Heated solid state laser
OwnerRichard C. Sam, Kenrick R. Leslie +1inventors
InventorsRichard C. Sam, Kenrick R. Leslie, James E. Goodwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air cooled, flash lamp pumped, solid state laser device wherein heating devices are disposed on the laser rod at both ends to heat and temperature stabilize the laser rod. The solid state, laser rod is longer than the arc length of the flash lamp. The ends of the laser rod can be heated directly by winding heating wire, such as Nichrome, around each end or by applying heat through thermal conductive supports. A feedback loop is provided to maintain temperature of the solid state laser rod, which is preferably Alexandrite, within a desired range of 80.degree. C. to 120.degree. C.
Claims13
A flash lamp pumped, air cooled, solid state laser apparatus comprising:
- a laser pump chamber;
- a flash lamp disposed within said laser pump chamber;
- a solid state laser rod disposed within said laser pump chamber;
- a pair of thermal conductive supports extending into said laser pump chamber and engaging said solid state laser rod in proximity to its ends for supporting said laser rod;
- and
- means for heating said pair of thermal conductive supports so as to heat said laser rod by applying heat in proximity to its ends.
A handheld, flash lamp pumped, air cooled, solid state laser apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a flash lamp disposal within said enclosure;
- a solid state laser rod disposed within said enclosure in proximity to said flash lamps;
- thermal conductive supports engaging said solid state laser rod near its ends for supporting said solid state laser rod;
- a thermal conductive base having said conductive supports attached thereto;
- means for heating said thermal conductive base to a predetermined temperature.
A hand held, flash lamp pumped, solid state laser apparatus comprising;
- an enclosure;
- a flash lamp disposed within said enclosure;
- a solid state laser rod disposed within said enclosure in proximity to said flash lamps;
- heating means for applying heat to both ends of said solid state laser rod;
- and,
- temperature control means for controlling the heat applied to said solid state rod.
A method of controlling the temperature of the elongated laser rod in an air cooled solid state laser apparatus comprising the steps of:
- a. providing heating elements on both ends of the elongated laser rod;
- b. using the heating elements to heat both ends of the elongated laser rod;
- c. sensing a temperature of the apparatus which is a function of the laser rod temperature;
- and
- d. using the sensed temperature to control the heating elements to maintain the laser rod within a desired temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.