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:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1997
Phillip Randall Staver, Hagaman, NY (US);
Josef Robert Unternahrer, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for shaping a laser pulse. The method comprises the steps of generating a laser pulse with a laser, opening an optical switch to allow the laser pulse to pass through the optical switch, determining a first reference time point with respect to the laser pulse, determining a second reference time point with respect to the opening of the optical switch, and adjusting an opening time of the optical switch based on the first and second reference time points to shape the laser pulse. The method may be carried out with an apparatus which comprises a laser which generates the laser pulse, a first optical detector which detects the laser pulse and generates a first signal representing the laser pulse, an optical switch through which the laser pulse passes, a second optical detector which detects the laser pulse after the laser pulse has passed through the optical switch, and which generates a second signal representing the laser pulse, a computer which receives the first and second signals and which calculates a delay period based on the first and second signals, and a pulse generator which receives the delay period from the computer and which generates a pulse delayed by the delay period to open the optical switch.