High voltage fast pulse control for a Q-switched laser
US5343483A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/115
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser system having a laser rod, flash lamp, and a Q-switch including an electro-optical cell, is operated to provide double laser output pulses closely spaced from each other, e.g., within 5 microseconds. Two Q-switch drivers are provided with independent high voltage power supplies which can provide different high voltages to the two Q-switches. The outputs of the Q-switches are provided to an interface circuit which includes back-to-back diodes connected to a node which is connected to the output provided to the electro-optical cell. A control signal is provided to the first Q-switch driver after the flash lamp has been fired to provide a first pulse to the electro-optical cell to provide a pulse of light from the laser. A selected period of time thereafter, a control signal is provided to the second Q-switch driver to provide an output pulse through the interface circuit to the electro-optical cell to provide the second light pulse from the laser. The interface circuit prevents voltage pulses from one Q-switch driver to be conducted to the other Q-switch driver. Substantially equal output light pulses may be obtained from the laser by adjusting the voltage level of the high v…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.