Diode-pumped laser drive
US6188704A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1673
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention relates to a new diode pumped solid state laser which has a miniature Q-switching device in the cavity. Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF or Nd:YVO4 are useful solid state laser materials for Q-switching. A compact thermo-electric (TE)cooled diode laser unit is used as a pump source, and high-speed switching of the drive current driver is provided for the precise pump energy control. By using the variable high-speed switching pump source, the energy of each Q-switched output pulse from the laser can be controlled precisely and the usual "giant pulse" from the Q-switch can be eliminated. Also, the pulse energy can be controlled precisely independent of the repetition rate or switching speed of the Q-switch without using other feedback components. The Q-switch is synchronized to open at the end of each diode pump pulse.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.