Coherent light generators – Particular operating compensation means
Patent
1992-08-17
1994-04-12
Epps, Georgia Y.
Coherent light generators
Particular operating compensation means
372 29, 372 31, 372 32, 372 38, H01S 300
Patent
active
053032497
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a laser with an adjustment device providing a manually operable adjustment element for adjusting the output power of the laser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A laser of this type has been known from DE-OS 3,339,370. The conventional laser emits a pulsed, polarized laser beam, the intensity of which is varied by adjustment of a polarizing cube with an operating knob. After release of the operating knob, a testing pulse is triggered, the energy of this pulse is measured and optionally readjusted. Instead of adjusting the polarizing cube, it is also possible to change the voltage of the laser flash lamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the use of lasers in medicine or in delicate applications of material machining, their output power must be accurately adjusted and must not be unknowingly altered during operation, in order to avoid accidents or injuries and/or rejects.
The invention is based on the object of avoiding the danger of unintentional adjustment of the laser output power by providing an adjustment device for varying the output power of the laser, which has an adjustment element which is manually coupled into the output power adjusting circuit by the operator, but which automatically decouples from the circuit. Using a beam splitter, part of the laser beam is directed onto a light-sensitive element which determines the output power of the laser beam. The value of the selected output power, which is selected by the adjustment device, and the value of the instantaneous laser output power detected by the light-sensitive element, are indicated on displays of a display unit. The adjustment element can be coupled into the laser power adjustment circuit using only one hand, and with the adjustment element in the coupled-in position, the laser power desired or required can be adjusted using only one hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The laser of the invention is described in greater detail, hereinafter following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic block circuit diagram of the laser of the invention in which the power of the laser beam is varied by the control circuit varying the current from the laser power supply;
FIG. 2 is a partial schematic block circuit diagram of a modified form of the laser of the invention in which the power of the laser beam is varied by the control circuit adjusting a polarizing beam splitter; and
FIG. 3 is a partial schematic block circuit diagram of a further modified form of the invention in which the power of the laser beam is varied by the control circuit adjusting four pivotable glass plates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The Nd:YAG solid-state laser illustrated in the block circuit diagram of FIG. 1 comprises a laser resonator 1, beam guidance system 3 for the guidance and focusing of the laser beam 5, as well as an electrical control device 7.
The laser resonator 1 has two resonator mirrors 9a and 9b, a neodymium-doped crystal 11 of yttrium-garnet as the active medium, a discharge lamp 13 for stimulation of the crystal 11, and a shutter 12 to cut off the laser beam 5.
The beam guidance system 3 comprises, immediately after exit of the laser beam 5 from the laser resonator 1, a glass plate 15 located at an angle of 45.degree. acting as a partially transparent mirror and directing a small portion of the energy of the laser beam 5 onto a photodiode 17. The remaining, almost entire energy of the laser beam 5 is focused by means of an optical system 19 onto the object 21 to be machined.
A solid, swingable flap 23 is arranged as a deflecting element between the optical system 19 and the partially transparent mirror 15; this flap, in its deflecting position as shown in dashed lines, reflects the laser beam 5 in diffuse fashion into a cavity 25 as the laser beam absorption device; in its rest position (shown in solid lines), the flap 23 is located outside of the laser beam 5. Between the flap 23 and the optical system 19, a so-called safety closure 26 is arranged for blocking the laser beam 5 o
REFERENCES:
patent: 4692924 (1987-09-01), Koizumi et al.
patent: 5042042 (1991-08-01), Hori et al.
patent: 5048033 (1991-09-01), Donahue et al.
patent: 5151910 (1992-09-01), Inuyama et al.
Epps Georgia Y.
NWL Laser Technologies GmbH
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