Laser power control

A laser system for producing a laser beam having a controlled beam power output, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector for detecting an indication of power contained in the laser beam;
• at least one laser power control means connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector, and connected to control the power of said laser beam;
• a laser beam splitter for directing at least a portion of the laser beam to said laser beam power detector;
• a detector beam interrupter for intermittenly directing a detector beam produced by said laser beam splitter to said laser power detector;
• wherein said detector beam interrupter is a rotatable reflector which intermittently reflects the detector beam to the laser power detector.

A laser system for producing a laser beam having a controlled beam power output, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector for detecting an indication of power contained in the laser beam;
• at least one laser power control means connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector, and connected to control the power of said laser beam;
• a laser beam splitter for directing at least a detector beam portion of the laser beam to said laser beam power detector;
• and wherein said laser power detector is a continuously monitoring laser power detector which receives and detects said detector beam portion.

A laser beam equalizer for equalizing the cross-sectional power density of a laser beam, comprising:

• a laser beam disperser for dispersing the laser beam into nonparallel rays;
• a reflective optical channel;
• said laser beam disperser and reflective optical channel being positioned so that the non-parallel rays are directed into the optical channel;
• whereby the optical channel emits a beam of laser light having an equalized beam power profile.

A method for controlling power of a laser beam emitted by a laser, comprising:

• detecting an indication of power of the laser beam;
• controlling the laser to achieve desired laser beam power;
• splitting the laser beam to form a detector beam which is detected by a laser power detector;
• and wherein the detector beam is intermittently directed to a laser beam power detector by a beam interrupter which intermittently passes the detector beam.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• laser power supply for suppling electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• and said leser beam power detector providing an indication of laser power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• and laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• at least one laser beam optical equalizer.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• at least one beam interrupter for intermittently interrupting detection of portions of the laser beam by the laser beam power detector.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• at least one laser beam splitter for directing portions of the laser beam to the laser beam power detector.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• at least one polarizer for polarizing the laser beam before portions of the laser beam are detected by the laser beam power detector.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• wherein said at least one laser power controller includes a pulse width modulator.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser being;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• wherein the laser power controller includes a modulation control circuit which is connected to modulate the laser power supply.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam power detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam power detector providing an indication of laser beam power over time;
• at least one laser power controller connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector;
• said laser power controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control power of said laser beam;
• wherein said at least one laser power controller includes a modulation control circuit which is connected to modulate the amplitude of voltage supplied by the laser power supply.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• at least one laser beam optical equalizer.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• at least one beam interrupter for intermittently interrupting detection of portions of the laser beam by the laser beam detector.

a laser system, comprising;

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• at least one laser beam splitter for directing portions of the laser beam to the laser beam detector.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• at least one polarizer for polarizing the laser beam before portions of the laser beam are detected by the laser beam detector.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supporting electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• laser controller includes a pulse width modulator.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• at least one programmable laser beam reference;
• at least one comparator which compares the indication of at least one property of said laser beam to a laser beam reference which is variable over time.

A laser system, comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• laser controller includes a modulation control circuit which is connected to modulate the laser power supply.

A laser systemm comprising:

• a laser for producing a laser beam;
• a laser power supply for supplying electrical power to the laser for generating the laser beam;
• a laser beam detector positioned to detect at least portions of the laser beam produced by the laser;
• said laser beam detector providing an indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• at least one laser controller connected to receive said indication of at least one property of said laser beam;
• said laser controller also being connected to said laser power supply to control said laser beam;
• wherein the at least one laser power controller includes a modulation control circuit which is connected to modulate the amplitude of voltage supplied by the laser power supply.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power signal which is an indication of the laser power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser nodulation signal:
• equalizing the laser beam.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired laser beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power detector signal which is an indication of the laser beam power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser modulation signal;
• splitting the laser beam to produce a detector laser beam upon which said detecting is preformed.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired laser beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power detector signal which is an indication of the laser beam power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser modulation signal;
• polarizing the laser beam prior to said detecting.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired laser beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power detector signal which is an indication of the laser beam power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser modulation signal;
• wherein said modulating is done by pulse width modulation.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired laser beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power detector signal which is an indication of the laser beam power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser modulation signal;
• wherein said modulating is done by modulating the voltage of the power supply.

A method for operating a laser to provide a laser beam having a desired laser beam power, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting to provide a laser beam power detector signal which is an indication of the laser beam power;
• comparing the laser beam power detector signal to a desired laser beam power reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon at least one laser modulation signal;
• said modulating is done by modulating the voltage applied to the laser by the laser power supply.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a mannner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• equalizing the laser beam.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• splitting the laser beam to produce a detector laser beam upon which said detecting is preformed.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• polarizing the laser beam prior to said detecting.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• wherein said modulating is done by pulse width modulation.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• wherein said modulating is done by modulating the voltage of the power supply.

A method for operating a laser to provide a desired laser beam which is output therefrom, comprising:

• powering the laser with a laser power supply to cause production of the laser beam;
• detecting an indication of at least one property of the laser beam to provide a laser beam detector signal;
• comparing the laser beam detector signal to a desired laser beam operating property reference to produce at least one laser modulation signal;
• modulating the laser power supply in a manner at least partially variable upon the laser modulation signal;
• wherein said modulating is done by modulating the period voltage is applied to the laser by the laser power supply.

A laser beam power control system for controlling a laser to provide a laser beam from said laser which has a controlled beam power output, comprising:

• a laser beam power detector for detecting an indication of power contained in the laser beam;
• at least one laser power control means connected to receive said indication of power from said laser beam power detector, and adapted for connection to control the power of said laser beam;
• at least one detector beam interrupter for intermittently directing a detector beam produced by said laser beam splitter to said laser power detector;
• wherein said detector beam interrupter is a rotatable reflector which intermittently reflects the detector beam to the laser power detector.