Particular Resonant Cavity Patents (Class 372/92)
  • Patent number: 9202489
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a slider having a mounting surface, the mounting surface opposite a media-facing surface of the slider. The apparatus includes a laser diode mounted on a side surface to the mounting surface. The laser diode has an active region of the laser diode is disposed substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Nils Gokemeijer, Edward Charles Gage, Roger L. Hipwell, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Scott Eugene Olson
  • Patent number: 9160136
    Abstract: A first amplification structure uses a single pass external diffusion amplifier wherein the picosecond beam cross-sectional area is matched to the cross-sectional area of the gain medium. A half waveplate between the gain medium and the incoming beam optimizes the polarization of the beam diameter to the polarization of the gain medium. A second amplification structure uses a double pass external diffusion amplifier wherein the beam cross-sectional area is matched to the cross-sectional area of the gain medium and passed twice therethrough. A half waveplate and a rotator create a right circular polarized beam through the gain medium and a maximum “R” coated reflector resides beyond the external diffusion amplifier and reflects a left circular polarized beam back through the gain medium, the rotator and the half waveplate where it becomes horizontally polarized and is then transmitted out of the amplification structure by the polarization sensitive beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: LEE LASER, INC.
    Inventors: Donald Bishop, Dwight Kimberlin
  • Patent number: 9140853
    Abstract: An optical device includes first and second waveguides and a micro-ring. The first waveguide is optically coupled to the micro-ring and is separated from the micro-ring by a first gap having a first gap distance. The second waveguide has a supply port, an output port, and a coupling portion optically coupled to the micro-ring. The coupling portion is separated from the micro-ring by a second gap having a second distance. The second gap distance is larger than the first gap distance. The second waveguide and the micro-ring cooperate to form a filter having a stop band. The first gap distance is selected such that a first optical signal on the first waveguide having a first strength causes a first shift in the stop band such that a first wavelength is within the stop band, and wherein the second gap distance is selected such that a second optical signal on the second waveguide having the first strength causes a second or no shift in the stop band such that the first wavelength is outside of the stop band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Leo Tom Varghese, Minghao Qi, Li Fan, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 9099834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser device comprising at least one VECSEL (200) and several pump laser diodes (300). The pump laser diodes (300) are arranged to optically pump the active region (108) of the VECSEL (200) by reflection of pump radiation (310) at a mirror element (400). The mirror element (400) is arranged on the optical axis (210) of the VECSEL (200) and is designed to concentrate the pump radiation (310) in the active region (108) and to form at the same time the external mirror of the VECSEL (200). The proposed device avoids time consuming adjustment of the pump lasers relative to the active region of the VECSEL and allows a very compact design of the laser device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 9088132
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical element includes an optical waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, which includes: a single mode guide portion which guides input light in a single mode; a curved portion disposed at a downstream side of the single mode guide portion in a waveguide direction of the light and guiding the light in a single mode; and a flared portion disposed at a downstream side of the curved portion in the waveguide direction and of which waveguide width is widened toward the waveguide direction, so that the flared portion can guide the light in a single mode at an light-input side and the flared portion can guide the light in a multi-mode at a light-output side. The input light is optically-amplified by each of the active layers in the single mode guide portion, the curved portion and the flared portion by an optically-amplifying effect of the active layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kiyota
  • Patent number: 9084587
    Abstract: An apparatus enabling a casual user in a residential set-up to perform himself almost every skin treatment procedure by using a variety of modules that may be inserted into an infrastructure frame. The apparatus presents a docking station and an applicator. The applicator simultaneously receives only two types of skin treatment modules, these may be replaced after use for modules providing a different type of skin treatment. Such skin treatment modules like epilator, shaver, exfoliation or abrasive module, suction head, and massage head apply a mechanical action to the skin. Ultrasound module applies ultrasound waves to the skin. Intense pulsed light and RF apply electromagnetic radiation to the skin. A combination of these modules may be used to provide a variety of skin treatments such as hair removal, skin rejuvenation, skin exfoliation, acne treatment, circumference reduction, and other skin treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SYNERON MEDICAL LTD
    Inventors: Shimon Eckhouse, Tuvia Dror Kutscher, Gilead Bar-Ilan
  • Patent number: 9071037
    Abstract: A pulsed laser comprises an oscillator and amplifier. An attenuator and/or pre-compressor may be disposed between the oscillator and amplifier to improve performance and possibly the quality of pulses output from the laser. Such pre-compression may be implemented with spectral filters and/or dispersive elements between the oscillator and amplifier. The pulsed laser may have a modular design comprising modular devices that may have Telcordia-graded quality and reliability. Fiber pigtails extending from the device modules can be spliced together to form laser system. In one embodiment, a laser system operating at approximately 1050 nm comprises an oscillator having a spectral bandwidth of approximately 19 nm. This oscillator signal can be manipulated to generate a pulse having a width below approximately 90 fs. A modelocked linear fiber laser cavity with enhanced pulse-width control includes concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinhua Gu, Mark Bendett, Gyu Cheon Cho, Martin E. Fermann
  • Patent number: 9054493
    Abstract: In a multiple-wavelength laser source, a multiple-mode laser outputs a set of wavelengths in a range of wavelengths onto an optical waveguide, where a spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the set of wavelengths is smaller than a width of channels in an optical link. Furthermore, a set of ring-resonator filters in the multiple-wavelength laser source, which are optically coupled to the optical waveguide, output corresponding subsets of the set of wavelengths for use in the optical link based on free spectral ranges and quality factors of the set of ring-resonator filters. These subsets may include one or more groups of wavelengths, with another spacing between adjacent groups of wavelengths that is larger than the width of the given channel in the optical link. In addition, the one or more groups of wavelengths may include one or more wavelengths, with the spacing between adjacent wavelengths in the given group of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, Xuezhe Zheng
  • Patent number: 9048619
    Abstract: A laser diode assembly includes: a mode-locked laser diode device; a diffraction grating that configures an external resonator, returns primary or more order diffracted light to the mode-locked laser diode device, and outputs 0-order diffracted light outside; and an imaging section provided between the mode-locked laser diode device and the diffraction grating and imaging an image of a light output end face of the mode-locked laser diode device on the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kono, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Masaru Kuramoto, Tomoyuki Oki
  • Patent number: 9042414
    Abstract: A tunable laser source that includes multiple gain elements and uses a spatial light modulator in an external cavity to produce spectrally tunable output is claimed. Several designs of the external cavity are described, targeting different performance characteristics and different manufacturing costs for the device. Compared to existing devices, the tunable laser source produces high output power, wide tuning range, fast tuning rate, and high spectral resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Spectral Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Pajo Vukovic-Cvijin, Neil Goldstein
  • Patent number: 9031113
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical resonator, laser apparatus and a method of generating a laser beam inside an optical resonator. The optical resonator (100) includes an optical cavity (102) and an optical element (104.1, 104.2) at either end thereof, operable to sustain a light beam (108) therein, characterized in that each optical element (104.1, 104.2) is a phase-only optical element operable to alter a mode of the beam (108) as it propagates along the length of the optical resonator (100), such that in use the beam (108) at one end of the optical resonator (100) has a Gaussian profile while the beam (108) at the other end of the optical resonator (100) has a non-Gaussian profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: CSIR
    Inventors: Ihar Anatolievich Litvin, Andrew Forbes
  • Patent number: 9020004
    Abstract: A ring resonator is connected to an optical amplifier. The ring resonator and optical amplifier are contained within the optical path of an optical resonator formed by a first and second reflector. The optical coupler branches part of the light conducting from the optical amplifier to the ring resonator within the optical resonator off to an output optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Seokhwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 9014230
    Abstract: Single-mode quantum cascade lasers having shaped cavities of various geometries are provided. The shaped cavities function as monolithic coupled resonators, and permit single-mode operation of the lasers. A folded or hairpin-shaped cavity could be provided, having a plurality of straight segments interconnected with a curved segment. Additionally, a shaped cavity could be provided having a single straight segment interconnected at one end to a curved segment. The curved segment could also be tapered in shape, such that the width of the curved segment decreases toward one end of the curved segment. A laser which includes a shaped cavity having two interconnected, folded shaped cavities is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Qiang Liu, Claire Gmachl, Kamil Przemyslaw Sladek
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150086151
    Abstract: Stabilization of an injection locked optical frequency comb is achieved through polarization spectroscopy of an active laser cavity, eliminating optical PM sidebands inherent in previous stabilization methods. Optical SNR of 35 dB is achieved. A monolithic AlInGaAs quantum well Fabry-Prot laser injection locked to a passively mode-locked monolithic laser is presented here. The FP laser cavity can be used as a true linear interferometric intensity modulator for pulsed light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Delfyett, Charles Williams, Edris Sarailou
  • Patent number: 8982923
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider with a cavity in a trailing end of the slider. A laser is positioned in the cavity and has an output facet positioned adjacent to a first wall of the cavity. A cap is connected to the trailing end of the slider and covers the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Cole, Lijuan Zhong, Roger Lee Hipwell, Jr., Joseph Michael Stephan, Scott Eugene Olson, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Yongjun Zhao
  • Patent number: 8976834
    Abstract: A method of generating intra-resonator laser light (1) comprises the steps of coupling input laser light (2), e. g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Jan Kaster, Ioachim Pupeza, Ernst Fill, Ferenc Krausz
  • Publication number: 20150063398
    Abstract: A laser light source includes an optical resonator and a first optical filter. The first optical filter is provided outside the optical resonator, and does not constitute an optical resonator structure. For example, antireflection coating is performed on the optical resonator side of the first optical filter and on a surface on the opposite side thereto, and a reflection structure in which light after passing through the first optical filter is reflected in the direction to the optical resonator is not present on an optical path of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Takeshi OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8971360
    Abstract: An optical module includes a light source. The light source can be a swept wavelength light source, and optical module includes a wavemeter. The wavemeter includes a wavemeter tap capable of directing a wavemeter portion of light produced by the light source away from a main beam, a wavelength selective filter arranged to receive the wavemeter portion, a first wavemeter detector arranged to measure a transmitted radiation intensity of radiation transmitted through the filter, and a second wavemeter detector arranged to measure a non-transmitted radiation intensity of radiation not transmitted through but reflected by the filter. In addition, an optical coherence tomography apparatus includes the optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Exalos AG
    Inventors: Jan Lewandowski, Marcus Duelk, Christian Velez
  • Patent number: 8955987
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a laminated body formed by stacking a first cladding layer, a first active layer, a second cladding layer, a third cladding layer, a second active layer, and a fourth cladding layer on the substrate in this order, a first electrode connected to the first cladding layer, a second electrode connected to the second cladding layer and the third cladding layer, and a third electrode connected to the fourth cladding layer, the first active layer generates first light using the first electrode and the second electrode, the second active layer generates second light using the second electrode and the third electrode, and a side surface of the first active layer is provided with an emitting section for emitting the first light, and a side surface of the second active layer is provided with an emitting section for emitting the second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8948220
    Abstract: A microcrystal laser assembly including a gain-crystal includes a frame having a high thermal conductivity. The frame has a base with two spaced apart portions extending from the base. The gain-crystal has a resonator output minor on one surface thereof. The gain-crystal is supported on the spaced-apart portions of the frame in the space therebetween. Another resonator minor is supported in that space, spaced apart from the output mirror, on a pedestal attached to the base of the frame. The pedestal and the frame have different CTE. Varying the frame temperature varies the spacing between the resonator minors depending on the CTE difference between the pedestal and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Coherent GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Spiekermann
  • Publication number: 20150003486
    Abstract: A laser resonator arrangement includes multiple glass optical components, and a glass carrier plate, in which at least one of the optical components is secured to the carrier plate by at least one laser welding connection or is secured to the carrier plate through an intermediate glass element, in which the intermediate glass element is connected to both the at least one optical component and to the carrier plate by at least one laser welding connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Dietmar Kruse, Carsten Ziolek, Stefan Marzenell, Hagen Zimer
  • Patent number: 8908736
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nanolaser generator using a transparent graphene electrode, a method for manufacturing the same, and a single nanopillar LED using the same. The nanolaser generator includes a microdisk resonator, a protruding dielectric ring provided to surround a boundary surface of the microdisk resonator, an external dielectric ring provided at an outer side of the microdisk resonator, and a transparent graphene electrode provided at upper surfaces of the microdisk resonator, the protruding dielectric ring and the external dielectric ring. Therefore, the processes required for generating a nanolaser may be reduced by half in comparison to a general technique, and a nanolaser may be generated just with a micro current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Hong-Gyu Park, Yoon-Ho Kim, Minsoo Hwang, Soon-Hong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8891581
    Abstract: A multi-wavelength semiconductor laser device includes a block having a V-shaped groove with two side faces extending in a predetermined direction; and laser diodes with different light emission wavelengths mounted on the side faces of the groove in the block so that their laser beams are emitted in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Okura
  • Patent number: 8891579
    Abstract: A laser diode apparatus including a mounting block, a plurality of diode lasers mounted to the mounting block and each capable of emitting a respective diode laser beam, and a plurality of cylindrical mirrors each having a reflective back surface for providing slow axis collimation of an incident diode laser beam via reflection off the back surface, each one of the plurality of cylindrical mirrors optically coupled to a respective diode laser of the plurality of diode lasers and optically oriented therewith so as to be capable of providing the diode laser beams in a stacked arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: nLIGHT Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk Price, Scott Lerner
  • Patent number: 8873601
    Abstract: A laser (12, 18) with a laser resonator (13), the laser resonator (13) having a non-linear optical loop mirror (1, 1?), NOLM, which is adapted to guide counter-propagating portions of laser pulses, and to bring the counter-propagating portions of laser pulses into interference with each other at an exit point (4) of the NOLM (1, 1?). The non-linear optical loop mirror (1, 1?) has a non-reciprocal optical element (7, 7?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Menlo Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Haensel, Ronald Holzwarth, Ralf Doubek, Michael Mei
  • Patent number: 8867586
    Abstract: A diode laser is provided with wavelength stabilization and vertical collimation of the emitted radiation, which allows a small distance of the volume Bragg grating from the emitting surface, a small vertical diameter of the collimated beam and also compensation for manufacturing tolerances affecting the shape of the grating and the lens. The diode laser comprises an external frequency-selective element for wavelength stabilization of the laser radiation, wherein the external frequency-selective element comprises an entry surface facing the exit facet and an exit surface facing away from the exit facet and is designed as a volume Bragg grating; and wherein the external frequency-selective element is designed in such a manner that the divergence of the radiation emitting from the exit facet is reduced during passage through the external frequency-selective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Forschungsverbund Berlin E.V.
    Inventor: Bernd Eppich
  • Patent number: 8867585
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser oscillator using an electroluminescent material that can enhance directivity of emitted laser light and resistance to a physical impact. The laser oscillator has a first layer including a concave portion, a second layer formed over the first layer to cover the concave portion, and a light emitting element formed over the second layer to overlap the concave portion, wherein the second layer is planarized, an axis of laser light obtained from the light emitting element intersects with a planarized surface of the second layer, the first layer has a curved surface in the concave portion, and a refractive index of the first layer is lower than that of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Nomura, Akihisa Shimomura
  • Patent number: 8867584
    Abstract: An optical parametric oscillator comprising: an optical cavity; a semiconductor gain-medium located within the optical cavity, such that together they form a semiconductor laser, and a nonlinear material located within the cavity such that the nonlinear material continuously generates down-converted idler- and signal-waves in response to a pump-wave continuously generated by the semiconductor gain-medium, wherein the pump wave is resonant within the optical cavity and one or other but not both of the down-converted waves is resonant within the pump wave cavity or a further optical cavity. Brewster plates ensure singly resonant optical parametric oscillators and a birefringent filer is used for frequency setting. Coupled cavities allow for setting the photon lifetime in the cavity that relaxation oscillations are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: University Court of the University of St Andrews
    Inventors: Malcolm H. Dunn, David Stothard
  • Patent number: 8848760
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a waveguide substrate and an optical reference cavity. The optical reference cavity comprises an optical waveguide formed on the waveguide substrate and arranged to form a closed loop greater than or about equal to 10 cm in length. The RMS resonance frequency fluctuation is less than or about equal to 100 Hz. The Q-factor can be greater than or about equal to 108. The optical waveguide can exhibit optical loss less than or about equal to 0.2 dB/m for propagation of an optical signal along the optical waveguide. The closed loop path can comprise two or more linked spirals greater than or about equal to 1 meter in length and can occupy an area on the waveguide substrate less than or about equal to 5 cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kerry Vahala, Tong Chen, Hansuek Lee, Myoung-Gyun Suh
  • Patent number: 8837544
    Abstract: A quantum device includes a resonator and a tuning structure. The tuning structure is made a material such as a chalcogenide and is positioned to interact with the electromagnetic radiation in the resonator so that a resonant mode of the first resonator depends on a characteristic of the tuning structure. The resonator is optically coupled so that a transition between quantum states associated with a defect produces electromagnetic radiation in the resonator. The characteristic of the tuning structure is adjustable after fabrication of the resonator and the tuning structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Charles M. Santori, Andrei Faraon, Kai-Mei Fu, Victor M. Acosta, Zhihong Huang, Lars H. Thylen, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Publication number: 20140233599
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nanolaser generator using a transparent graphene electrode, a method for manufacturing the same, and a single nanopillar LED using the same. The nanolaser generator includes a microdisk resonator, a protruding dielectric ring provided to surround a boundary surface of the microdisk resonator, an external dielectric ring provided at an outer side of the microdisk resonator, and a transparent graphene electrode provided at upper surfaces of the microdisk resonator, the protruding dielectric ring and the external dielectric ring. Therefore, the processes required for generating a nanolaser may be reduced by half in comparison to a general technique, and a nanolaser may be generated just with a micro current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Hong-Gyu Park, Yoon-Ho Kim, Minsoo Hwang, Soon-Hong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8798105
    Abstract: A compact, lightweight, laser target designator uses a TIR bounce geometry to place an end-pumped gain element functionally in the center of the resonator path, thereby allowing the resonator path to be terminated by a pair of crossed Porro prisms, so that the designator produces a high quality beam that is insensitive to alignment and temperature, and is low in manufacturing cost. Some embodiments fold the Porro legs of the resonator path back toward the gain element for compactness. Embodiments use a single gain element as both an oscillator gain element with TIR and as an output amplifier gain element without TIR. Various embodiments use block optical elements in a planar layout on a standard support medium such as aluminum to facilitate automated manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: John C. McCarthy, Katherine J. Snell, Christopher A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8792530
    Abstract: A method for providing a laser beam and a laser arrangement that includes an elongated tube; an elongated discharge region within the elongated tube including a discharge medium to be excited to induce laser radiation; two DC discharge electrodes disposed at opposite ends of the elongated discharge region; two RF electrodes disposed at opposite elongated sides of the elongated discharge region; and/or a laser resonator having two opposite mirrors disposed at opposite ends of the elongated tube, the laser resonator is unstable in at least one lateral axis. The method includes applying a DC discharge between the DC electrodes, and applying a RF discharge transverse to the DC discharge between the RF electrodes. The DC and RF discharges may be provided by the DC and/or RF voltage suppliers provided according to embodiments of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dentaray Ltd.
    Inventors: Doron Chomsky, Dror Medini
  • Patent number: 8761224
    Abstract: An optically pumped semiconductor laser is assembled in an enclosure comprising a base, a first mounting frame attached to the base, a second mounting frame attached to the first mounting frame and a cover attached to the second mounting frame. The assembly base, frames, and cover forms an undivided enclosure, with the frames contributing to walls of the enclosure. Components of the laser are assembled sequentially on the base and the frames. The frames are irregular in height to permit flexibility in the mounting-height of components. This reduces the extent to which compactness of the enclosure is limited by any one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthias Roth
  • Patent number: 8755416
    Abstract: A laser including a semiconductor laser stack group, a beam compositor, a pump beam collimator, a thin-disk laser crystal, a first and a second parabolic reflectors with the same facial contour function, a corrective reflector, an output mirror, and a jet-flow impact cooling system. The thin-disk laser crystal and the output mirror form a laser resonant cavity. The first parabolic reflector, second parabolic reflector, thin-disk laser crystal, and corrective reflector form a multi-pumping focus cavity. The jet-flow impact cooling system is used for cooling the thin-disk laser crystal. The pump light produced by the semiconductor laser stack group is composited by the beam compositor, collimated by the pump light collimator, and enters the multi-pumping focus cavity. Within the multi-pumping focus cavity, the pump light is focused, collimated, and deflected to converge on the thin-disk laser crystal. The laser resonant cavity produces and outputs a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Xiao Zhu, Guangzhi Zhu, Changhong Zhu, Lijun Qi, Jianli Shang, Xingyun Duan, Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8737446
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a gain region; a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) region including a diffraction grating; an end facet facing the DBR region with the gain region arranged therebetween; a first ring resonator including a first ring-like waveguide and a first optical coupler; a second ring resonator including a second ring-like waveguide and a second optical coupler; and an optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the end facet and extending in a predetermined optical-axis direction. The first and second ring resonators are optically coupled to the optical waveguide through the first and second optical couplers, respectively. Also, the DBR region, the gain region, and the end facet constitute a laser cavity. Further, the first ring resonator has a free spectral range different from a free spectral range of the second ring resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chie Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8724672
    Abstract: An ultrashort-pulse laser that has a resonator that includes a laser gain medium, dispersion compensation optics, and a deformable optical element adapted to change its shape and consequently one or more characteristics of pulses output from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: University Court of the University of St Andrews
    Inventors: Wilson Sibbett, Christian Brown, Nikolaus Klaus Metzger
  • Patent number: 8724666
    Abstract: A laser oscillator to generate a pulsed light beam includes an output coupler mirror, configured to reflect a reflected portion of the pulsed light beam back into the laser oscillator, and to couple an outputted portion of the pulsed light beam out from the laser oscillator; an end-mirror, configured to return the pulsed light beam into the laser oscillator; a gain material, positioned between the output coupler mirror and the end-mirror along an optical path, configured to amplify the pulsed light beam; a self-starting saturable absorber, configured to self-start a pulsed mode-locking operation of the laser oscillator; and a pulse-shaping saturable absorber, configured to shape pulses of the pulsed light beam into laser pulses with a pulse length of less than 1,000 femtoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon LenSx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ferenc Raksi
  • Patent number: 8711367
    Abstract: A position-measuring device, for ascertaining the position of two objects which are disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to each other in at least one measuring direction, includes a light source, as well as a splitting device by which a light beam, provided by the light source, is split into two or more partial beams of rays. The partial beams of rays traverse at least two partial-beam paths. Interfering partial beams of rays from the partial-beam paths strike a plurality of opto-electronic detector elements, so that displacement-dependent position signals are ascertainable via the detector elements. The light source takes the form of a semiconductor laser having a fiber-grating feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Meissner
  • Patent number: 8687668
    Abstract: A multi-wavelength semiconductor laser device includes a block having a rectangular groove with a bottom face and two side faces extending in a predetermined direction; and laser diodes with different light emission wavelengths mounted on the bottom face and the side faces of the groove in the block so that their laser beams are emitted in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Okura
  • Patent number: 8687666
    Abstract: An optical coherence analysis system comprising: a first swept source that generates a first optical signal that is tuned over a first spectral scan band, a second swept source that generates a second optical signal that is tuned over a second spectral scan band, a combiner for combining the first optical signal and the second optical signal for form a combined optical signal, an interferometer for dividing the combined optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample, and a detector system for detecting an interference signal generated from the combined optical signal from the reference arm and from the sample arm. In embodiments, the swept sources are tunable lasers that have shared laser cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Goldberg, Dale C. Flanders, Walid A. Atia, Bartley C. Johnson, Mark E. Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 8670476
    Abstract: A component having a microring resonator and grating, coupled to a waveguide is described. By selection of the grating period, and other parameters such as the grating-waveguide coupling coefficient, an efficient filter may be designed and constructed. The component may be used in passive devices such as add-drop multiplexers or sensors, or in active devices such as lasers. Designs having essentially no response sidelobes, very narrow effective bandwidths, and fast filter roll-offs may permit compact devices to be produced, when compared with typical distributed sampled Bragg grating structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Lynford L. Goddard, Young Mo Kang, Amir Arbabi
  • Patent number: 8665915
    Abstract: A laser apparatus uses a dysprosium doped chalcogenide glass fiber. The glass fiber has a laser pump operatively connected to it. The chalcogenide glass fiber is located in a laser cavity including one or more reflective elements such as a Bragg grating, a Bragg minor, a grating, and a non-doped fiber end face. The apparatus provides laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m at a useful power level using laser light input at a wavelength of from about 1.7 ?m to about 1.8 ?m. Also disclosed is a method for providing laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m using the apparatus of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Leslie Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Shyam S. Bayya, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 8660159
    Abstract: A laser diode capable of reducing a radiating angle ?? in the vertical direction, an optical pickup device, an optical disk apparatus, and optical communications equipment, all equipped with the laser diode which increases optical coupling efficiency. It has a first cladding layer of the first conductive type formed on a substrate, with an active layer on top of the first cladding layer and a second cladding layer of the second conductive type on top of the active layer. In at least the first or second cladding layer, it is formed of at least one optical guide layer having a higher refractive index than the first or second cladding layer and operating to expand a beam waist in the waveguide. This operation contributes to widening a region in which to shut up light, enabling a radiating angle ?? in the vertical direction to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Takeuchi, Kenji Sahara
  • Patent number: 8649086
    Abstract: An enhancement cavity includes a plurality of focusing mirrors, at least one of which defines a central aperture having a diameter greater than 1 mm. The mirrors are configured to form an optical pathway for closed reflection and transmission of the optical pulse within the enhancement cavity. Ring-shaped optical pulses having a peak intensity at a radius greater than 0.5 mm from a central axis are directed into the enhancement cavity. Accordingly, the peak intensity of the optical pulse is distributed so as to circumscribe the central apertures in the apertured mirrors, and the mirrors are structured to focus the pulse about the aperture toward a central spot area where the pulse is focused to a high intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Franz X. Kartner, Gilberto Abram, William P. Putnam, Shu-Wei Huang, Edilson L. Falcao-Filho
  • Patent number: 8644359
    Abstract: A system comprising a multiplicity of quantum dot lasers disposed on a back surface of a control circuit, wherein each of the quantum dot lasers produces coherent light; a multiplicity of micro-lens collimators, each micro-lens collimator secured to a corresponding quantum dot laser, where light generated by the quantum dot laser passes through the fiber and exits at the tip; a diffraction grating, wherein the light from each of the micro-lens collimators is directed to the diffraction grating; and wherein the coherent light leaving the diffraction grating is a high powered optical light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: David Zhi Chen
  • Publication number: 20140029085
    Abstract: Configurations for in-situ gas detection are provided, and include miniaturized photonic devices, low-optical-loss, guided-wave structures and state-selective adsorption coatings. High quality factor semiconductor resonators have been demonstrated in different configurations, such as micro-disks, micro-rings, micro-toroids, and photonic crystals with the properties of very narrow NIR transmission bands and sensitivity up to 10?9 (change in complex refractive index). The devices are therefore highly sensitive to changes in optical properties to the device parameters and can be tunable to the absorption of the chemical species of interest. Appropriate coatings applied to the device enhance state-specific molecular detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
  • Patent number: 8634444
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a self-contained, random scattering laser generating device comprising a housing comprises an opening and an inner chamber, at least one quantum dot positioned inside the inner chamber, a high-energy emitting source positioned within the inner chamber and in radioactive communication with the at least one quantum dot, and a first lasing medium. The present disclosure also relates to a method comprising providing at least one quantum dot, contacting the at least one quantum dot with a high-energy emitting source whereby randomly scattered light is produced, partially coherently amplifying the randomly scattered light emitted from the at least one quantum dot, and generating a random scattering laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Maurice P. Bianchi, Timothy R. Kilgore, David A. Deamer
  • Patent number: 8625643
    Abstract: A free electron laser system includes an undulator having a first and second series of magnets. The first and second series of magnets are substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other to define a laser cavity between the magnets. An electron source emits an electron beam through the laser cavity. The magnets in the first and second series can have varying polarities. The magnets can be electromagnets with random phase distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Scidea Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Pat Sankar