Laser system controller

Abstract

A laser controller (12) that has particular application for controlling a solid state diode laser (10) including a series of gain modules and associated diode arrays. The laser controller (12) includes a control console (44) including a touch screen (46) that allows a laser operator to interface with the controller (12) to control the laser (10) and laser parameters. The control console (44) includes a target monitor (50) that allows the operator to view the laser beam at a reduced beam intensity for alignment and beam quality purposes. The laser controller (12) further includes a computer (14) having a counter circuit (20) that outputs a signal to set the pulse width and pulse rate of the laser beam output. This control allows the laser beam output to be ramped from one beam intensity to another beam intensity during a laser operation. The counter/timer circuit (24) and a series of end of pulse detectors (26) in the controller (12) allow sequencing of the output signal to the various diode arrays in the gain modules so that the laser beam output can be formed into a continuous wave. The computer (14) further includes a pattern generator that outputs a signal that ramps a laser beam modulator to modulate the beam output pulse into a stream of smaller, higher peak energy, pulses. The laser controller (12) also includes a power supply interface system (58) that isolates the control computer (14) from the primary power supplies (16) that provide power to the diode arrays. A laser mirror motor control system (66) allows the operator to manually control the mirrors of the laser (10) through the control console (44). Shut down electronics (70) bypass the computer (14) and automatically shut down the primary power supplies (16) in the event of a safety breach.