US4788687A
Expired / Lapsed
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Fluorozirconate fiber optic laser
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-16
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Granted: 1988-11-29
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Expires: 2007-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A laser has been made using a Nd 3+ -doped fluoro-zirconate heavy metal fluoride (HMF) glass multimode fiber which lases in a range equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers. The fiber laser was made for forming a glass fiber from a core glass composition comprising 52.8 mole % ZrF 4 , 19.9 mole % BaF 2 , 2.5 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 19.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 1.5 mole % NdF 3 the active dopant and the composition of the cladding glass comprises 39.6 mole % ZrF 4 , 17.9 mole % BaF 2 , 4.0 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 21.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 13.2 mole % HfF 4 .
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Miniscalco
- 👤 Leonard J. Andrews
- 👤 Barbara A. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:40
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C13/00; C03C13/04; C03C13/041; C03C13/042; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06708; H01S3/06716; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/17; H01S3/06754; H01S3/173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A laser system having an active medium comprising a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 , said laser system having a laser emission as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A laser system having an active medium comprising a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 , said laser system having a laser emission as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said laser emission is equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluoride glass comprises a cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, zinc, beryllium, barium, aluminum, cadmium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said laser is a bulk laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A laser amplifier system having an active medium comprising a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 , said laser amplifier system amplifying at a wavelength as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A laser amplifier system having an active medium comprising a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 , said laser amplifier system amplifying at a wavelength as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser amplifier in accordance with claim 5 wherein said wavelength is equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser amplifier in accordance with claim 5 wherein said fluoride glass comprises a cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, zinc, beryllium, barium, aluminum, cadmium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser amplifier in accordance with claim 5 wherein said laser amplifier is a bulk laser amplifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fiber laser system having an active medium comprising a core glass having an index of refraction and having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 and a cladding glass having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass having an index of refraction less than said core glass index of refraction, said fiber laser system having a laser emission as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fiber laser system having an active medium comprising a core glass having an index of refraction and having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 and a cladding glass having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass having an index of refraction less than said core glass index of refraction, said fiber laser system having a laser emission as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fiber laser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said laser emission is equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
A fiber laser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said composition of said core glass consists essentially of 52.8 mole % ZrF 4 , 19.9 mole % BaF 2 , 2.5 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 19.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 1.5 mole % NdF 3 and a cladding glass composition consisting essentially of 39.6 mole % ZrF 4 , 17.9 mole % BaF 2 , 4.0 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 21.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 13.2 mole % HfF 4 ; said glass fiber being adapted to lase having a laser emission equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fiber laser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said fluoride glass of said core glass and said cladding glass comprises a cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, zinc, beryllium, barium, aluminum, cadmium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fiber amplifier system having an active medium comprising a core glass having an index of refraction and having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 and a cladding glass having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass having an index of refraction less than said core glass index of refraction; said fiber amplifier system amplifying at a wavelength as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fiber amplifier system having an active medium comprising a core glass having an index of refraction and having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass containing NdF 3 and a cladding glass having a composition consisting essentially of a fluoride glass having an index of refraction less than said core glass index of refraction; said fiber amplifier system amplifying at a wavelength as a result of a transition from an electronic state 4 F 3/2 of Nd 3+ to an electronic state 4 I 13/2 of Nd 3+ .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fiber amplifier in accordance with claim 13 wherein said wavelength is equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
A fiber amplifier in accordance with claim 13 wherein said composition of said core glass consists essentially of 52.8 mole % ZrF 4 , 19.9 mole % BaF 2 , 2.5 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 19.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 1.5 mole % NdF 3 and a cladding glass composition consisting essentially of 39.6 mole % ZrF 4 , 17.9 mole % BaF 2 , 4.0 mole % LaF 3 , 3.0 mole % AlF 3 , 21.9 mole % NaF, 0.4 mole % InF 3 , and 13.2 mole % HfF 4 ; said glass fiber amplifier being adapted to amplify at a wavelength equal to or greater than 1.32 micrometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fiber amplifier in accordance with claim 13 wherein said fluoride glass of said core glass and said cladding glass comprises a cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, zinc, beryllium, barium, aluminum, cadmium, and combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-29 | 1992-05-30 | 1992-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-29 | 1996-05-30 | 1996-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-29 | 2000-05-30 | 2000-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |