Laser power supply circuit
AssigneeSpectra-Physics, Inc.
InventorsRandy D. Elliott, Matt D. Schler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power supply circuit for a gas laser has primary circuitry and secondary circuitry supplied by the primary circuitry. A transformer is positioned between the primary circuitry and a secondary circuitry. Within the secondary circuitry is a spark gap and associated circuitry for creating a voltage buildup to achieve a high ionization voltage required for the laser and for releasing the high ionization voltage in pulses for starting the laser. The circuit further includes laser operating supply circuitry associated with the secondary circuitry and the primary circuitry for supplying the laser at a normal operating voltage much lower than the ionization voltage after the laser has started.
Claims14
A power supply for a gas laser, comprising:
- a primary controlled and switched flyback circuitry;
- secondary circuitry supplied by the primary circuitry, with a transformer between the primary circuitry and the secondary circuitry;
- and
- the secondary circuitry including spark gap means for creating a voltage buildup to achieve a high ionization voltage required for the laser and for releasing the high ionization voltage in quick pulses for starting the laser, and further including operating supply means associated with the secondary circuitry and the primary circuitry for supplying the laser at a normal operating voltage much lower than the ionization voltage after the laser has started;
- and
- wherein the spark gap means includes a spark gap and connected capacitor means for raising the output voltage of the circuit seen by the laser above voltage occurring anywhere else in the circuit.
A power supply for a gas laser, comprising:
- a primary controlled and switched flyback circuitry, including a control integrated circuit for controlling switching functions and for controlling startup and turnon functions dependent upon input line voltages, and the primary circuitry including integral low voltage power supply means for supplying the control integrated circuit with a much lower voltage than the voltage fed through the primary circuitry to the primary side of the transformer;
- secondary circuitry supplied by the primary circuitry, with a transformer between the primary circuitry and the secondary circuitry;
- and
- the secondary circuitry including spark gap means for creating a voltage buildup to achieve a high ionization voltage required for the laser and for releasing the high ionization voltage in quick pulses for starting the laser, and further including operating supply means associated with the secondary circuitry and the primary circuitry for supplying the laser at a normal operating voltage much lower than the ionization voltage after the laser has started.
A power supply for a gas laser, comprising:
- a primary controlled and switched flyback circuitry;
- secondary circuitry supplied by the primary circuitry, with a transformer between the primary circuitry and the secondary circuitry;
- the secondary circuitry including spark gap means for creating a voltage buildup to achieve a high ionization voltage required for the laser and for releasing the high ionization voltage in quick pulses for starting the laser, and further including operating supply means associated with the secondary circuitry and the primary circuitry for supplying the laser at a normal operating voltage much lower than the ionization voltage after the laser has started;
- and including a scanner motor associated with the laser, with signal means associated with the motor for generating a speed-representative signal, and wherein the primary circuitry includes laser shutoff means for shutting off power to the laser if the motor is below normal operating speed, including solid state switch means receiving the speed-representative signal from the scanner motor and for causing laser supply power to be shut off when the signal indicate underspeed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.