Pulse discharge laser with passive arc protection
US5293403A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/09713
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pulse discharge laser is provided having a pair of electrodes disposed within a laser chamber pressurized with a high-pressure gas. A preionizer generator intermittently produces preionization energy to preionize the high pressure gas in the laser chamber. A pulse forming network intermittently supplies a ramping voltage to the pair of electrodes. When the high pressure gas in the laser chamber is not properly preionized by the preionization energy a damaging arc may occur and lasing will not occur by discharge of the ramping voltage on the electrodes. A passive electrode arc protector is provided connected across the pair of laser electrodes to discharge the ramping voltage across the electrodes when the high pressure gas is not properly preionized to protect the laser electrodes from a damaging arc between them.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.