The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 1978
Filed:
May. 19, 1977
William L Shackleford, Seal Beach, CA (US);
Donald C Winter, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
David B Hall, Hollywood, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A modulator for a laser such as a chemical or electrically excited laser radiating in the region between approximately 2 and approximately 5 microns. The modulator consists of a transparent ferroelectric ceramic of the type known as PLZT. Such a polycrystal is disposed in the laser cavity. An electric voltage is applied to the crystal for causing it to exhibit optical birefringence, thus spoiling the Q of the laser cavity. Further, means is disposed in the laser cavity for linearly polarizing the radiation such as one or more Brewster windows transparent to the radiation. The crystal is cooled by fluid means such as a gas transparent to the radiation. Further, the crystal is mounted by means having an acoustic impedance substantially matching that of the crystal so that mechanical stress waves set up in the crystal are not reflected back into the crystal.