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.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 1992

Filed:

Jun. 12, 1989
Applicant:
Inventors:

Peter F Braunlich, Pullman, WA (US);

Wolfgang Tetzlaff, Pullman, WA (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01S / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
372 31 ; 372-6 ; 372101 ; 372 99 ; 372 32 ;
Abstract

A laser power control system is disclosed which detects the power of an emtted laser beam. The detection is preferably accomplished by splitting the beam using a beam splitter to form a detector laser beam which includes a limited portion of the beam. The beam is preferably split after polarization to obvate changes in detected power associated with polarization changes which can occur in the laser. The detector beam can be detected either continuously or intermittently, such as by using a chopping wheel which intermittently passes and interrupts the detector beam. The detected laser beam power signal is compared against a predetermined set point or preprogrammed time variable laser power profile thus allowing desired laser power to be achieved. The laser beam is also preferably equalized to achieve a more uniform cross-sectional laser power density. Laser beam equalizers are shown which disperse a laser beam into non-parallel rays which are passed through an optical channel, such as a reflective passage or optical fiber. The system provides laser beams having controlled and equalized laser power.


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