Diode-pumped laser system and method

Details Diode-pumped laser system and method Diode-pumped laser system and method

1996-07-08

1998-10-13

Lee, John D.

Coherent light generators

Particular component circuitry

Optical pumping

372 25, 372 41, 372 75, H01S 310

Patent

active

058223452

ABSTRACT:
A laser system for imaging graphic-arts constructions avoids the need to demagnify a divergent beam by using the output of a semiconductor or diode laser to optically pump a laser crystal, which itself emits laser radiation with substantially less beam divergence. A preferred implementation utilizes, as a pumping source, at least one laser device that emits in the IR, and preferably near-IR region, to image ablative or transfer-type printing members. The output of the pumping source is provided to the laser crystal via a focusing lens arrangement. The output of the laser crystal, in turn, is focused onto the surface of a recording medium to perform the imaging function. Crystal excitation and decay times are minimized by continuously maintaining the pumping source at a bias power level, which keeps the crystal at a continuous, baseline power level just short of lasing or imaging; and then selectively and intermittently increasing power to the pumping source to cause the crystal to lase (or lase at higher power) in an imagewise pattern. By selectively varying the pulse width within certain limits, it is possible to obtain image dots of different sizes while retaining a round dot shape.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3920951 (1975-11-01), Chovan et al.
patent: 4653056 (1987-03-01), Baer et al.
patent: 4656635 (1987-04-01), Baer et al.
patent: 4665529 (1987-05-01), Baer et al.
patent: 4710940 (1987-12-01), Sipes, J.
patent: 4739507 (1988-04-01), Byer et al.
patent: 4791631 (1988-12-01), Baumert et al.
patent: 4809291 (1989-02-01), Byer et al.
patent: 4847851 (1989-07-01), Dixon
patent: 4872177 (1989-10-01), Baer et al.
patent: 4910737 (1990-03-01), Payne et al.
patent: 4942582 (1990-07-01), Kintz et al.
patent: 4955725 (1990-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5058118 (1991-10-01), Qui et al.
patent: 5127068 (1992-06-01), Baer et al.
patent: 5130996 (1992-07-01), Amano et al.
patent: 5197072 (1993-03-01), Harada et al.
patent: 5216681 (1993-06-01), St. Pierre et al.
patent: 5222088 (1993-06-01), Amano
patent: 5245618 (1993-09-01), Masuda et al.
patent: 5278851 (1994-01-01), Goto
patent: 5291505 (1994-03-01), Nielsen
patent: 5303250 (1994-04-01), Masuda et al.
patent: 5331650 (1994-07-01), Maeda et al.
patent: 5410559 (1995-04-01), Nighan, Jr. et al.
patent: 5561547 (1996-10-01), Keirstead et al.
Mingxin et al., Applied Optics, 32:2085-2086 (Apr. 1993).
Zayhowski et al., Optic Letters, 14:1318-1320 (Dec. 1989).
Zayhowski, Optic Letters, 16:575-577 (Apr. 1991).
Zayhowski et al., Optic Letters, 17:1201-1203 (Sep. 1992).
Fan, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 28:2692-2697 (Dec. 1992).
Mizell et al., "Recent Developments in the Growth, Processing, and Testing of Rare Earth Doped YV04 Single Crystals" (No Journal Name or Date).
MacKinnon et al., Optics Communications 94, 94:281-288 (Nov. 1992).
Lacovara et al., Optics Letters, 16:1089-1091 (Jul. 1991).
Chen et al., Optics Letters, 18:1418-1419 (Sep. 1993).
Zhou et al., Optics Letters, 18:511-512 (Apr. 1993).
Li et al., Optics Letters, 18:203-204 (Feb. 1993).
"Laser Characteristics of YV04" (No Name, Journal, or Date).
"Yttrium Orthovanadate (YV04)" (No Name, Journal, or Date).
Fan, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 29:1457-1459 (Jun. 1992).
Zayhowski et al., Optic Letters, 19:1427-1429 (Sep. 1994).
Taira et al., Optics Letters, 16:1955-1957 (Dec. 1991).
Robrish, Optics Letters, 19:813-815 (Jun. 1994).
Longhi, J. Opt. Soc. Am B., 11:1098-1107 (Jun. 1994).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Diode-pumped laser system and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Diode-pumped laser system and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Diode-pumped laser system and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-321071