Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090010287 | AUTOMATIC DISPERSION COMPENSATION IN AMPLIFICATION FOR SHORT PULSE FIBER LASER SYSTEM - A fiber Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) laser system includes a fiber mode-locking oscillator for generating a laser for projecting to a fiber stretcher for stretching a pulse width of the laser wherein the stretcher further comprising a Photonic Bandgap (PBG) fiber having a lower nonlinearity and an abnormal dispersion than a solid core fiber for connecting and transmitting a laser from the stretcher to a multistage amplifier for amplifying the laser into an output laser whereby a separate compressor is not required | 01-08-2009 |
20090041062 | FIBER-BASED TUNABLE LASER - A fiber-based tunable laser includes a spectrum-expansion device comprising a micro structured fiber configured to receive a pump laser pulse having a first band width and a first pulse energy, and to produce a spectrally expanded laser pulse having a second band width at least two times broader than the first band width. The fiber-based tunable laser also includes a combiner that can couple the pump laser pulse into the spectrum-expansion device and a filter that can select a signal laser wavelength within the second band width and to produce a signal laser pulse at the signal laser wavelength. The signal laser pulse has a third band width narrower than the second band width. One or more cavity fibers allow propagation of the spectrally expanded laser pulse and the signal laser pulse between the spectrum-expansion device and the filter. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041066 | Fast continuously wavelength tuning single frequency fiber laser using tunable polymer optical filters - A method for generating a laser projection by employing a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The method further includes a step of employing a mode selection filter comprising an electro-optical (EO) tunable layer disposed between two parallel reflection plates for generating a laser of a resonant peak. | 02-12-2009 |
20090052477 | Nonlinear polarization pulse shaping mode locked fiber laser - A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape. | 02-26-2009 |
20090074014 | MODE SELECTION FOR SINGLE FREQUENCY FIBER LASER - A method for generating a laser projection by employing a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The method further includes a step of generating a laser of a resonant peak from a single mode selection filter. | 03-19-2009 |
20090080471 | DISPERSION MANAGED FIBER STRETCHER FOR HIGH-ENERGY SHORT PULSE FEMOTOSECOND FIBER LASER SYSTEM - A fiber Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) laser system that includes a fiber mode-locking oscillator for generating a seed laser for projecting to a stretcher for generated a pulse-stretched laser for projecting to a multiple stage amplifier. The multiple stage amplifier further amplifying said laser for projecting to a compressor for compressing said laser to generate an output laser of an original pulse width. In this invention, pulse stretcher is implemented with a special dispersion management fiber that has a flat dispersion or a negative TOD (dispersion slope, or a slope of dispersion versus wavelength). | 03-26-2009 |
20090285245 | FIBER-BASED ULTRAFAST LASER - An ultrafast laser system includes a seed laser that provides a signal laser pulse and a fiber-based first chirped reflective Bragg grating that reflects the signal laser pulse propagating along a first path and produce a stretched laser pulse longer than the signal laser pulse. A grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path. An amplifier can amplify the stretched laser pulse and output an amplified laser pulse. A second chirped reflective Bragg grating can reflect the amplified laser pulse and produce a compressed laser pulse shorter than the amplified laser pulse. The amplified laser pulse propagates along a second path in the second chirped reflective Bragg grating. A grating frequency of the second chirped reflective Bragg grating varies in an opposite direction along the second path as the grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path. | 11-19-2009 |
20100046560 | Dispersion managed fiber stretcher and compressor for high energy/power femtosecond fiber laser - Methods and systems for generating high energy, high power, ultra-short laser pulses are disclosed, including coupling an electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a seed to a photonic crystal fiber stretcher; coupling the electromagnetic radiation pulse exiting the photonic crystal fiber stretcher to a preamplifier; coupling the electromagnetic radiation pulse exiting the preamplifier to a pulse picker; coupling the electromagnetic radiation pulse exiting the pulse picker to a high power amplifier; coupling the electromagnetic radiation pulse exiting the high power amplifier to a photonic crystal fiber compressor; and coupling out the electromagnetic radiation pulse from the photonic crystal fiber compressor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-25-2010 |
20100054285 | All Fiber Mode Locked Fiber Laser at One Micron - Methods and systems for generating mode locked, femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a pump laser; coupling the pump laser electromagnetic radiation to a ring cavity comprising: a WDM coupler, a Ytterbium doped fiber, a first single mode fiber, a bandpass filter and dispersion device; a second single mode fiber; a first in-line polarization controller; an in-line polarization beam splitter comprising a polarization maintaining output configured to emit the laser pulses out of the ring cavity and a single mode fiber output coupled back into the ring cavity; a polarization insensitive isolator; a second in-line polarization controller; and a third single mode fiber; and wherein the ring cavity is configured to operate at net anomalous dispersion. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-04-2010 |
20100220752 | 810 nm Ultra-Short Pulsed Fiber Laser - Methods and systems for generating ultra-short fiber laser pulses are disclosed, including generating a signal laser pulse from a seed fiber laser; using a pulse stretcher comprising an input and an output, wherein the signal laser pulse is coupled into the input of the pulse stretcher; using a Tm:ZBLAN fiber comprising an input and an output, wherein the stretched signal laser pulse from the output of the pulse stretcher is coupled into the input of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber; using a pump laser coupled to either the output or the input of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber to amplify the stretched signal laser pulse; and using a compressor comprising an input and an output, wherein the output of the Tm:ZBLAN fiber is coupled to the input of the compressor and the output of the compressor emits the amplified signal laser pulse. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-02-2010 |
20110075686 | HIGH ENERGY, ALL FIBER, MODE LOCKED FIBER LASER - Methods and systems for generating high energy, mode locked, femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a pump laser; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a rare Earth doped fiber using a pump/signal coupler; coupling the output from the rare Earth doped fiber to a first fiber; coupling a bandpass filter to the first fiber output and to a second fiber; coupling a first in-line polarization controller to the second fiber output and an in-line polarization beam splitter comprising a non-polarization maintaining fiber output and a polarization maintaining fiber output configured to emit an output laser pulse; coupling a polarization insensitive isolator to the non-polarization maintaining fiber output of the in-line polarization beam splitter and to a second in-line polarization controller; coupling a third fiber output to the second in-line polarization controller and to the pump/signal coupler. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-31-2011 |
20110211598 | Fiber-Based Ultrafast Laser - An ultrafast laser system includes a seed laser that provides a signal laser pulse and a fiber-based first chirped reflective Bragg grating that reflects the signal laser pulse propagating along a first path and produce a stretched laser pulse longer than the signal laser pulse. A grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path. An amplifier can amplify the stretched laser pulse and output an amplified laser pulse. A second chirped reflective Bragg grating can reflect the amplified laser pulse and produce a compressed laser pulse shorter than the amplified laser pulse. The amplified laser pulse propagates along a second path in the second chirped reflective Bragg grating. A grating frequency of the second chirped reflective Bragg grating varies in an opposite direction along the second path as the grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path. | 09-01-2011 |
20120026579 | Resonant Optical Amplifier - Methods and systems for resonant optical amplification are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a seed laser; coupling the seed laser electromagnetic radiation into an etalon, wherein the etalon comprises a gain medium comprising a gain, a length, and a roundtrip gain, wherein the gain medium is positioned between a first reflective surface comprising a first power reflectivity and a second reflective surface comprising a second power reflectivity; optically or electrically pumping the gain medium using a flash lamp, an arc lamp, a laser, an electric glow discharge, or an electric current to generate an amplified seed laser electromagnetic radiation; and coupling out the amplified seed laser electromagnetic radiation from the etalon. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027031 | Amplified Broadband Fiber Laser Source - Methods and systems for generating a supercontinuum light source, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a seed laser; coupling the seed laser electromagnetic radiation to a fiber amplifier comprising: a pump laser, a fiber coupler comprising an input and an output, and a nonlinear gain fiber comprising an input and an output, wherein the nonlinear gain fiber is configured to amplify and broaden the electromagnetic radiation from the seed laser; generating electromagnetic radiation from the pump laser; coupling the pump laser electromagnetic radiation and the seed laser electromagnetic radiation into the input of the fiber coupler; coupling the output of the fiber coupler into the input of the nonlinear gain fiber; and coupling out the amplified and broadened electromagnetic radiation from the nonlinear gain fiber. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-02-2012 |
20130068384 | Method and Apparatus for Three Dimensional Large Area Welding and Sealing of Optically Transparent Materials - Methods and systems for three dimensional large area welding and sealing of optically transparent materials are disclosed, including generating a beam of ultra-short pulses from an ultra-short pulsed laser; directing the beam to an acoustic-optic modulator to control the repetition rate of the beam; directing the beam to an attenuator after passing through the acoustic-optic modulator to control the energy of the beam; directing the beam to a focusing lens after passing through the attenuator to focus the beam between a top substrate and a bottom substrate in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate, wherein the top substrate and the bottom substrate are in intimate contact; and controlling the position of the top substrate and the bottom substrate relative to the beam using a three-axis stage in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate at different points. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-21-2013 |
20130277340 | Fiber Based Spectroscopic Imaging Guided Laser Material Processing System - Methods and systems for fiber-based near-field material processing are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a USP laser coupled to a central processing unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to an acousto-optic modulator; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a beam delivery system; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a beam delivery/collection fiber; using the electromagnetic radiation to generate a plasma on a target mounted to an adjustable stage coupled to the central processing unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation from the plasma to the beam delivery/collection fiber; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to an optical fiber bundle; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a spectrum analysis unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a detector; and coupling the detector to the central processing unit; wherein the central processing unit uses the output from the detector as feedback in making adjustments to the USP laser and the adjustable stage. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278930 | Near-Field Material Processing System - Methods and systems for real time feedback and control of near-field material processing are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a USP laser coupled to a central processing unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to an acousto-optic modulator; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a beam delivery system; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a beam delivery fiber; using the electromagnetic radiation to generate a plasma on a target mounted to an adjustable stage coupled to the central processing unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation from the plasma to a plasma spectrum collection system; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a spectrum analysis unit; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a detector; and coupling the detector to the central processing unit; wherein the central processing unit uses the output from the detector as feedback in making adjustments to the USP laser and the adjustable stage. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278997 | 2 micron Femtosecond Fiber Laser - Methods and systems for generating femtosecond fiber laser pulses are disclose, including generating a signal laser pulse from a seed laser oscillator; using a first amplifier stage comprising an input and an output, wherein the signal laser pulse is coupled into the input of the first stage amplifier and the output of the first amplifier stage emits an amplified and stretched signal laser pulse; using an amplifier chain comprising an input and an output, wherein the amplified and stretched signal laser pulse from the output of the first amplifier stage is coupled into the input of the amplifier chain and the output of the amplifier chain emits a further amplified, stretched signal laser pulse. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 10-24-2013 |
20140071521 | Fiber Geometrical Management for TEM00 Mode Pulse Energy Scaling of Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers - Methods and systems for managing pulse energy scaling are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a fiber geometrical management system comprising: a tapered fiber comprising: an elliptical or rectangular core centrally positioned within a single or double cladding shell, wherein the core comprises a fiber material and a doped gain medium; an input face wherein the doped core comprises a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the ratio of the major to minor axis at the input face ranges from about 1 to about 100; an output face wherein the doped core comprises a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the ratio of the major to minor axis at the output face ranges from about 1 to about 100; and wherein the major (minor) axis is adiabatically or linearly tapered from the input face to the output face. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-13-2014 |
20140231021 | Method and Apparatus for Three Dimensional Large Area Welding and Sealing of Optically Transparent Materials - Methods and systems for three dimensional large area welding and sealing of optically transparent materials are disclosed, including generating a beam of ultra-short pulses from an ultra-short pulsed laser; directing the beam to an acoustic-optic modulator to control the repetition rate of the beam; directing the beam to an attenuator after passing through the acoustic-optic modulator to control the energy of the beam; directing the beam to a focusing lens after passing through the attenuator to focus the beam between a top substrate and a bottom substrate in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate, wherein the top substrate and the bottom substrate are in intimate contact; and controlling the position of the top substrate and the bottom substrate relative to the beam using a three-axis stage in order to weld the top substrate to the bottom substrate at different points. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140263207 | Method and Apparatus for Welding Dissimilar Material with a High Energy High Power Ultrafast Laser - Methods and systems for welding are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from an ultrashort pulse laser; coupling the electromagnetic radiation from the ultrashort pulse laser to a scanner comprising a scanning and focus range, wherein the scanner is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the ultrashort laser and to scan and focus the electromagnetic radiation onto a joining interface of one or more materials; using a computer to adjust the pulse repetition rate and the average power of the ultrashort pulse laser; using one or more stages to position the joining interface; using a dichroic filter positioned between the scanner and the one or more materials; and focusing an imager and processor through the dichroic filter and onto the joining interface to monitor the joining interface of the one or more materials within the scanning and focus range of the electromagnetic radiation. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-18-2014 |
20150054903 | Method and Apparatus for High Speed Surface Blackening and Coloring with Ultrafast Fiber Lasers - Methods and systems for high speed surface blackening and/or coloring are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from an ultrashort pulse laser (UPL); coupling the electromagnetic radiation from the UPL to a scanner comprising a scanning and focus range, wherein the scanner is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the UPL and to scan and focus the electromagnetic radiation onto a sample; using a computer to adjust the pulse repetition rate and the energy of the UPL; using a five degree of freedom motorized stage to position the sample; using a dichroic filter positioned between the scanner and the sample; focusing an imager through the dichroic filter and onto the surface of the sample; using a processor to acquire and process images to monitor the surface blackening and/or coloring of the sample within the scanning and focus range of the electromagnetic radiation. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 02-26-2015 |
20150063380 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Ultrafast, High Energy, High Power Laser Pulses - Methods and systems for generating ultrafast, high energy, high power fiber laser pulses are disclosed, including generating a sequence of signal laser pulses from a broadband, mode locked, seed fiber laser oscillator; using a pulse stretcher to stretch the signal laser pulses; using a pulse picker to down select the stretched laser pulses; using a wavelength separator to separate the down selected laser pulses into two or more wavelength channels; using two or more delays lines to independently adjust for time differences between the laser pulses of the two or more wavelength channels; using two or more amplifier chains to amplify the delay line adjusted laser pulses; using a wavelength combiner to combine the amplified laser pulses; and using a compressor to compress the combined laser pulses to emit an ultrafast, high energy, high power laser pulse. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 03-05-2015 |