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:
Apr. 02, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 04, 1990
Juan F Lam, Agoura Hills, CA (US);
Thomas C Hasenberg, Agoura Hills, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A type II staggered alignment multiple quantum well (MQW) is integrated into a laser cavity to implement an active Q-switched device. The MQW initially absorbs and stores energy to prevent the device from lasing. In response to an applied electric field, the MQW experiences a sudden charged carrier population inversion and emits a strong, short duration pulse having a directionality conincident with that of the beam within the lasing cavity. A generalization of the invention involves optical amplification in which photon energy is first stored in a type II staggered alignment MQW, followed by the simultaneous application of an electric field and an optical beam to the MQW, such that the stored energy is released in a sudden pulse which is amplified with respect to the applied optical beam, and is co-directional with the applied beam.