Patent · US Expired

Laser combiner

US4725131A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 1985
Grant dateFeb 16, 1988
Priority date—
Expiry dateMar 11, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/4012
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for combining the outputs of multiple laser sources to produce a single coherent beam with good far-field characteristics. The device includes an optical star coupler having multiple path lengths that are deliberately chosen to be different, by amounts that give rise to an interference pattern that has constructive interference peaks at periodic cycles along a wavelength interval. The optical path-length differences result in the occurrence of at least one wavelength, within the operating range of the lasers, at which all of the lasers will operate. The relationships among the optical path lengths is such that the lasing wavelength is relatively insensitive to phase mismatches along the path lengths.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.