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. 11, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1992
George E Lockard, Newport News, VA (US);
Abstract
The present invention detects prelasing in a Q-switch laser and terminates laser operation upon such detection. A detector senses the presence of light beyond a Q-switch and generates an appropriate electrical signal. A comparison stage circuit compares this detector signal with an established threshold value indicative of prelasing and generates a trigger signal if this detector signal exceeds this threshold value. A control stage circuit receives both this trigger value and a sampled Q-switch signal indicative of an opening of the Q-switch. The control stage circuit terminates operation of the laser if the trigger signal from the comparison stage is received while the sampled Q-switch signal is being received to avoid the effects of prelasing. Appropriate delays and timing sequences are established.