Frequency doubled solid state laser having programmable pump power modes and method for controllable lasers

A laser system comprising:

• a laser resonator for resonating at a first frequency;
• a gain medium, mounted within the laser resonator;
• controllable means, coupled with the gain medium, for supplying pump power in response to at least one control signal, to the gain medium to induce laser gain;
• means, mounted with the laser resonator, for extracting an output beam at a second frequency derived from the resonating first frequency, the output beam having an output power;
• means, coupled with the gain medium, for dissipating a determinant amount of waste heat in air surrounding the laser system;
• and
• control means, connected to the controllable means, for supplying the at least one control signal to control the output power, wherein the control means supplies the at least one control signal in a first mode to generate a low output power with modulated pump power, and in a second mode to generate a high output power, so that an average pump power remains low enough during normal operation of the laser system that waste heat generated by the laser system remains less than the determinant amount of waste heat.

A surgical laser system comprising:

• a laser resonator for resonating at a first frequency;
• a solid state gain medium, mounted within the laser resonator, characterized by thermal lensing;
• controllable means, coupled with the gain medium, for supplying pump power in response to at least one control signal, to the gain medium to induce laser gain;
• means, including a non-linear optical crystal mounted with the laser resonator, for extracting an output beam at a second frequency derived from the resonating first frequency, the output beam having an output power;
• means, coupled with the gain medium, for dissipating a determinant amount of waste heat in air surrounding the laser system;
• means, coupled with the laser resonator, for delivering the output beam to a work site;
• input means for supplying user input;
• and
• data processing means, responsive to a program and the user input and connected to the controllable means, for supplying the at least one control signal to control the output power, wherein the data processing means supplies the at least one control signal in a first mode to generate a low output power with modulated pump power used for aiming the output beam on the work site, in a second mode to generate a high output power for accomplishing work on the work site, and so that an average pump power remains low enough during normal operation of the laser system that waste heat generated by the laser system remains less than the determinant amount of waste heat.

A method for operating a laser system including a laser medium within a laser resonator for generating an output beam, the laser system also including a controllable means for energizing the laser medium and a detector for indicating power of the output beam, the method comprising:

• controlling the energizing means in a characterization mode from time to time to characterized power of the output beam relative to power supplied to the energizing means for at least first and second energizing modes;
• controlling the energizing means in the first energizing mode in response to the characterization for the first energizing mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate an output beam having first characteristics from the laser resonator;
• and
• controlling the energizing means in the second energizing mode in response to the characterization for the second energizing mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate an output beam having second characteristics from the laser resonator.

A method for operating a laser system, including a laser resonator, a laser medium and a non-linear crystal, for generating an output beam, wherein the non-linear crystal, crystal provides conversion of an oscillating mode to a desired output frequency, the laser system also including a controllable means for energizing the laser medium and a detector for indicating power of the output beam, comprising:

• controlling the energizing means in a characterization mode from time to time to characterize power of the output beam relative to power supplied to the energizing means for at least a work mode and a ready mode;
• controlling the energizing means in the work mode in response to the characterization for the work mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate a work mode output beam having a desired power from the laser resonator;
• and
• controlling the energizing means in the ready mode in response to the characterization for the ready mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to thermally stabilize the laser resonator above laser threshold for efficient conversion by the non-linear crystal to generate a ready mode output beam from the laser resonator, wherein average power supplied by the energizing means during the ready mode is less than average power supplied by the energizing means during the work mode.

An apparatus for controlling a laser system including a laser medium within a laser resonator for generating an output beam, the laser system also including a controllable means for energizing the laser medium and a detector for indicating power of the output beam, the apparatus comprising:

• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for controlling the energizing means in a characterization mode to store a characterization of power of the output beam relative to power supplied to the energizing means for at least first and second energizing modes;
• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for controlling the energizing means in the first energizing mode in response to the stored characterization for the first energizing mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate an output beam having first characteristics from the laser resonator;
• and
• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for controlling the energizing means in the second energizing mode in response to the stored characterization for the second energizing mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate an output beam having second characteristics from the laser resonator.

An apparatus for controlling a laser system, including a laser resonator, a laser medium and a non-linear crystal, for generating an output beam, wherein the non-linear crystal provides conversion of an oscillating mode to a desired output frequency, the laser system also including a controllable means for energizing the laser medium and a detector for indicating power of the output beam, comprising:

• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for controlling the energizing means in a characterization mode to store a characterization of power of the output beam relative to power supplied to the energizing means for at least a work mode and a ready mode;
• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for controlling the energizing means in the work mode in response to the stored characterization for the work mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to generate a work mode output beam having a desired power from the laser resonator;
• and
• means, coupled with the energizing means and the detector, for oontrolling the energizing means in the ready mode in response to the stored characterization for the ready mode to supply sufficient power to the laser medium to thermally stabilize the laser resonator above laser threshold for efficient conversion by the non-linear crystal to generate a ready mode output beam from the laser resonator, wherein average power supplied by the energizing means during the ready mode is less than average power supplied by the energizing means during the work mode.