Power supply apparatus for laser

A power supply apparatus for laser for supplying an electric power to an excitation lamp which irradiates an optical energy for laser oscillation onto a laser medium, said power supply apparatus for laser comprising:

• a rectifying circuit for receiving and rectifying an AC voltage having a commercial frequency;
• a capacitor for temporarily storing a DC power from said rectifying circuit;
• first and second switching elements each connected in series between said capacitor and said excitation lamp, said first and second switching elements being connected in parallel with each other;
• and
• control means for alternately turning on said first and second switching means at a predetermined frequency higher than said commercial frequency.

A power supply apparatus for laser for supplying an electric power to an excitation lamp which irradiates an optical energy for laser oscillation onto a laser medium, said power supply apparatus for laser comprising:

• a rectifying circuit for receiving and rectifying an AC voltage having a commercial frequency;
• a capacitor for temporarily storing a DC power from said rectifying circuit;
• switching means connected between said capacitor and said excitation lamp;
• lamp voltage detection means for detecting a lamp voltage applied to said excitation lamp from said capacitor;
• lighting starter means for starting the lighting of said excitation lamp;
• and
• control means for providing a switching control of said switching means at a predetermined frequency higher than said commercial frequency so as to keep said lamp voltage at a predetermined standby voltage value which is higher than a rated voltage of said excitation lamp but lower than a voltage at said capacitor during the standby time before the start of lighting of said excitation lamp, said control means providing a switching control of said switching means at said predetermined frequency so as to allow said excitation lamp to be supplied with an electric power, a current or a voltage corresponding to a desired laser output after the start of lighting of said excitation lamp.

A power supply apparatus for laser for supplying an electric power to an excitation lamp in a laser oscillation unit, said power supply apparatus for laser comprising:

• a rectifying circuit for receiving and rectifying an AC voltage having a commercial frequency;
• a capacitor for temporarily storing a DC power from said rectifying circuit;
• charging voltage control means for controlling a charging voltage at said capacitor so as to have a certain voltage value which has been set in advance;
• lamp current supply means for causing said capacitor to discharge an electric energy stored wherein to supply a lamp current to said excitation lamp;
• an inverter for receiving a charging voltage at said capacitor to convert it into an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency higher than said commercial frequency;
• a boosting circuit for boosting an AC voltage from said inverter to generate a DC booster voltage having a previously set voltage value;
• and
• lighting start control means for allowing said booster voltage to be supplied to said excitation lamp at the start of lighting of said excitation lamp.