EP0283044A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Laser apparatus
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A laser beam generated between a total reflector (11) and an output coupler (10) is turned back by plural reflectors which are mounted in a discharge region (6) along two main electrodes (3,4) at 45° , and the discharge region is divided into plural divided discharge regions, thus, a diameter of an output laser beam is reduced to a diameter of the divided discharge regions.
Inventors
- 👤 Takuhiro Ono
- 👤 Naoya Horiuchi
- 👤 Takashi Iwabuchi
- 👤 Takeo Miyata
- 👤 Reiji Sano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/07; H01S3/073; H01S3/076; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/038; H01S3/04; H01S3/041; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059; H01S3/081; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971; H01S3/09713
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber 2 enclosing a laser medium therein, at least two main electrodes, 3 4 provided in said discharge chamber 2 facing each other with main optical axis therebetween, holding a predetermined gap H therebetween, to define a discharge region therein, pre-discharge means 5 for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector 11 which is provided at one end 2a of said discharge chamber 2 with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis 7, 7ʹ for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means 10 provided at vicinity of said total reflector 11 at said one end of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means 9, 13 provided at least on the other end 2b of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber 2 enclosing a laser medium therein, at least two main electrodes, 3 4 provided in said discharge chamber 2 facing each other with main optical axis therebetween, holding a predetermined gap H therebetween, to define a discharge region therein, pre-discharge means 5 for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector 11 which is provided at one end 2a of said discharge chamber 2 with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis 7, 7ʹ for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means 10 provided at vicinity of said total reflector 11 at said one end of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means 9, 13 provided at least on the other end 2b of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said laser beam is folded by 180° to travel in parallel with said main optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light folding means 9 comprises a prism having a reflection plane which is perpendicular to said optical axis and two other planes which substantially makes Brewster angle to said main optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light folding means comprises two mirrors having reflecting planes 13, 13ʹ which are arranged perpendicularly to each other and are disposed to make 45° to said optical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein an atmospheric pressure of said laser medium is under three Kg/cm².
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge region 6 is divided into two lasing regions dividing the discharge region in the direction of height.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discharge region 6 is divided into three lasing regions dividing said discharge region in the direction of height.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said predischarge means comprises a capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said capacitor 37 is enclosed in one of said at least two main electrodes 72.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said capacitor 37 is enclosed in a wall forming said discharge chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one capacitor 37a is enclosed in a cavity 94 which is formed lengthwise of said electrode and said at least one capacitor is enclosed in said cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said cavity coolant 74 which is to be circulated with refrigeration means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber 2 enclosing a laser medium therein, at least one pair of discharge electrodes 3 4 arranged respectively at both end portions of said discharge chamber 2, pre-discharge means 5 for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector 11 which is provided at one end 2a of said discharge chamber 2 with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis 7, 7ʹ for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means 10 provided at vicinity of said total reflector 11 at said one end 2a of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means 9, 13 provided at least on the other end 2b of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
198 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber 2 enclosing a laser medium therein, at least one pair of discharge electrodes 3 4 arranged respectively at both end portions of said discharge chamber 2, pre-discharge means 5 for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector 11 which is provided at one end 2a of said discharge chamber 2 with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis 7, 7ʹ for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means 10 provided at vicinity of said total reflector 11 at said one end 2a of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means 9, 13 provided at least on the other end 2b of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said laser beam is folded by 180° to travel in parallel with said main optical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said light folding means comprises a prism having a reflection plane which is perpendicular to said optical axis, and two other planes which substantially makes Brewster angle to said main optical axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said light folding means comprises two mirrors having reflecting planes which are arranged perpendicularly to each other, and are disposed to make 45° to said optical axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
194 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber enclosing a laser medium therein, at least two main electrodes, provided in said discharge chamber facing each other with main optical axis therebetween, holding a predetertmined gap therebetween, to define a discharge region therein, pre-discharge means for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector which is provided at one end of said discharge chamber with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means provided at vicinity of said total reflector at said one end of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means provided at least on the other end of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
194 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber enclosing a laser medium therein, at least two main electrodes, provided in said discharge chamber facing each other with main optical axis therebetween, holding a predetertmined gap therebetween, to define a discharge region therein, pre-discharge means for preliminary excitation of said laser medium prior to initiation of main discharge across said main electrodes, a total reflector which is provided at one end of said discharge chamber with its reflection plane perpendicular to said main optical axis for reflecting laser light beam by 180°, output coupler means provided at vicinity of said total reflector at said one end of said discharge chamber to allow laser light to go out therethrough, and at least one light folding means provided at least on the other end of said discharge chamber for folding laser light beam incident thereto in a manner to travel on a path which is parallel to path of said incident laser light beam, thereby to constitute folded lasing path which consists of plural each other parallel lasing regions having respective optical axes in each other parallel relation and connected by said light folding means at their ends.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said light folding means comprises a prism having a reflection plane which is perpendicular to said optical axis of the laser beam and two other planes which substantially makes Brewster angle to said main optical axis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber enclosing a laser medium, at least two discharge electrodes enclosed in said discharge chamber, pre-discharge means for ionizing said laser medium prior to main discharge of said main discharge electrodes, and at least one capacitor is contained in at least one of said main discharge electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a discharge chamber enclosing a laser medium, at least two discharge electrodes enclosed in said discharge chamber, pre-discharge means for ionizing said laser medium prior to main discharge of said main discharge electrodes, and at least one capacitor is contained in at least one of said main discharge electrodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one capacitor is enclosed in a cavity which is formed along the length of said electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein a coolant is circulated in said cavity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein said coolant is a dielectric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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