Method and apparatus for oscillator start-up control for mode-locked laser
AssigneeIntralase Corp.
InventorsChristopher Horvath, Ruben Zadoyan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to an apparatus and method for oscillator start-up control, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for overdriving a laser to obtain mode-lock operation. The oscillator with start-up control has a lasing medium mounted on a base. A laser pumping source is mounted on the base for inducing a laser beam from the lasing medium. A mode-lock detection device is mounted about the base. An overdrive circuit is coupled with the mode-lock detection and signal processing device for determining mode-lock status of the oscillator. The overdrive circuit overdrives the pump source when the oscillator is not in mode-lock status.
Claims20
An oscillator with start-up control comprising:
- a lasing medium;
- a laser pumping source for inducing a laser beam from said lasing medium, said laser beam being directed along a path;
- a mode-lock detection device for monitoring said laser beam;
- a processing unit connected to said mode-lock detection device, said processing unit configured for detecting mode-lock status, and
- an overdrive circuit connected with said processing unit and laser pumping source, said overdrive circuit configured to provide a current to said laser pumping source so as to initiate oscillator mode-locking.
A method for oscillator mode-locking, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an overdrive current to an oscillator for a duration of time to initiate mode-locking;
- (b) reducing said overdrive current to said laser oscillator to a normal operating current for said laser oscillator;
- and
- (c) periodically monitoring said oscillator to determine if said oscillator is mode-locked.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.