Semiconductor Patents (Class 372/75)
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Publication number: 20110176566Abstract: A compact semiconductor laser pumped solid-state laser device is provided that can suppress unnecessary parasitic oscillation in a microchip and efficiently extract energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF NATURAL SCIENCESInventors: Masaki Tsunekane, Takunori Taira
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Publication number: 20110164649Abstract: A pump module comprises a power source, a plurality of laser diodes, a controller and light combining optics. The laser diodes each have an activated state and a deactivated state. The laser diodes receive current from the power source and output light when in the activated state and do not receive current from the power source when in the deactivated state. The controller switches the plurality of laser diodes from a first power mode, in which a first subset of the laser diodes is in the activated state, to a second power mode, in which a second subset of the laser diodes is in the activated state, responsive to a power mode setting. The light combining optics are configured to combine the light from the activated laser diodes and output the combined light as pump energy. A laser system comprises a pump module and a gain medium. The pump module is configured to output pump energy having a wavelength that is within a wavelength range of 874-881 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: AMS RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Rongwei Jason Xuan, Michael R. Hodel, Douglas G. Stinson, Ramond Adam Nemeyer
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Publication number: 20110150026Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor laser pumped solid-state laser device for engine ignition that can stably provide optical energy required for ignition across a wide temperature range. In the semiconductor laser pumped solid-state laser device for engine ignition, a plurality of semiconductor lasers 21, 22, 23, and 24 are used that have locking ranges, a temperature width thereof divided into a plurality of temperature ranges corresponding to a variation width of an ambient temperature, and that have the respective wavelengths falling within an absorption wavelength band of a solid-state laser medium 5 of the solid-state laser device in the temperature width of each locking range, to pump the solid-state laser medium 5 by multiplexing emitted lights from the plurality of semiconductor lasers 21, 22, 23, and 24 using a multiplexing mechanism to irradiate the solid-state laser medium 5.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicants: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF NATURAL SCIENCES, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.Inventors: Masaki Tsunekane, Takunori Taira, Kenji Kanehara
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Publication number: 20110150012Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating a side-pumped passively Q-switched non-planar ring oscillator. The method introduces a laser into a cavity of a crystal, the cavity having a round-trip path formed by a reflection at a dielectrically coated front surface, a first internal reflection at a first side surface of the crystal at a non-orthogonal angle with the front, a second internal reflection at a top surface of the crystal, and a third internal reflection at a second side surface of the crystal at a non-orthogonal angle with the front. The method side pumps the laser at the top or bottom surface with a side pump diode array beam and generates an output laser emanating at a location on the front surface. The design can include additional internal reflections to increase interaction with the side pump. Waste heat may be removed by mounting the crystal to a heatsink.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicants: and Spec AdmiInventor: Steven X. Li
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Patent number: 7965750Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first-conductivity-type first multilayer film reflecting mirror, and a second-conductivity-type second multilayer film reflecting mirror; a cavity layer; and a first conductive section, a second conductive section, and a third conductive section. The cavity layer has a stacked configuration including a first-conductivity-type or undoped first cladding layer, an undoped first active layer, a second-conductivity-type or undoped second cladding layer, a second-conductivity-type first contact layer, a first-conductivity-type second contact layer, a first-conductivity-type or undoped third cladding layer, an undoped second active layer, and a second-conductivity-type or undoped fourth cladding layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yuji Masui, Takahiro Arakida, Yoshinori Yamauchi, Rintaro Koda, Tomoyuki Oki, Naoki Jogan
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Patent number: 7961771Abstract: A laser amplifier includes a laser active slab with a source of pump power to amplify an input laser beam, the laser active slab including a block of laser active material having opposed lateral faces defining a wedge lateral dihedral angle specified to minimize parasitic amplified spontaneous emission. The laser amplifier may include one or more external mirrors highly reflecting at the lasing wavelength positioned and oriented to provide for zig-zag passes through the gain sheet for the input laser beam to yield a multi-pass-amplified laser beam. The source of pump power may be one or more laser diode bars and microlenses producing a gain sheet in the laser active slab.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Inventor: Jeffrey G. Manni
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Patent number: 7949022Abstract: An integrated, low profile, high power laser light emission device is disclosed. The integrated laser light emission device provides uniform heat dissipation, as well as uniform pumping of the laser gain medium without the need for a pumping cavity. The laser system includes a pump diode array that can be mounted directly to a laser gain medium without intervening correcting optics hardware. Heat generated by the laser light emission device is cooled by a single cooling system. In the laser device, a pump diode array is preferably a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array. VCSEL arrays are mounted on the laser gain crystal by a metal cavity frame or metal stilts. The slightly elevated mounting of the VCSEL's enables increased cooling and maximizing the quantity of VCSEL's on the laser gain medium in order to achieve highly efficient and high power laser light output.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Edward J. Miesak, Paul E. Jackson, Pei-Luen Li
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Publication number: 20110116523Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a beam formatting diode laser using a surface-emitting distributed feedback (SE-DFB) laser array (SELA), instead of edge-emitting diodes that provides a brighter diode and results in simple and few optical components to reduce the complexity and cost of solid-state laser pump modules and direct-diode applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Manoj Kanskar, Yan Xiao
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Patent number: 7907646Abstract: According to the present invention, a laser light source comprises plural semiconductor lasers (2), a solid laser (4), a non-linear material (3) as a wavelength conversion element, a reflection coat (5) formed on one facet of the solid laser, and a reflection coat (6) formed on one facet of the non-linear material (3), and the solid laser and the wavelength conversion element are disposed between the both reflection coats to constitute a laser resonator, and plural pump parts (8) in the solid laser (4) which are pumped by the plural semiconductor lasers are separated from each other by 300 ?m or more. Thereby, interference between transverse modes of laser oscillation is avoided, thereby providing a high-power, stable, and compact solid laser light source with which a stable high output power can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kiminori Mizuuchi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Furuya, Toshifumi Yokoyama
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Patent number: 7903716Abstract: A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor chip (1), which emits radiation (12) and contains a first resonator mirror (3). A second resonator mirror (6) is arranged outside the semiconductor chip (1). The first resonator mirror (3) and the second resonator mirror (6) form a laser resonator for the radiation (12) emitted by the semiconductor chip (1). The laser resonator contains an interference filter (9, 17), which is formed from an interference layer system comprising a plurality of dielectric layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Thomas Schwarz, Ulrich Steegmüller, Michael Kühnelt
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Publication number: 20110051759Abstract: A semiconductor laser system includes a diode laser tile. The diode laser tile includes a mounting fixture having a first side and a second side opposing the first side and an array of semiconductor laser pumps coupled to the first side of the mounting fixture. The semiconductor laser system also includes an electrical pulse generator thermally coupled to the diode bar and a cooling member thermally coupled to the diode bar and the electrical pulse generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Steven J. Telford, Anthony S. Ladran
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Publication number: 20110038031Abstract: Master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) apparatus includes two seed-pulse sources coupled to a single fiber amplifier including one or more stages of amplification. One of the seed-pulse sources is a single-mode source generating pulses having a duration selectively variable between about 0.1 ns and 10 ns. The other seed-pulse source is a multi-mode source generating pulses having a duration selectively variable between about 1 ns and 10 ?s. Selectively operating one or the other of the seed-pulse sources provides that the apparatus can deliver pulses selectively variable in a range between about 0.1 ns and 10 ?s.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: COHERENT, INC.Inventors: Andrei STARODOUMOV, Norman HODGSON
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Publication number: 20110026553Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a first organic light emitting device, which further comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic emissive layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The device also includes a first laser device, which further comprises an optical cavity and an organic lasing material disposed within the optical cavity. A focus mechanism is disposed to focus light emitted by the first organic light emitting device onto the first laser device. Preferably, the focus mechanism provides light incident on the first laser device at least 10 times greater, and more preferably at least 100 times greater, in intensity than the light emitted by the first organic light emitting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Stephane Kena-Cohen, Noel Giebink
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Patent number: 7881348Abstract: A mode-locked laser device includes a Fabry-Perot resonator, a mode-locking element disposed within the resonator, a solid-state laser medium disposed within the resonator, and exciting means for applying excitation light to the solid-state laser medium. The opposite ends of the resonator, the mode-locking element and the solid-state laser medium are disposed to provide an average beam diameter of lasing light of not more than 150 ?m on the mode-locking element and an average beam diameter of the lasing light of not more than 200 ?m within the solid-state laser medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Takashi Adachi, Shogo Yamazoe
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Patent number: 7881347Abstract: Methods and systems for hybrid gain guiding in laser resonators that combines the features of gain guiding and fiber or other types of lasers into a single system. Hybrid gain guiding in laser resonators is not limited to conventional fiber lasers. Any type of gain guided fiber, index guided or anti-guided, is used as an intracavity element to induce loss on high order modes in an otherwise multimode laser system. The gain guided element contributes little gain to the laser oscillator but allows only the lowest order mode to transmit without loss. When the gain guiding fiber length is selected so the loss for a particular cavity mode is greater than the gain, the cavity mode does not lase. Since the gain guiding fiber induces loss for all laser modes other than the lowest order mode it makes sure that the mode one higher than the lowest order mode does not lase and as a result, no other cavity modes lase.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Timothy McComb, Martin Richardson, Vikas Sudesh
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Publication number: 20100316085Abstract: A high power solid-state non-regenerative optical amplification system (100) for amplifying a pulsed optical beam, includes a first optical amplification crystal (C1) and a second optical amplification crystal (C2) for amplifying the optical beam; optical pumping elements for longitudinal pumping amplification crystals (C1, C2); reflective optical elements (M?1, M?2, . . . , M?17) suitable for reflecting the optical beam so that the optical beam makes a total number of N sequential passes through the amplification crystals (C1, C2), wherein N is an integer and N>4. The reflective optical elements (M?1, M?2, . . . , M?17) are placed in a configuration suitable for alternatively interleaving the sequential optical beam passes through the 1st crystal (C1) and through the 2nd crystal (C2). A solid-state laser including the amplification system, and a method for amplifying a pulsed optical beam in a two-crystal multi-pass non-regenerative amplification system are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: AMPLITUDE TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Luc VIGROUX, Pierre-Mary PAUL, Fabien PLE
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Publication number: 20100309946Abstract: To constitute an optical module comprising a mount and a board that supports the mount, wherein a solid-state laser device that oscillates fundamental laser light, a pump light source that pumps the solid-state laser device, and a wavelength converting device that converts a wavelength of the fundamental laser light oscillated by the solid-state laser device are mounted on the mount, the mount is divided into three blocks, that is, a first block on which a laser medium is mounted, a second block on which the pump light source is mounted, and a third block on which the wavelength converting device is mounted. A side surface or a bottom surface of only the second block is fixed to the board, the first block is fixed to the other side surface of the second block, and the third block is fixed to a side surface of the first block.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2008Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akira Nakamura, Masamitsu Okamura, Keiichi Fukuda, Chise Nanba, Kazutaka Ikeda
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Patent number: 7848379Abstract: Laser light generating solutions are provided that use one or more light emitting diodes to optically pump a laser light generating structure. The laser light generating structure can include organic or inorganic laser material. The light emitting diodes can be located on the same substrate as the laser light generating structure or on a separate substrate that is connected to the substrate with the laser light generating structure. Various other features can be included to enhance the optical pumping and/or enable electrical pumping of the active structure when it includes an inorganic laser material.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael Shur, Remigijus Gaska
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Patent number: 7826511Abstract: An apparatus and method for building an optically pumped laser integrated with an electrically driven pump laser is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed comprises an optically pumped laser containing an active layer and an optical pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped laser's active layer. The method discloses forming an optically pumped gain element containing an active layer, forming a pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped gain element's active layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: Daniel Yap, David Persechini, Authi Narayanan
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Publication number: 20100272145Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state laser system constituted bya solid-state laser whichis optically pumped by a vertical extended cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL). The solid-state laser comprises a solid-state laser medium (11) arranged in a laser cavity which consists oftwo resonator cavitymirrors (10, 12), a first of saidcavity mirrors (12) being designed as an outcoupling mirror of saidsolid-state 5 laser and a second of saidcavity mirrors (10) being formed to allow optical pumping of saidsolid-state laser medium (11) through saidsecond cavity mirror (10). In the proposed solid-state laser system, the extended cavity mirror (7) of the VECSEL is constituted byone of the resonator cavity mirrors (10, 12) of the solid-state-laser. The proposed laser system provides an improved conversion efficiency and a highly 10 integrated design.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2008Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Ulrich Weichmann, Holger Moench
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Patent number: 7822095Abstract: A laser having a laser cavity is disclosed that does not require conventional dielectric mirrors or as-grown reflectors. Instead, a diffraction grating and total internal reflection system is used to define a laser cavity. Within the laser cavity, the laser emission travels in a zigzag pattern. The diffraction grating provides a highly reflective “mirror” diffracting beams at a forward angle and back angle that “tunes” the process of total internal reflection. The diffraction grating also directs a small percentage of the incident radiation approximately normal to the upper face of the semiconductor (more generally, at an angle less than the critical angle), to provide an output laser beam. The laser can be used in an electron tube and laser display system.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Principia Lightworks, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Tiberi, Vladimir I. Kozlovsky
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Patent number: 7817697Abstract: A method for generating a laser output signal includes the steps of: generating an optical pump signal that is a sequence optical pulses each having a duration of about n?f, where ?f represents a flourescence lifetime of a laser dye and 3?n?25; directing the optical pump signal into an optical resonant cavity having a laser dye gain element that contains the laser dye for transforming the optical pump signal into an excited optical signal; resonating the excited optical signal in the optical resonant cavity; and emitting a portion of the excited optical signal from the optical resonant cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Richard Scheps
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Patent number: 7817701Abstract: An active element for a laser source, the active element comprising an elongated bar with a reflective lateral surface, doped to be able to absorb at least a pumping beam being propagated at least approximately longitudinally in the bar in order to amplify at least a laser radiation also being propagated longitudinally; and a jacket in contact with the lateral surface of the bar and presenting a refractive index smaller than that of the bar, in the reflective lateral surface of the bar, there is at least one dull-ground diffusing zone able to interrupt the paths of spurious laser modes being propagated in the bar by total internal reflections on the lateral surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers CilasInventors: Alexandra Rapaport, Luc Nguyen, Jean-Eucher Montagne
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Patent number: 7801188Abstract: A laser is disclosed, which is suitable for efficient generation of continuous-wave laser light having a wavelength of about 400 nm or less. The short-wavelength light is generated by first frequency-doubling a fundamental wave, and then sum-frequency mixing the frequency-doubled wave and the fundamental wave. The non-linear interactions are effected by means of quasi-phasematching structures inside a resonant cavity where the fundamental wave is circulating. The sum-frequency mixing is effected using second or higher order quasi-phasematching, which allows for wider domains to be inverted for the quasi-phasematching structure compared to first order quasi-phasematching. Preferably, the sum-frequency mixing is effected using periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) for second or third order quasi-phasematching.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Cobolt ABInventors: Håkan Karlsson, Jonas Hellström
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Patent number: 7801187Abstract: A mode-locked laser device includes a Fabry-Perot resonator, a mode-locking element disposed within the resonator, a solid-state laser medium disposed within the resonator, and exciting means for applying excitation light to the solid-state laser medium. The opposite ends of the resonator, the mode-locking element and the solid-state laser medium are disposed to provide an average beam diameter of lasing light of not more than 150 ?m on the mode-locking element and an average beam diameter of the lasing light of not more than 200 ?m within the solid-state laser medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Takashi Adachi, Shogo Yamazoe
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Patent number: 7796670Abstract: A diode laser pumped solid-state laser amplifier capable of homogenizing the distribution of heat dissipation levels on a section of a solid-state laser rod and not causing a bifocal phenomenon, and a diode laser pumped solid-state laser using the diode laser pumped solid-state laser amplifier. A diode laser pumped solid-state laser amplifier includes a solid-state laser rod having an optical axis along which a laser beam propagates and includes an active medium therein and a plurality of pumping sources having optical axes that run on a plane orthogonal to the axial core of the solid-state laser rod and are separated by a given distance from the axial core of the solid-state laser rod. When pumping light rays are projected on a plane orthogonal to the axial core of the solid-state laser rod, the plurality of pumping sources are located at equiangular intervals with respect to the axial core of the solid-state laser rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Fujikawa, Tetsuo Kojima
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Publication number: 20100226396Abstract: In an optical arrangement for pumping solid-state lasers, there is the object of producing an intensity distribution across the beam cross section of the pump radiation with a rectangular intensity profile, which intensity distribution is homogeneous at least in a region corresponding to the Rayleigh range in the direction of the beam propagation without the beam quality being substantially impaired by the homogenization. The pump arrangement contains a rod-shaped homogenizer (1) with two opposed, polished end faces (2,3), planar side limit faces (4), which are arranged parallel to the optical axis and with a cross-sectional area at right angles to the optical axis, which forms a regular polygon, with the regular polygon being restricted to those number of sides which permit a plurality of polygons to be positioned against one another on a surface in such a way that they fill the space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2007Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventor: Guenter Hollemann
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Patent number: 7778300Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising an optically pumped vertical emitter having an active vertical emitter layer (3), and a pump radiation source, which is used to generate a pump radiation field which propagates in the lateral direction and optically pumps the vertical emitter layer (3) in a pump region, the wavelength of the pump radiation field being smaller than the wavelength of the radiation field (12) generated by the vertical emitter.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Christian Karnutsch, Norbert Linder, Wolfgang Schmid
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Patent number: 7771417Abstract: A laser system that includes a diode pump source. A frequency doubled solid state visible laser is pumped by the diode pump source and produces a pulsed laser output with a train of pulses. Resources provide instructions for the creation of the pulsed output, with on and off times that provide for substantial confinement of thermal effects at a target site. This laser system results in tissue specific photoactivation (or TSP) without photocoagulation damage to any of the adjacent tissues and without causing full thickness retinal damage and the associated vision loss.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: IRIDEX CorporationInventors: William Telfair, Ronald Avisa, Stuart Mohr, David M. Buzawa
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Publication number: 20100195679Abstract: The invention relates to a solid-state laser, comprising a resonator (1) with a monolithic structure consisting of a laser medium, on which a passive Q-switch (12) and at least one resonator mirror are directly formed, and comprising several laser diodes (22) which, as a pump medium, radiate into the resonator (1) from the side. A simple and robust configuration with simultaneous high efficiency is achieved in such a way that the monolithic resonator (1) is held at one end in a first holding plate (31) and is held at its other end in a second holding plate (32), and between the first and second holding plate (31, 32) at least one carrier ring (21) is mounted which carries several laser diodes (22) which are passively wavelength stabilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Gerhard Kroupa, Georg Franz, Ernst Winklhofer, Roman Leitner
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Patent number: 7769070Abstract: Two end facets of a solid state laser medium function as resonating mirrors that cause a pumping light beam to resonate within the solid state laser medium, which becomes a resonator. A pumping means outputs the pumping light beam, having at least two longitudinal modes and a coherence length greater than or equal to the resonator length of the resonator, to be input to the solid state laser medium such that the laser beam resonates within the resonator.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Tadashi Kasamatsu
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Publication number: 20100189145Abstract: High-power, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) pulsed lasers are preferred for applications such as micromachining, via drilling of integrated circuits, and ultraviolet (UV) conversion. Nd:YVO4 (vanadate) lasers are good candidates for high power applications because they feature a high energy absorption coefficient over a wide bandwidth of pumping wavelengths. However, vanadate has poor thermo-mechanical properties, in that the material is stiff and fractures easily when thermally stressed. By optimizing laser parameters and selecting pumping wavelengths and doping a concentration of the gain medium to control the absorption coefficient less than 2 cm?1 such as the pumping wavelength between about 910 nm and about 920 nm, a doped vanadate laser may be enhanced to produce as much as 100 W of output power without fracturing the crystal material, while delivering a 40% reduction in thermal lensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoyuan Peng, Wensheng Ren
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Patent number: 7760778Abstract: A system and method are provided for cooling a crystal rod of a side-pumped laser. A transparent housing receives the crystal rod therethrough so that an annular gap is defined between the housing and the radial surface of the crystal rod. A fluid coolant is injected into the annular gap such the annular gap is partially filled with the fluid coolant while the radial surface of the crystal rod is wetted as a thin film all along the axial length thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Brian K. Stewart
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Patent number: 7742510Abstract: A compact optically-pumped solid-state laser designed for efficient nonlinear intracavity frequency conversion into desired wavelengths using periodically poled nonlinear crystals. These crystals contain dopants such as MgO or ZnO and/or have a specified degree of stoichiometry that ensures high reliability. The laser includes a solid-state gain media chip, such as Nd:YVO4, which also provides polarization control of the laser; and a periodically poled nonlinear crystal chip such as PPMgOLN or PPZnOLT for efficient frequency doubling of the fundamental infrared laser beam into the visible wavelength range. The described designs are especially advantageous for obtaining low-cost green and blue laser sources.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Spectralus CorporationInventors: Stepan Essaian, Andrei Shchegrov
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Publication number: 20100150186Abstract: According to the present invention, a laser light source comprises plural semiconductor lasers (2), a solid laser (4), a non-linear material (3) as a wavelength conversion element, a reflection coat (5) formed on one facet of the solid laser, and a reflection coat (6) formed on one facet of the non-linear material (3), and the solid laser and the wavelength conversion element are disposed between the both reflection coats to constitute a laser resonator, and plural pump parts (8) in the solid laser (4) which are pumped by the plural semiconductor lasers are separated from each other by 300 ?m or more. Thereby, interference between transverse modes of laser oscillation is avoided, thereby providing a high-power, stable, and compact solid laser light source with which a stable high output power can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. LtdInventors: Kiminori Mizuuchi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Furuya, Toshifumi Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20100150187Abstract: A laser apparatus in which the elimination of separate optical components to provide intra-cavity polarization and compensation for thermally induced birefringence, and their associated losses, results in an improvement in efficiency and reduction in complexity over prior art designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Dmitri Feklistov, Oksana Feklistova
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Patent number: 7720126Abstract: A laser amplification system is disclosed that enables reliable operation over large ambient temperature operating window, as well as a significant reduction of laser temperature sensitivity typically associated with diode pumped lasers. The techniques employed by the system effectively eliminate damaging gain hot spots and lower ASE and ESA thresholds, thereby increasing laser peak and average power levels. Additionally, the techniques allow for thermal programming of active gain medium material to minimize thermally induced aberrations. In one particular example embodiment, a variable dopant concentration multi-pass laser amplifier is provided having a customized active ion concentration profile, tailoring the combination of laser absorption and gain distribution using a ceramic YAG host.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventor: John C. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20100111124Abstract: A method for emitting laser radiation includes: emitting first laser radiation using a first laser, wherein said first laser is a laser diode; receiving the first laser radiation by a second laser comprising CdSe(1?x)Sx (cadmium selenium sulfide, cadmium selenium, or cadmium sulfide), wherein x is between 0 and 1, inclusively; and responsive to receiving the first laser radiation by the second laser, emitting second laser radiation by the second laser via the CdSe(1?x)Sx; wherein the second laser radiation has a wavelength between 487 nm and 690 nm; and wherein the wavelength of the second laser radiation is responsive to the value of x, which represents the relative concentration of selenium and/or sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Robert C. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20100100086Abstract: A satellite platform facilitates the dividing of a laser system into functional modules, and operates to provide one or more of the functional modules directly into (e.g., closer toward) a user's operational space. In a typical implementation, the satellite platform pairs two or more of the functional modules into a combination and places it in the user's operational space. The two or more functional modules can be two of the major components of the laser-system user interface, namely, the handpiece and the control panel. The combination is provided by way of the satellite platform directly into the user's operational space, while part, all, or a majority of, the laser system may remain away from the use's operational space (e.g., on the wall, on the counter-top or at the walk-way). A particular embodiment of the satellite platform takes the form of an articulated arm similar to that used for components in conventional dental chairs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2009Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: Dmitri Boutoussov, Mikhail Atlas
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Patent number: 7701990Abstract: Plural LDs 6 are series-connected and pump a solid-state pumping medium 7. Each of bypass circuits 15 is connected in parallel to an associated one of the LDs 6. An operation of driving each of the bypass circuits 15 is controlled by a control circuit 14. A detection circuit 13 is provided corresponding to each of the LDs 6 and detects a short circuit failure and an open failure of each of the LDs 6 according to a voltage developed thereacross or the like. The detection circuit 13 and the control circuit 14 are connected to and are controlled by an LD shortcircuit control circuit 11. In a case where a failure of the LD is detected by the detection circuit 13, the LD shortcircuit control unit 11 determines the position of the failed LD to bypass electric current having flowed through the failed LD. Then, the control circuit 11 sends a signal to a predetermined control circuit 14 to thereby operate a predetermined bypass circuit 15.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeshi Morimoto, Toshiki Koshimae, Toshiaki Watanabe, Akihiro Suzuki
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METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING A LASER BEAM, A LASER TREATMENT DEVICE AND A LASER DETECTION DEVICE
Publication number: 20100069897Abstract: The invention relates to a laser device, comprising a laser material (1) brought into a simmer mode. A controllable source (7, 17) of additional energy (16, 20) supplies energy to the laser material (1), such that in only a desired part of the laser material (1) a lasing threshold is exceeded, and a laser beam (10) is emitted from only a desired part of the laser surface. This device makes possible to provide a laser beam in just the desired part of the laser, which allows a flexible and localized output. The invention further relates to a hair-removing device comprising a laser device according to the invention and further comprising an optical system (6) for focusing the laser beam pulses on a focal spot (12) and for positioning the focal spot in a target position, wherein the optical system (6) comprises a movable lens or a plurality of individually addressable lenses.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Bart Willem Jan Spikker, Rieko Verhagen -
Patent number: 7668211Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for a waveguide pumping gain guided index antiguided fiber laser having a fiber selected for a refractive index crossover at a wavelength between a pump wavelength and a laser emission wavelength. A waveguide pumping system pumps a light having a pump wavelength into the fiber allowing a laser light to be captured by a gain guided process in the core while the pump light, propagating in the cladding is coupled to the core. The fiber selection includes selecting a fiber with a cladding material having a refractive index less than a core material refractive index for a pump wavelength and a core refractive index at the laser emission wavelength is less than the cladding refractive index at the same laser emission wavelength to allow the pump light to propagate through the cladding as a conventional wave guided fiber laser, white the laser emission is captured within the core as an index antiguided, gain guided wave.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignees: University of Central Florida, Research Foundation, Inc., Clomson UniversityInventors: Vikas Sudesh, Timothy McComb, Martin Richardson, William Hagemann, Michael Bass, John Ballato, Anthony Siegman
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Publication number: 20100040105Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet/soft x-ray laser driven by a compact solid-state chirped pulse amplification laser system entirely pumped by laser diodes is described. The solid-state pump laser generates compressed pulses of sub-10 ps duration with energy greater than 1 J at a chosen repetition rate in a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG system. Lasing in the 18.9 nm line of Ni-like Mo was observed. The diode-pumped laser has the potential to greatly increase the repetition rate and average power of lasers having a variety of EUV/SXR wavelengths on a significantly smaller footprint.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: XUV, Inc.Inventors: Jorge J. Rocca, Bradley M. Luther, Brendan A. Reagan, Federico J.A. Furch
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Optically pumped, surface-emitting semiconductor laser device and method for the manufacture thereof
Patent number: 7653111Abstract: The invention is directed to an optically pumped surface-emitting semiconductor laser device having at least one radiation-generating quantum well structure and at least one pump radiation source for optically pumping the quantum well structure, whereby the pump radiation source comprises an edge-emitting semiconductor structure. The radiation-generating quantum well structure and the edge-emitting semiconductor structure are epitaxially grown on a common substrate. A very efficient and uniform optical pumping of the radiation-generating quantum well structure is advantageously possible with this monolithically produced semiconductor laser device. Methods for manufacturing inventive semiconductor laser devices are also specified.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Osram GmbHInventors: Tony Albrecht, Norbert Linder, Johann Luft -
Publication number: 20100014547Abstract: The invention concerns a device for longitudinal pumping of an amplifying laser medium comprising at least one laser diode capable of emitting at least one laser beam, means for focusing said laser beam onto said amplifying laser medium and means for collimating said laser beam capable of generating a collimated laser beam. The invention is characterized in that said focusing means comprise at least one mirror, said mirror being arranged such that said collimated beam is reflected towards the amplifying medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2007Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE- CNRSInventor: Louis Cabaret
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Patent number: 7649698Abstract: Laser light is emitted from a laser oscillator, and the laser light is made to enter a beam expander optical system including a concave lens through a correction lens. The laser oscillator, the correction lens and the concave lens are disposed so that, when an emission point of the laser oscillator is a first conjugate point, a point at which an image at the first conjugate point is formed through the correction lens is a second conjugate point, a distance between the correction lens and the second conjugate point is b, a focal length of the concave lens is f, and a distance between the correction lens and the concave lens is X, the X satisfies b?3|f|?X?b+|f|.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 7643530Abstract: External-cavity optically-pumped semiconductor lasers (OPS-lasers) including an OPS-structure having a mirror-structure surmounted by a surface-emitting, semiconductor multilayer (periodic) gain-structure are disclosed. The gain-structure is pumped by light from diode-lasers. The OPS-lasers can provide fundamental laser output-power of about two Watts (2.0 W) or greater. Intracavity frequency-converted arrangements of the OPS-lasers can provide harmonic laser output-power of about one-hundred milliwatts (100 mW) or greater, even at wavelengths in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These high output powers can be provided even in single axial-mode operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Caprara, Juan L. Chilla, Luis A. Spinelli
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Publication number: 20090323739Abstract: A compact optical system is provided for delivering laser radiation with high optical efficiency and uniformity. The optical system includes, in order of the propagation of light, an expander for producing a collimated beam, a beam shaper including a flat window with a diffraction pattern on one side for transforming the collimated beam into a square top-hat output beam, a corrector for bending the square top-hat output beam back to a system axis, a scan head to scan the square top-hat output beam across the substrate, and a scan lens to image the beam at the substrate plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: UV TECH SYSTEMSInventors: David J. Elliott, Kenneth J. Harte, Ronald P. Millman, Victoria M. Chaplick
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Patent number: 7639722Abstract: An optical element for homogenizing and, possibly, concentrating the output from high-power two-dimensional semiconductor laser arrays, which has the basic shape of a convex-flat cylindrical lens with a facet cut into the convex surface for each individual semiconductor laser bar.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Alan H. Paxton, Harold C. Miller, Jonathan Stohs
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Patent number: 7636379Abstract: A pumping system for a laser source includes a pump diode that emits a pump beam having a central wavelength that varies with temperature. A selective mirror having a plurality of spectral reflectivity peaks, corresponding to a plurality of predetermined wavelengths, locks the operation of the pump diode onto one of the predetermined wavelengths in accordance with temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers CilasInventors: Jean-Eucher Montagne, Marc Le Neve