Coherent, Inc.

Topanga Technologies, Inc.

Topanga Usa, Inc.

David Schmelzer

Mehran Matloubian

Timothy J Brockett

Frederick Matthew Espiau

Joel Fontanella

Frederick W Hauer

Peter Rosenthal

W Shef Robotham, Jr

Aric Dorschner

Jacob Portukalian

A Q-switched gas laser apparatus with bivariate pulse equalization includes a gas laser, a sensor, and an electronic circuit. A Q-switch that switches the laser resonator between high-loss and low-loss states to generate a pulsed laser beam. The sensor obtains a measurement of the pulsed laser beam indicative of the laser pulse energy. The electronic circuitry operates the Q-switch to (a) repeatedly switch the laser resonator between the high-loss and low-loss states to set a repetition rate of laser pulses of the pulsed laser beam, (b) adjust a loss level of the low-loss state, based on the pulse energy measurement, to achieve a target laser pulse energy, and (c) adjust a duration of the low-loss state to achieve a target laser pulse duration. By adjusting both pulse energy and duration, uniform pulse energy and, if desired, uniform pulse duration are achieved over a wide range of repetition rates.

Pulse equalization in Q-switched gas lasers

This disclosure is directed to devices and methods for generating light with electrode-less plasma lamps. More particularly, the present invention provides plasma lamps driven by a radio-frequency source without the use of electrodes inside the bulb, and a pulse-width modulation device that provides RF power regulation, and related methods. The bulb comprises gaseous material with metal halides and/or light emitters that, when powered, substantially stays in an arc shape state. The switching pulse-width modulation device is operable at specific modulation frequencies, duty cycles, and durations to stabilize or control the arc state/mode, which enables consistent and high efficiencies.

Multiple pulse width modulation waveforms for plasma lamp

An RF power-supply for driving a carbon dioxide COgas-discharge laser includes a plurality of power-oscillators phase-locked to a common reference oscillator. Outputs of the phase-locked power-oscillators are combined by a power combiner for delivery, via an impedance matching network, to discharge-electrodes of the laser. In one example the powers are analog power-oscillators. In another example, the power-oscillators are digital power-oscillators.

Multiple phase-locked loops for high-power RF-power combiners

An electrodeless plasma lamp includes a bulb containing a gas-fill and light emitter(s) excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. Input and output coupling elements separated from each other by a gap couple RF energy from an RF source to the bulb. One end of the input coupling element is electrically connected to an RF source while the other end is connected to ground. One end of the output coupling element is connected to ground while the other end is connected to the bulb.

Electrodeless lamps with grounded coupling elements

Radio-frequency (RF) power supply apparatus for supplying RF power to discharge electrodes of a gas-discharge laser includes a plurality of amplifier modules each having an RF output. A power combining arrangement is provided for combining the amplifier module RF-outputs into a single combined RF-output connected to the discharge electrodes. A DC power supply is connectable to or disconnectable from each of the transistor amplifier modules, separately, to allow current drawn by any of the amplifier modules to be monitored by a single current sensor.

[object Object]

A plasma lamp apparatus includes a post structure with a material overlying a surface region of the post structure, which has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also has a helical coil structure configured along the post structure. The apparatus includes a bulb with a fill material capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation. A resonator coupling element configured to feed radio frequency energy to at least the helical coil causes the bulb device to emit electromagnetic radiation.

Growing community of inventors

West Hartford, CT, United States of America

David Schmelzer