Coherent light generators – Particular active media – Gas
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-01
2001-11-27
Arroyo, Teresa M. (Department: 2881)
Coherent light generators
Particular active media
Gas
C372S062000, C372S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324202
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to continuous wave gas ion lasers and more particularly to a power efficient continuous wave gas ion laser system and associated laser tube. The invention is particularly well suited for improving gas ion laser performance in the instance of a fixed level of available electrical input power. An associated method is also disclosed.
Continuous discharge gas ion lasers are relatively inefficient with regard to the use of electrical input power. It should be appreciated that, for this reason, the maximum light output power of such lasers has traditionally been limited, at least in part, by available electrical input power. For example, a typical 120 Volt AC electrical outlet in the United States is rated to provide approximately 17 amps on a continuous basis. As will be seen below, several considerations must be kept in mind when implementing a laser under such an input power constraint.
One factor which relates directly to input power limitations resides in the fact that the input current that is required to maintain a fixed light output from a gas ion laser tube increases in a known way as the tube ages. Hence, the lifetime of the tube is reached when the current drawn by the tube, via a typical laser power supply, meets or exceeds the level of current which is available from the source. In the example of a typical US 120 Volt AC outlet, for a nominal voltage of 106 VAC at a current of 17.3 amps (slightly above the recommended current limit), the end of life power consumption value of a laser tube is therefore just over 1,830 watts.
Based on a particular constraining value of input electrical power, it should be appreciated that the light output of a particular laser tube may be increased by driving the tube at higher current levels. However, the increase in output power, in this instance, is achieved by sacrificing a significant portion of the lifetime of the tube, as compared with driving the tube at a lower rated current level. In other words, by driving the tube at a current level which is higher than its rated level the end of life power consumption value will be reached in a proportionately shortened period of time.
The present invention discloses a system, laser tube and associated method which provide a highly advantageous improvement in output power in view of a particular constraining value of input electrical power or, alternatively, a highly advantageous improvement in laser tube lifetime.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As will be described in more detail hereinafter, a power efficient continuous wave gas ion laser system and associated laser tube are disclosed. An associated method is also disclosed. The system is configured for use with a fixed electrical input power and includes a power factor corrected power supply which produces an output voltage and an output current using the fixed input electrical power such that the output voltage and the output current are substantially in phase. A gas ion laser tube is configured for use in the system having a particular cavity length which is established as a distance between a first mirror and a second mirror for operation using the output voltage and the output current. The tube includes a bore arrangement positioned between the first and second mirrors and defining a laser bore having an active gain length in the range of approximately 25 percent to 35 percent of the cavity length.
In one aspect of the invention, the system may be configured to provide a light output power improvement of approximately thirty percent over prior art laser systems.
In accordance with one feature of the present invention, a laser tube is configured for providing the aforementioned improved light output power in a conventional laser head configuration such that the laser tube may directly replace laser tubes in prior art installations. In this manner, existing as well as new laser installations may benefit from the advantages of the present invention.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the improved laser tube of the present invention provides an operational lifetime which is equivalent to that of prior art laser tubes while still providing an output power which is significantly greater than the output power capability of prior art laser tubes operating using an identical fixed wattage source of input power. Alternatively, the improved output laser tube of the present invention may be operated in a manner which provides a light output level equivalent to that of a prior art laser tube operating at full light output capacity from an identical fixed wattage source of input power while, at the same time, providing an improved operational lifetime.
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patent: 4385390 (1983-05-01), McMahan
patent: 4477907 (1984-10-01), McMahan
patent: 5052014 (1991-09-01), Hiroshima et al.
patent: 5386434 (1995-01-01), Mandell et al.
patent: 0535870 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 0537032 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 08181367 (1996-12-01), None
Qin Yi
Randolph Geoffrey Lyle
Arroyo Teresa M.
Pritzkau Michael
UNIPHASE Corporation
Zahn Jeffrey
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