mirrors EM1,OC1 providing a first laser resonator (11), a laser gain medium (21, 22) being arranged in the laser resonator device (10), and a pump device (30) being arranged for pumping the laser gain medium (21), wherein the laser resonator device (10) is configured for creating the first and at least one further laser pulse sequences by pumping and passively mode-locking the laser gain medium (21), the resonator mirrors of the laser resonator device (10) include further end mirrors EM2, OC2 providing at least one further laser resonator (12), the first laser
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V., Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen
    Inventors: Oleg Pronin, Ferenc Krausz, Ka Fai Mak, Jonathan Brons, Maksim Iandulskii
  • Patent number: 11428831
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a time-gated fast neutron transmission radiography system and method. The system makes use of a pulsed neutron source for producing neutrons in a plurality of directions, with at least a subplurality of the neutrons being directed at an object to be imaged. The system also includes a neutron detector system configured to time-gate the detection of neutrons emitted from the pulsed neutron source to within a time-gated window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Schmidt, Maurice B. Aufderheide, David Neal Fittinghoff, James M. Hall, Yuri Podpaly
  • Patent number: 11404841
    Abstract: An optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier includes first and second optical parametric amplifier stages that successively amplify a stretched signal beam. A pulsed laser provides a fundamental beam. The second amplifier stage is pumped by the full power of a second-harmonic beam that is generated from the fundamental beam. A residual fundamental beam is used to generate another second-harmonic beam that pumps the first amplifier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Simanovski, Norman Hodgson
  • Patent number: 11152590
    Abstract: A method and a device for hermetically encapsulating components using at least one gas discharge lamp, an inorganic material that is transparent for light and a light-absorbing inorganic medium, are provided. With a suitable selection, inorganic materials or inorganic media guarantee a very low level of permeability for oxygen, water vapor and reactive gases in contrast to organic materials or organic media. The encapsulation occurs in a time period of less than one second. In addition, the average temperature of the component only increases slightly, such that even components with temperature-sensitive regions can be encapsulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Leander Kilian Gross, Mascha Elly Gross
  • Patent number: 11114813
    Abstract: A system includes a master oscillator configured to generate a low-power optical beam. The system also includes a planar waveguide (PWG) amplifier having one or more laser diode pump arrays, a planar waveguide, and a light pipe. The one or more laser diode pump arrays are configured to generate pumplight. The planar waveguide is configured to generate a high-power optical beam using the low-power optical beam and the pumplight. The light pipe is configured to substantially homogenize the pumplight and to inject the homogenized pumplight into the planar waveguide. The light pipe is also configured to inject the low-power optical beam into the planar waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David M. Filgas, Stephen H. McGanty, Makan Mohageg, Christopher R. Koontz
  • Patent number: 10608859
    Abstract: This application proposes multi-beam antenna systems using spherical lens are proposed, with high isolation between antenna ports and compatible to 2×2, 4×4, 8×8 MIMO transceivers. Several compact multi-band multi-beam solutions (with wideband operation, 40%+, in each band) are achieved by creating dual-band radiators movable on the track around spherical lens and by placing of lower band radiators between spherical lenses. By using of secondary lens for high band radiators, coupling between low band and high band radiators is reduced. Beam tilt range and side lobe suppression are improved by special selection of phase shift and rotational angle of radiators. Resultantly, a wide beam tilt range (0-40 degree) is realized in proposed multi-beam antenna systems. Each beam can be individually tilted. Based on proposed single- and multi-lens antenna solutions, cell coverage improvements and stadium tribune coverage optimization are also achieved, together with interference reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Matsing, Inc.
    Inventors: Serguei Matitsine, Igor Timofeev, Leonid Matytsine, Anthony DeMarco
  • Patent number: 10587088
    Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a laser rod made of an alexandrite crystal; a flash lamp that outputs excitation light for exciting the laser rod, a glass tube for a lamp being made of quartz glass that at least blocks deep ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, and transmits visible light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more; and a laser chamber that contains a tubular reflector that includes a hole part containing at least a portion of the laser rod or a portion of the flash lamp and is made of a porous material of polytetrafluoroethylene, an inner wall surface of the hole part being as a reflecting surface that reflects the excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Wada, Hiroyasu Ishii, Tomoki Inoue, Keiji Tsubota
  • Patent number: 10284301
    Abstract: A laser module can include: a laser chip having a plurality of laser diodes; a focusing lens optically coupled to each of the plurality of distinct laser diodes; and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) having a plurality of optical inlet ports optically coupled to the plurality of laser diodes through the focusing lens. The laser module can include an optical isolator optically coupled to the focusing lens and PIC and positioned between the focusing lens and PIC. The laser chip can include a fine pitch laser array. The laser module can include a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to an optical outlet port of the PIC. The laser module can include a hermetic package containing the laser chip and having a single focusing lens positioned for the plurality of laser diodes to emit laser beams there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaojie Xu, Mark Donovan
  • Patent number: 10236660
    Abstract: A submount which has a mounting surface on which three or more semiconductor lasers are arranged in a first direction, and includes a heat generator configured to increase the temperatures of the three or more semiconductor lasers, in which, where the heat generator generates heat, a first heat of the heat absorbed by a first semiconductor laser of the three or more semiconductor lasers disposed at one end along the first direction is larger than a second heat of the heat absorbed by a second semiconductor laser of the three or more semiconductor lasers disposed to be adjacent to the first semiconductor laser on the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakajima, Kazuhiko Naoe
  • Patent number: 10226837
    Abstract: Multi-beam, multi-wavelength processing systems include two or more lasers configured to provide respective beams to a substrate. The beams have wavelengths, pulse durations, beam areas, beam intensities, pulse energies, polarizations, repetition rates, and other beam properties that are independently selectable. Substrate distortion in processes requiring local heating can be reduced by preheating with a large area beam at a first wavelength followed by exposure to a focused beam at a second wavelength so as to heat a local area to a desired process temperature. For some processing, multiple wavelengths are selected to obtain a desired energy deposition within a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: nLIGHT, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Karlsen, Keith Kennedy, Robert J. Martinsen
  • Patent number: 10156731
    Abstract: The present invention provides a partial random laser illumination device having a random phase and amplitude component, comprising: a gain medium, a pump source, a highly reflective mirror, and a random phase and amplitude component. The pump source excites electrons in the gain medium from a low energy level to a high energy level. The highly reflective mirror is passed through by an amplified laser beam emitted by the gain medium. The random phase and amplitude component is disposed between the gain medium and the highly reflective mirror, and is passed through by the amplified laser beam emitted by the gain medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shih-Yu Tu, Hoang-Yan Lin
  • Patent number: 10097191
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes a gas cell having alkali metal atoms sealed therein; alight source that irradiates the gas cell with light; and a light detecting unit that detects the quantity of light transmitted through the gas cell. The light source includes an optical oscillation layer having a first reflective layer, an active layer, and a second reflective layer laminated therein in this order, an electrical field absorption layer having a first semiconductor layer, a quantum well layer, and a second semiconductor layer laminated therein in this order, and a heat diffusion layer that is disposed between the optical oscillation layer and the electrical field absorption layer and has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the second reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 9939631
    Abstract: A multiple cavity laser system includes: a controller configured to operate the system as well as a plurality of laser cavities, each of the laser cavities having an output end wherein, when activated by the controller, an output laser beam is emitted from the output end of each of the laser cavities. The output laser beams when activated are directed, either directly or indirectly, to a rotating mirror. The rotating mirror is operatively connected to the controller and a servo motor. The servo motor, under direction of the controller, redirects the output laser beams along a common optical axis and the output laser beams of the plurality of laser cavities are combined along the common optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: LUMENIS LTD
    Inventors: Tal Waisman, Arkady Khachaturov, Moshe Elazar, Alla Shnaider, Assaf Preiss, Izchak Zobel
  • Patent number: 9864142
    Abstract: A double mirror (Mi) of a light-guiding device of the present invention is made of (i) a first mirror (Mi1) that is mounted on a top surface of a base plate (B) and has a reflective surface (S1) entering an input beam reflected by the reflective surface (S1) and (ii) a second mirror (Mi2) that is mounted on a top surface of the first mirror (Mi1) and is a prism having a reflective surface (S2) reflecting the input beam that has been reflected by the reflective surface (S1), the input beam reflected by the reflective surface (S2) being totally reflected inside the prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakamoto, Shohei Kumeta
  • Patent number: 9568311
    Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam is disclosed. The system includes a first optical element that has a lateral surface which is designed as a reflecting surface for the laser beam, where the lateral surface reshapes the laser beam at least in some segments thereof into a ring-shaped laser beam. The at least segmentally ring-shaped laser beam propagates in a propagation plane. A further optical element is provided for shaping the ring-shaped laser beam that shapes the ring-shaped laser beam at least in some segments thereof in a plane parallel to the propagation plane of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lieu-Kim Dang, Christoph Wuersch
  • Patent number: 9407058
    Abstract: In a method of stabilizing pump energy, a gain medium is provided having an absorption coefficient that varies with wavelength. An absorption coefficient curve of the absorption coefficient or a range of wavelengths comprises peaks and valleys. Pump energy is generated at an operating wavelength within one of the valleys, at which the absorption coefficient is approximately at a minimum. The pump energy is transmitted through the gain medium. A portion of the pump energy is absorbed with the gain medium and laser light is emitted from the gain medium responsive to the absorbed pump energy. The non-absorbed pump energy (feedback pump energy) is fed back to the pump module. The operating wavelength of the pump energy is stabilized using the feedback pump energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward D. Reed, Raymond Adam Nemeyer
  • Patent number: 9337615
    Abstract: The present invention concerns new designs of VCLs with high contrast gratings (HCG) combined with diamond layer as a bottom mirror. They can be realized either with a classical V-shaped pumping scenario, or through the introduction of the pumping beam from the bottom direction, through the HCG that can be designed to be transparent at the wavelength of the pumping light. They can also be completed by a HCG combined with diamond layer as top mirror, reflecting the pump diode laser and transparent to the VCL emission in the case the pumped and emitted beams are collinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Vladimir Iakovlev, Pascal Gallo, Elyahou Kapon, Tomasz Czyszanowski, Maciej Dems, Michal Wasiak, Jaroslaw Walczak
  • Patent number: 9329276
    Abstract: A device comprising an optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) reader having an optical engine with a light source, collection lens, a removably mounted dichroic mirror, and a photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Landauer, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Akselrod, Vasiliy V. Fomenko, James Bartz
  • Patent number: 9287112
    Abstract: A slab laser and its method of use for high power applications including the manufacture of semiconductors and deposition of diamond and/or diamond-like-carbon layers, among other materials. A lamp driven slab design with a face-to-face beam propagation scheme and an end reflection that redirects the amplified radiation back out the same input surface is utilized. A side-to-side amplifier configuration permitting very high average and peak powers having scalability is also disclosed. Cavity filters adjacent to pump lamps convert the normally unusable UV portion of the pump lamp spectrum into light in the absorption band of the slab laser, thereby increasing the overall pump efficiency. The angle of the end reflecting surface is changed to cause the exit beam to be at a different angle than the inlet beam, thereby eliminating the costly need to separate the beams external to the laser with the subsequent loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Martin A. Stuart, Stephen L. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9267844
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a laser source and a ring-down optical resonator that performs cavity ring-down spectroscopy, the optical resonator receives coherent optical energy from the laser, wherein an extinction rate of optical resonance within the optical resonator is at least 100 times longer than an extinction rate of optical energy emitted from the laser source first following deactivation of the laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: James Allen Cox, Teresa M. Marta
  • Patent number: 9209588
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus and method comprising a substrate configured to increase an intensity of light at a desired wavelength. The substrate has a front side, a back side, and an outer edge. The substrate is configured to reflect the light received on the front side of the substrate. The substrate comprises ceramic. The substrate comprises a plurality of sections. The method and apparatus also comprise a material configured to attenuate the light passing between the plurality of sections. The material surrounds an edge of each section of the plurality of sections. The apparatus and method also comprise a cooling system configured to allow liquid nitrogen to be transmitted through the cooling system and receive heat generated in the substrate from the back side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: D. Anthony Galasso, David A. Whelan, Alan Zachary Ullman, Dennis George Harris
  • Patent number: 9190458
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for providing a apparatus that can function as a photovoltaic cell, for example during the day, and can provide solid state lighting, for example at night. The apparatus can therefore function as a lighting window. An embodiment can integrate an at least partially transparent one-side emitting OLED and a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell can be sensitive to infrared light, for example light having a wavelength greater than 1 ?m. The apparatus can be arranged such that the one direction in which the OLED emits is toward the inside of a building or other structure and not out into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Nanoholdings, LLC
    Inventors: Franky So, Do Young Kim, Bhabendra K. Pradhan
  • Patent number: 9166358
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lasing molecular gases, and systems and methods of detecting molecular species are provided. The systems and methods can include the use of an excitation laser tuned to a wavelength associated with oxygen or nitrogen. The lasing can occur in both the forward and reverse directions relative to the excitation laser beam. Reverse lasing can provide a laser beam that propagates back toward the excitation laser source, and can provide a method for remote sampling of molecular species contained in the air. For example, systems and methods of detecting a molecular species of interest can be achieved by using the properties of the backward or forward propagating air laser to indicate a change in a pulse from the source of laser pulses caused by a modulation laser tuned to interact with the molecular species of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Richard B. Miles, Arthur Dogariu, James B. Michael
  • Patent number: 9146396
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an optical scanning apparatus for exposing a photoconductor includes a light source configured to radiate light, a deflector configured to deflect and scan the light from the light source and guide the light to the photoconductor, a lens configured to guide the light from the light source to the deflector and a holder configured to hold the light source and the lens. The holder includes a first wall portion for holding the light source, a second wall portion for holding the lens, and a pair of third wall portions which are integrally formed with the first and second wall portions to place the light path between the light source and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Masuda
  • Patent number: 9119640
    Abstract: To provide a bone cutting device capable of selectively cutting only a bone easily and quickly, the device of the present invention is adapted to cut a bone by irradiating with a laser beam and includes a light source for emitting a laser beam of 1000 to 1500 nm with a peak output of 10 to 70 W/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GENIAL LIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Shimokita
  • Patent number: 9059556
    Abstract: Cooling arrangement for laser-active solid-state materials, laser arrangement and method for cooling a laser-active solid-state material. The invention relates in particular to a cooling arrangement for the active liquid cooling of a laser-active solid-state material. In order to achieve an advantageous cooling effect, it is proposed to use a nozzle unit which is formed and adapted in order to subject the laser-active solid-state material to a directed coolant jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: A.R.C. Laser GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhardt Thyzel, Jörg Hurich
  • Patent number: 9042419
    Abstract: The invention provides a laser converter for converting a laser radiation of shorter wavelength to a laser radiation of longer wavelength using a single stage conversion. The laser converter comprises a laser diode for emitting a laser radiation in a first wavelength range, a cylindrical microlens for transferring and focusing the laser radiation to a laser chip and the laser chip for absorbing the laser radiation and emitting the laser radiation in a second wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KACST)
    Inventors: Evgenii Lutsenko, Aliaksei Vainilovich, Viacheslav Pavlovskii, Gennadii Yablonskii, Ahmed Alyamani, Salman A Alfihed, Ahmed Alabbas Hamidalddin, Sergey Ivanov, Irina Sedova, Sergei Sorokin, Sergei Gronin
  • Publication number: 20150139263
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pump radiation arrangement comprising: a pump radiation source for producing pump radiation, a means for stabilizing the wavelength of the pump radiation source and a laser-active medium through which the pump radiation passes in a bidirectional manner. The pump radiation arrangement also has a retro-reflector for reflecting pump radiation which is not absorbed by the laser-active medium back to the pump radiation source and a wavelength-selective element for preventing a wavelength destabilization of the pump radiation source by filtering out undesirable spectral portions of pump radiation which is not absorbed by the laser-active medium. The invention also relates to an associated method for pumping a laser-active medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Sutter, Alexander Killi, Jochen Kleinbauer, Yufeng Li
  • Publication number: 20150138531
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pulse laser generator and an optical fiber sensor system using the same. The optical fiber sensor system includes a main optical coupler that receives pulse laser light generated from a pulse laser generator from a first input terminal, branches the light to first and second output terminals to output, and outputs, through a third output terminal, light input reversely from the first and second output terminals, a reference optical fiber that is connected to the first output terminal, a multi-point sensing optical fiber unit that is connected to the second output terminal, and in which optical fibers are connected in series or in parallel corresponding to a plurality of sensing points, an optical detection unit that is connected to the third output terminal, and a diagnosis processing unit that detects a change of the physical quantity for the sensing points from signals from the optical detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Ho Jae Lee, Ki Nam Joo
  • Patent number: 9036667
    Abstract: A high power fiber laser system emitting a substantially diffraction limited beam with a Gaussian intensity profile includes a single mode (“SM”) neodymium fiber pump source outputting a SM pump light; a seed laser operative to emit a SM signal light at a wavelength greater than that of the pump light; a SM DWM receiving and multiplexing the SM pump and signal lights. The disclosed system further includes a booster fiber amplifier which is configured with a frustoconically-shaped ytterbium (“Yb”) doped core receiving the pump and signal lights and configured with a small diameter input end which supports only a SM and a large diameter output end which is capable of supporting the SM and high order modes (:HOM”). The booster further has a cladding surrounding and coextending with the core, the core being configured for having intensity profiles of respective SMs of pump and signal lights overlap one another so that an overlap integral substantially equals to one (1) along an entire length of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Valentin Gapontsev, Igor Samartsev
  • Patent number: 9020007
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a laser device having high optical amplification efficiency. A laser device includes: an optical fiber which includes a core and a clad and through which seed light and pumping light propagate; and a glass rod which is doped with rare earth elements, has a diameter larger than that of the core, wherein the seed light and the pumping light output from the optical fiber are input to the glass rod to have increased diameters, and output light including at least the amplified seed light is output from the glass rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Michihiro Nakai
  • Patent number: 9014228
    Abstract: Disclosed are heterogeneous crystals for use in a laser cavity and methods of forming the crystals. A crystal can be a monolithic crystal containing regions that are based upon the same host material but differ from one another according to some material feature such that they can perform various functions related to lasing. Disclosed methods include hydrothermal growth techniques for the growth of differing epitaxial layers on a host. A host material can be doped in one region with a suitable active lasing ion and can be formed with another region that is undoped and can act as an endcap, a waveguide cladding layer, or a substrate to provide strength and/or contact to a heat sink. Regions can be formed with controlled thickness in conjunction. Following formation, a heterogeneous crystal can be cut, polished and coated with mirror films at each end for use in a laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Kolis, Colin D. McMillen, J. Matthew Mann, John M. Ballato
  • Patent number: 9008144
    Abstract: A refractive optics-based dispersion control structure for a low-noise solid state laser standing-wave resonator has at least one dispersive element, a gain medium, and a frequency doubling element disposed in the resonant beam path. The dispersive element provides geometric-based laser bandwidth control that minimizes the laser output power noise. The dispersive element in certain embodiments may be a prism. The dispersive element in certain other embodiments may be integrally formed with the gain medium. Numerous different architectures using these elements are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Henry Yang Pang
  • Patent number: 8995052
    Abstract: A solid-state MOPA includes a mode-locked laser delivering a train of pulses. The pulses are input to a fast E-O shutter, including polarization-rotating elements, polarizing beam-splitters, and a Pockels cell that can be driven alternatively by high voltage (HV) pulses of fixed long and short durations. A multi-pass amplifier follows the E-O shutter. The E-O shutter selects every Nth pulse from the input train and delivers the selected pulses to the multi-pass amplifier. The multi-pass amplifier returns amplified seed-pulses to the E-O shutter. The shutter rejects or transmits the amplified pulses depending on whether the HV-pulse duration is respectively short or long. Transmitted amplified pulses are delivered to a transient amplifier configured for separately suppressing first-pulse over-amplification and residual pulse leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent Kaiserslautern GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Knappe, Albert Seifert, Alexander Weis
  • Patent number: 8995494
    Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for providing a laser system. In one specific example embodiment, the system includes a thulium-doped fiber laser coupled by silica glass fiber to a remote optical converter (ROC) including a Ho:YAG laser and, optionally, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) utilizing zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2; ZGP) or orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OPGaAs). The fiber laser may emit a low-peak-power, continuous wave pump signal that pumps the Ho:YAG laser, which in turn emits a higher-peak-power, pulsed signal. When included, the OPO can be used to convert the resultant, pulsed signal to a longer wavelength (e.g., about 2-5 ?m, or greater). In some cases, distributed architecture and reduced weight/bulk may be realized while eliminating the need to actively cool the ROC for operation, for example, over a broad temperature range (e.g., ?55-125° C.). Also, methods of preparing high-peak-power, pulsed signals using such systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard A Pomeranz, Joseph M Owen, Michael J. Shaw, David P. Kelly, Philip R. Staver, Peter A. Budni, John C. Wikman
  • Patent number: 8995481
    Abstract: An optical system includes an electrically pumped laser light source and an optically pumped laser light source. An optical switch is located in a light path of the electrically pumped laser light source such that when the optical switch is in a first position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed toward the optically pumped laser light source and when the optical switch is in a second position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed away from the optically pumped laser light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20150085349
    Abstract: Provided is a nonlinear optical device manufactured with 4H silicon carbide crystal. The nonlinear optical crystal may be configured to alter at least a light beam (12) at a frequency to generate at least a light beam (16) at a further frequency different from the frequency. The nonlinear optical crystal comprises a 4H silicon carbide crystal (13). The nonlinear optical device is more compatible with practical applications in terms of outputting mid-infrared laser at high power and high quality and thus are more applicable in practice, because the 4H silicon carbide crystal has a relatively high laser induced damage threshold, a relatively broad transmissive band (0.38-5.9 ?m and 6.6-7.08 ?m), a relatively great 2nd-order nonlinear optical coefficient (d15=6.7 pm/V), a relatively great birefringence, a high thermal conductivity (490 Wm?1K?1), and a high chemical stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xiaolong Chen, Shunchong Wang, Tonghua Peng, Gang Wang, Chunjun Liu, Wenjun Wang, Shifeng Jin
  • Patent number: 8989232
    Abstract: Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for implementing compact (e.g., nanoscale) coaxial lasers with coaxial cavity geometries which can be used to construct various coaxial cavity lasers that can operate in single mode, at room-temperature, and produce continuous-wave lasing. The described laser systems can also operate at low-temperatures, and provide thresholdless lasing using a spectrally broadband semiconductor gain medium. The cavity of the compact lasers includes a central metal core and a hollow ring surrounding the central metal core, formed within a housing with an open terminal and a closed terminal. The open terminal is positioned to both receive pump light and output laser light, and the closed terminal includes a metal cap that encloses the central metal rod and one side of the hollow ring. The described nano cavities also include a ring-shaped gain medium section, and ring-shaped lower and upper plug sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mercedeh Khajavikhan, Yeshaiahu Fainman
  • Patent number: 8982918
    Abstract: A light source system for delivery of light including a light source having an output arranged to emit light in an output path, the output path including an unguided section and an at least partially transmissive optical component wherein the optical component provides at least one residual reflection when the system is in use and a detector system is arranged to detect said residual reflection. The detector is in one embodiment arranged to produce at least one feedback response arranged to stabilize the optical output of the light source system. Hereby a feedback may be implemented with little or no reduction of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: NKT Photonics A/S
    Inventor: Morten Ostergaard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8964803
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a laser oscillator equipped with a first optical resonator, a plurality of second optical resonators including input portions respectively connected in parallel to the first optical resonator, a plurality of light extraction units configured to extract a light beam from an output portion of each second optical resonator, and a light multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the light beam extracted from each light extraction unit, wherein the light source apparatus causes the light multiplexing unit to output a multiplexed light beam passed through the plurality of second optical resonators, an optical member having refractive index dispersion and an optical amplification medium are disposed in each of the plurality of second optical resonators, and the optical amplification media of the plurality of second optical resonators are different from each other in maximum gain wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamada, Kentaro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8958452
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method employing a laser with a split-head, V-assembly gain material configuration. Additionally, the present invention is directed to techniques to better dissipate or remove unwanted energies in laser operations. The present invention is also directed to techniques for better collimated laser beams, with single spatial mode quality (TEM00), with improved efficiency, in extreme environments, such as in outer space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Donald B. Coyle, Paul R. Stysley, Demetrios Poulios
  • Publication number: 20150016479
    Abstract: A laser-resonator is terminated between an outcoupling mirror and a semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror (SESAM). A beam-translator including two spaced-apart mirrors is located in the laser resonator in a beam-path of laser radiation circulating in the laser-resonator. The two spaced apart mirrors are selectively rotatable as a pair about two axes perpendicular to each other for selectively translating an incidence point of the laser radiation on the SESAM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Louis MCDONAGH
  • Publication number: 20150016483
    Abstract: A method of pumping an optical resonator includes directing light generated by a pumping light at the optical resonator, exciting a propagating surface state of the optical resonator at an interface of the optical resonator, and changing a propagating frequency of the light proximate the interface, where the changed frequency corresponds to a propagation frequency of the surface state. The optical resonator includes a photonic crystal and a material, where the interface is formed between the photonic crystal and the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan Kundtz, Ruopeng Liu, Bruce M. McWilliams, John B. Pendry, Daniel A. Roberts, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood,, JR.
  • Patent number: 8928971
    Abstract: A high-power optical fiber laser includes: an oscillator (1); a pumping laser (5) able to emit a high-power pumping optical radiation beam; and a signal-amplifying optical fiber (3) able to receive the optical source signal and the high-power pumping optical radiation beam so as to generate a high-power laser beam. The pumping laser includes a plurality of pumping multimode laser diodes (7a-7f) and a laser cavity, the laser cavity including a double-clad fiber (4) including: a neodymium-doped monomode waveguide; a fiber Bragg grating (9) forming one end of the laser cavity; and a fiber reflector (11) forming the other end of the laser cavity, the monomodefiber laser being able to generate a laser radiation beam when it is optically pumped by a pumping radiation beam originating from the plurality of pumping laser diodes in order for the laser cavity to emit a high-power pumping laser radiation beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: IXFIBER, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Mathieu Laroche, Herve Gilles, Sylvain Girard, Thierry Robin, Benoit Cadier
  • Patent number: 8913643
    Abstract: A laser system for an ignition device of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, having a first laser device and a second laser device situated downstream from the first laser device and optically connected to it, the first laser device being designed for generating pump light for optically pumping the second laser device. The first laser device has a reflecting means in an area which is optically connected to the second laser device, the reflecting arrangement being designed for reflecting radiation generated by the second laser device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Herden, Hans-Jochen Schwarz, Heiko Ridderbusch
  • Patent number: 8908721
    Abstract: An Environmentally stable optical fiber mode-locked laser generating device having an achromatic quarter wave plate is disclosed. An optical fiber unit is formed of a polarization maintaining (PM) optical fiber, and a Bragg grating is formed on a first region from one end in direction to the other end, a gain material is doped on a core of a remaining second region. An optical coupling unit provides a pump laser input to one end of the optical fiber unit, and outputs a laser input from the optical fiber unit. A lens unit converts a laser output from the other end of the optical fiber unit and focuses the laser on a certain regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Korea University Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai-Hyun Yoon, Gwang-Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 8908737
    Abstract: A laser includes a Ti:sapphire gain-medium in the form of a thin-disk. The thin-disk gain-medium is optically pumped by pump-radiation pulses having a wavelength in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The pump-radiation pulses have a duration less than twice the excited-state lifetime of the gain-medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Hodgson, Michael Hertwig, H. Yang Pang
  • Patent number: 8897326
    Abstract: In a method, a gain medium is provided having an absorption coefficient that varies with wavelength. An absorption coefficient curve of the absorption coefficient or a range of wavelengths comprises peaks and valleys. A pump module is operated to output pump energy at an operating wavelength within one of the valleys, at which the absorption coefficient is approximately less than 40% of the absorption coefficient at an adjacent peak of the absorption coefficient curve defining the valley. The pump energy is directed through the gain medium. A portion of the pump energy is absorbed with the gain medium and laser light is emitted from the gain medium responsive to the absorbed pump energy. The non-absorbed pump energy (feedback pump energy) is fed back to the pump module. The operating wavelength of the pump energy is stabilized using the feedback pump energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventors: Edward D. Reed, Jr., Raymond Adam Nemeyer
  • Patent number: 8897332
    Abstract: A laser cavity structure is disclosed which pertains to laser resonator geometries possessing circular symmetry, such as in the case of disk or spherical lasers. The disclosed invention utilizes a very-high finesse Bragg reflector (VHF-BR) thin film reflectors of many layer pairs of very small refractive index difference, the VHF-BR deposited on a surface of revolution, thereby forming an optical cavity. These dielectric reflectors are disposed in such a way as to allow selection of preferred low order modes and suppression of parasitic modes while allowing a high cavity Q factor for preferred modes. The invention disclosed, in its preferred embodiments, is seen as particularly useful in applications requiring high efficiency in the production and coupling of coherent radiation. This is accomplished in a cavity design that is relatively compact and economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Donald B Hilliard
  • Patent number: 8897333
    Abstract: Efficient laser diode excited Thulium (Tm) doped solid state systems, directly matched to a combination band pump transition of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), have matured to the point that utilization of such in combination with CO2 admits effectively a laser diode pumped CO2 laser. The laser diode excited Tm solid state pump permits Continuous Wave (CW) or pulsed energy application. Appropriate optical pumping admits catalyzer free near indefinite gas lifetime courtesy of the absence of significant discharge driven dissociation and contamination. As a direct consequence of the preceding arbitrary multi isotopologue CO2, symmetric and asymmetric, gas mixes may be utilized without significant degradation or departure from initial mix specifications. This would admit, at raised pressure, a system continuously tunable from approximately 9 ?m to approximately 11.5 ?m, or sub picosecond amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Neil Campbell