Electronic pulse width controller for flashlamp pumped lasers

A flashlamp pumped laser system comprising:

• a laser;
• a flashlamp coupled to said laser so as to pump said laser when the flashlamp is energized, thereby initiating a pulse of coherent light energy from said laser;
• a storage capacitor power supply for providing current to power said flashlamp during activation thereof;
• circuit means for selectively activating said flashlamp to pump said laser in response to an applied firing signal, said circuit means including means for selectively terminating the activation of said flashlamp and thereby terminating said pulse of light energy from said laser upon the termination of said applied firing signal;
• said circuit means further including an electronic switching device connected in series circuit with said flashlamp and responsive to said applied firing signal to initiate current flow through a transformer which is connected in series circuit with said electronic switching device, the initiation of current through said transformer serving to develop an inductive transient signal which is coupled to said flashlamp.

A flashlamp pumped laser system comprising:

• a laser;
• a flashlamp coupled to said laser so as to pump said laser when the flashlamp is energized, thereby initiating a pulse of coherent light energy from said laser;
• a storage capacitor power supply for providing current to power said flashlamp during activation thereof;
• circuit means for selectively activating said flashlamp to pump said laser in response to an applied firing signal, said circuit means including means for selectively terminating the activation of said flashlamp and thereby terminating said pulse of light energy from said laser upon the termination of said applied firing signal;
• said circuit means further including an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) in series circuit with said flashlamp for controlling the current path to said flashlamp.

A flashlamp pumped laser system comprising:

• a laser;
• a flashlamp coupled to said laser so as to pump said laser when the flashlamp is energized, thereby initiating a pulse of coherent light energy from said laser;
• a storage capacitor power supply for providing current to power said flashlamp during activation thereof;
• circuit means for selectively activating said flashlamp to pump said laser in response to an applied firing signal, said circuit means including means for selectively terminating the activation of said flashlamp and thereby terminating said pulse of light energy from said laser upon the termination of said applied firing signal;
• sensing means responsive to light radiation generated by said system;
• and
• means coupled to the sensing means for controlling the termination of current flow in said flashlamp.

A flashlamp pumped laser system comprising:

• a laser;
• a flashlamp coupled to said laser so as to pump said laser when the flashlamp is energized, thereby initiating a pulse of coherent light energy from said laser;
• a storage capacitor power supply for providing current to power said flashlamp during activation thereof;
• circuit means for selectively activating said flashlamp to pump said laser in response to an applied firing signal, said circuit means including means for selectively terminating the activation of said flashlamp and thereby terminating said pulse of light energy from said laser upon the termination of said applied firing signal;
• distribution means positioned to receive a succession of pulses from said laser;
• a plurality of fiber optic output paths extending from said distributing means;
• and
• control means coupled to the distributor means for directing said pulses to predetermined ones of said output paths.