Back to results
US 4,233,568 AGranted
Laser tube mirror assembly
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRandolph W. Hamerdinger, Robert C. McQuillan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRandolph W. Hamerdinger, Robert C. McQuillan
Estimating the term…
A laser tube end assembly which comprises a laser mirror sealed to each end of the laser tube, the seal withstanding the relatively high temperatures utilized to remove contaminants from the laser tube during fabrication thereof, the sealant also minimizing gas permeation therethrough during laser tube utilization. The assembly is fabricated by first preparing an apertured recessed metal flange member. A slurry, comprising a glass frit and carrier, is introduced into the metal flange member and allowed to dry. The metal flange member is placed in a first portion of a fixture and a glass substrate having a reflecting layer coated thereon is positioned adjacent the flange member recess with the reflecting layer being at least coextensive with the aperture. The weighted second portion of the fixture contacts the non-reflecting side of the glass substrate to ensure that the glass substrate reflecting layer is in contact with the surface of the metal flange member via the dried slurry. The fixture is placed in an oven, the temperature thereof being increased to the fritting temperature of the glass frit for a predetermined time period, the oven thereafter being slowly cooled. The glass substrate is now hard-sealed to the metal flange member, forming the aforementioned assembly, the assembly being joined to a mating flange formed on the laser tube. The reflecting layer is selected to withstand the fritting temperatures with minimal optical and mechanical changes and the glass substrate is selected to retain its mechanical dimension during and after thermal cycling to the fritting temperatures. The glass substrate, the sealant mixture and the metal flange member are selected to have closely matched coefficients of thermal expansion to minimize seal leakage during laser tube operation.
An internal mirror type laser tube having an active medium contained in an elongated envelope and means for mounting a mirror to each end of the envelope, said mounting means comprising a metal member having an aperture formed therein, a mirror comprising a glass substrate having a reflecting layer formed on one surface thereof, and bonding means comprising a glass solder for bonding said glass substrate to said metal member in a manner whereby said reflecting layer is aligned with said aperture, the glass substrate, bonding means and the metal member having co-efficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal.
A member for mounting a mirror to the ends of an internal mirror type laser tube envelope having an active medium therein, said mounting member comprising a metal member having an aperture formed therein, a mirror comprising a glass substrate having a reflecting layer formed on one surface thereof, and bonding means comprising a glass solder for bonding said glass substrate to said metal member in a manner whereby said reflecting layer is aligned with said aperture, the glass substrate, bonding means and the metal member having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal.
A method for forming a hard sealed mirror assembly and mounting the formed assembly to at least one end of an internal type laser tube having an elongated envelope with a metal flange member joined to at least one end thereof comprising the steps of:
An internal mirror type laser tube having an active medium contained in an elongated envelope and means for mounting a mirror to each end of the envelope, said mounting means comprising a recessed metal member formed of a metal alloy of nickel and iron and having an aperture formed therein, a mirror comprising a soft glass substrate having a reflecting layer formed on one surface thereof, said reflecting layer comprising a material which is capable of withstanding the bakeout temperature of the tube, and bonding means comprising a glass solder for bonding said glass substrate to said recessed metal member in a manner whereby said reflecting layer is aligned with said aperture, the glass substrate, bonding means and the recessed metal member having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal, said recessed metal member having a series of internal concentric step-like portions of decreasing diameter, the aperture being formed in the smallest diameter step, the reflecting layer surface of said soft glass substrate being aligned therewith.
A member for mounting a mirror to the ends of an internal mirror type laser tube envelope having an active medium therein, said mounting member comprising a recessed metal member comprising a metal alloy of nickel and iron having a series of internal concentric step-like portions of decreasing diameter, an aperture being formed in the smallest diameter step, a mirror comprising a soft glass substrate having a reflecting layer formed on one surface thereof, said reflecting layer comprising a material which is capable of withstanding the bakeout temperatures of the laser tube, said reflecting layer surface being supported by the smallest diameter step of said recessed metal member, and bonding means for bonding said glass substrate to said recessed metal member in a manner whereby said reflecting layer is aligned with said aperture, said bonding means comprising a glass solder, the glass substrate, bonding means and the recessed metal member having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal.
A method for forming a hard sealed mirror assembly and mounting the formed assembly to at least one end of an internal type laser tube having an elongated envelope with a metal flange member joined to at least one end thereof comprising the steps of:
A gas laser tube comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.