Coherent light generators – Particular temperature control – Heat sink
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-03-06
Scott, Jr., Leon (Department: 2881)
Coherent light generators
Particular temperature control
Heat sink
C372S034000, C372S087000, C372S092000, C372S064000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198758
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to cooling systems for lasers, and more particularly, to a heat transfer system and method for lasers utilizing electrode based excitation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of lasers use electrodes to convey excitation energy to either gaseous or non-gaseous plasmas. For instance, radio frequency excited gas lasers utilizing electrodes have become a mainstay in a wide variety of industrial, medical, and scientific applications. In particular, molecular gas lasers, such as those based on carbon dioxide gas, use electrodes to excite the gas plasma.
As is typical with gas lasers, gas temperature is a determining factor of equipment size, beam quality, and power levels of operation. For example, the maximum acceptable plasma temperature for a carbon dioxide based laser is approximately 600 Kelvin. Generally, for optimal performance of a laser, certain temperature ranges for operation of laser plasma are preferred. During operation, generation of the laser plasma produces much heat. To maintain optimal temperature ranges for the plasma any excess heat must be extracted from the plasma.
In lasers utilizing electrodes, the plasma generally contacts the surfaces of the electrodes. The electrodes, thus, become a possible candidate for removing heat from the plasma. Some conventional lasers utilize electrode surfaces in contact with the plasma for cooling by actively cooling the electrodes using fluid circulating through the electrodes. Circulating fluid through electrodes, however, complicates assembly and operation, and increases overall laser system package size.
Other conventional lasers have recognized the problems of circulating fluid through electrodes. Unfortunately, with these conventional lasers that do not cool the electrodes with fluid, the electrodes serve a rather limited role in removing heat from the plasmas. Consequently, these conventional lasers have limitations regarding operational power levels or have cooling structures apart from the electrodes. These additional cooling structures also increase laser size and expense, or restrict laser operations. For instance, some conventional lasers actively circulate the plasma gases, which increases laser size and cost. Other conventional lasers use structures that provide surfaces other than those of the electrodes for cooling of the plasmas.
These strictures include bores, rods, or discharge side walls, which complicate laser assembly, increase laser size, and limit laser operation. For instance, discharge sidewalls can restrict expansion of the gas plasma so that standing waves of varying gas density occur in the gas plasma. These standing waves introduce limitations for the operation of the laser such as the frequencies at which the laser can be pulsed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A laser with heat transfer system and method has aspects including first and second electrodes, a lasing medium, a housing, and first and second portions of thermally conductive and electrically insulating material being other than the lasing medium. The first and second electrodes have an interior surface and an exterior surface. The lasing medium is located between at least portions of the interior surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The housing has opposing first and second walls with first and second interior surfaces, respectively, forming at least a portion of a housing cavity sized to contain the first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes are positioned inside the housing cavity with the interior surfaces of the first and second electrodes opposingly spaced a part.
The first interior housing surface is spaced from the exterior surface of the first electrode by at least a first distance forming a first volume between the first interior housing surface and the exterior surface of the first electrode. The second interior housing surface is spaced from the exterior surface of the second electrode by at least a second distance forming a second volume between the second interior housing surface and the exterior surface of the second electrode.
The first and second portions of the thermally conductive and electrically insulating material is other than the lasing medium. The first portion of the thermally conductive material is positioned in contact with at least a portion of the first interior housing surface and at least 5% of the exterior surface of the first electrode and occupies a portion of the first volume. The second portion of the thermally conductive material is positioned in contact with at least a portion of the second interior housing surface and at least 5% of the exterior surface of the second electrode and occupies a portion of the second volume.
Further aspects include the thermally conductive material comprising a ceramic. Other aspects include the laser medium filling at least portions of the first and second volumes not occupied by the first and second portions of the thermally conductive materials. In some of these further aspects, the lasing medium is at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to produce a pressure differential to provide an inwardly directed force on the first and second walls. The first and second walls have sufficient flexibility to flex inward under the inwardly directed force provided by the pressure differential to press the first and second interior surfaces against the first and second portions of the thermally conductive material, respectively.
Additional aspects include the first portion of the thermally conductive material comprising a first plurality of ceramic strips. The external surface of the first electrode being formed with a first plurality of depressions. Each depression of the first plurality of depressions is sized to receive at least one of the first plurality of ceramic strips therein. The second portion of the thermally conductive materials comprising a second plurality of ceramic strips. The external surface of the second electrode is formed with a second plurality of depressions. Each depression of the second plurality of depressions is sized to receive at least one of the second plurality of ceramic strips.
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Bethel Jason W.
Broderick Jeffery A.
Jones Benjamin K.
Yelden Eugene F.
Jr. Leon Scott
Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Synrad, Inc.
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