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US4791631A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wide tolerance, modulated blue laser source

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1987-08-31
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Granted: 1988-12-13
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Expires: 2007-08-31
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Abstract

Abstract A process and apparatus are disclosed for producing a beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm by mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two laser beams, one at essentially 1064 nm and the other at essentially 808 nm. The 1064 nm radiation is derived from a Nd:YAG laser that consists of an input mirror, an output mirror and a Nd:YAG crystal, and contains also the KTP crystal. The Nd:YAG laser is pumped by an essentially 808 nm semiconductor diode laser beam, which passes through the input mirror and through the KTP crystal into the Nd:YAG laser crystal where it is absorbed. The 1064 nm radiation oscillating inside the Nd:YAG laser resonator is mixed either with the said 808 nm pump beam or with 808 nm radiation provided by a second semiconductor diode laser whose light is coupled with the 1064 nm beam using a beamsplitter. The essentially 459 nm beam passes through the output mirror to a utilization device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jean-Claude J. E. Baumert
  • 👤 Gary C. Bjorklund
  • 👤 Wilfried Lenth
  • 👤 William P. Risk, III
  • 👤 Franklin M. Schellenberg

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim 42 words
A process for producing a beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm including the step of mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two fundamental laser beams, one at essentially 808 nm and the other at essentially 1064 nm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 42 words
A process for producing a beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm including the step of mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two fundamental laser beams, one at essentially 808 nm and the other at essentially 1064 nm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 10 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a Nd laser comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a Nd laser comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process according to claim 2, including the step of: polarizing the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 10 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 10 words
deriving the 808 nm beam from a semiconductor diode laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 10 words
deriving the 808 nm beam from a semiconductor diode laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 10 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of:
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
using a semiconductor diode laser to provide the input from which both the essentially 808 nm and 1064 nm beams are derived.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
using a semiconductor diode laser to provide the input from which both the essentially 808 nm and 1064 nm beams are derived.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of: using one semiconductor diode laser to provide the essentially 808 nm beam and another semiconductor diode laser to provide a beam with a wavelength chosen to optimize pumping a laser transition to emit the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of: deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a laser consisting essentially of III-V or II-IV semiconductor combinations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 1, including the step of: disposing said nonlinear crystal in a cavity resonant at essentially either 1064 nm or 808 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 63 words
A process according to claim 1, including the steps of: deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a Nd laser comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity that is resonant at essentially 1064 nm; deriving the 808 nm beam from a semiconductor diode laser; and mounting said crystal and laser medium within said cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
A process according to claim 9, including the step of: providing the mirror means with facing surfaces which reflect at essentially 1064 nm, but are antireflective at essentially 808 nm and 459 nm, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
A process according to claim 9, including the step of: mounting a beamsplitter outside the optical cavity of the Nd laser for combining a pumping beam with an essentially 808 nm beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 58 words
A process for producing a modulated beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm including the steps of: mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two fundamental laser beams at essentially 808 nm and at essentially 1064 nm, respectively, operating one of said laser beams CW; and operating the other of said laser beams with modulation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 58 words
A process for producing a modulated beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm including the steps of: mixing, in a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP, two fundamental laser beams at essentially 808 nm and at essentially 1064 nm, respectively, operating one of said laser beams CW; and operating the other of said laser beams with modulation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 36 words
A process according to claim 12, including the step of: deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a Nd laser comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process according to claim 13, including the step of: polarizing the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process according to claim 12, including the step of: deriving the 808 nm beam from a semiconductor diode laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 32 words
A process according to claim 12, including the step of: using a semiconductor diode laser to provide the input from which both the essentially 808 nm and 1064 nm beams are derived.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 45 words
A process according to claim 12, including the step of: using one semiconductor diode laser to provide the essentially 808 nm beam and another semiconductor diode laser to provide a beam chosen to optimize pumping a laser transition to emit the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process according to claim 12, including the step of: deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a laser consisting essentially of III-V or II-IV semiconductor combinations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 63 words
A process according to claim 12, including the steps of: deriving the essentially 1064 nm beam from a Nd laser comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity that is resonant at essentially 1064 nm; deriving the 808 nm beam from a semiconductor diode laser; and mounting said crystal and laser medium within said cavity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 46 words
Apparatus for generating from two fundamental laser beams, one at essentially 808 nm and the other at essentially 1064 nm, a coherent output at essentially 459 nm, comprising: a nonlinear crystal of essentially KTP which generates the 459 nm beam from the two fundamental laser beams.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 46 words
Apparatus for generating from two fundamental laser beams, one at essentially 808 nm and the other at essentially 1064 nm, a coherent output at essentially 459 nm, comprising: a nonlinear crystal of essentially KTP which generates the 459 nm beam from the two fundamental laser beams.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus of claim 20, including: a Nd laser for providing the essentially 1064 nm beam, comprising a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming a resonant optical cavity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 6 words
Apparatus of claim 20, including: beam.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 42 words
Apparatus of claim 20, includig: one semiconductor diode laser to provide the essentially 808 nm beam; and another semiconductor diode laser to provide a beam with a wavelength chosen to optimize pumping a laser transition to emit the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 13 words
Apparatus of claim 21, including: means for polarizing the essentially 1064 nm beam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 53 words
Apparatus for generating a coherent output at essentially 459 nm, comprising first means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 808 nm; second means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 1064 nm; and a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP and operative to mix said fundamental beams to produce the coherent output.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 53 words
Apparatus for generating a coherent output at essentially 459 nm, comprising first means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 808 nm; second means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 1064 nm; and a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP and operative to mix said fundamental beams to produce the coherent output.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 54 words
Apparatus of claim 25, wherein: said first means comprises a semiconductor diode laser; said second means comprises a Nd laser including a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity that is resonant at essentially 1064 nm; and said crystal and laser medium are disposed within said cavity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 28 words
Apparatus of claim 26, wherein: the mirror means has facing surfaces which reflect at essentially 1064 nm, but are antireflective at essentially 808 nm and 459 nm, respectively.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 27 words
Apparatus of claim 26, including: a beamsplitter disposed outside the optical cavity of the Nd laser for combining a pumping beam with an essentially 808 nm beam.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus for generating a modulated beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm, comprising: first means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 808 nm; second means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 1064 nm; one of said means operating CW and the other means operating with modulation; and a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP and operative to mix said fundamental beams to produce the coherent radiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus for generating a modulated beam of coherent radiation at essentially 459 nm, comprising: first means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 808 nm; second means providing a fundamental laser beam at essentially 1064 nm; one of said means operating CW and the other means operating with modulation; and a nonlinear crystal consisting essentially of KTP and operative to mix said fundamental beams to produce the coherent radiation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 49 words
Apparatus of claim 29, wherein: said one means has the correct polarization to produce mixing within said crystal, and said other means has a polarization orthogonal to that of said one means whereby the essentially 459 nm generated radiation depends solely on the modulated signals of said other means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 54 words
Apparatus of claim 29, wherein: said first means comprises a semiconductor diode laser; said second means comprises a Nd laser including a Nd-containing laser gain medium, a pumping source, and mirror means forming an optical cavity that is resonant at essentially 1064 nm; and said crystal and laser medium are disposed within said cavity.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus of claim 31, including: a beamsplitter disposed outside said optical cavity for combining said pumping source and modulated beam.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus of claim 29, including: means providing reflective/antireflective coatings for converting the 808 nm beam into a laser beam at essentially 1064 nm.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus of claim 33, wherein: the means of claim 33 comprises external reflecting optics.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3316500A Cited
US3735280A Cited
US3947688A Cited
US4408329A Cited
US4386428A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-12-13 1992-06-13 1992-12-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-12-13 1996-06-13 1996-12-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-12-13 2000-06-13 2000-12-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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