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:
Feb. 27, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 27, 1999
Benjamin K. Jones, Seattle, WA (US);
Jeffery A. Broderick, Seattle, WA (US);
Jason W. Bethel, Seattle, WA (US);
Eugene F. Yelden, Mill Creek, WA (US);
Erik R. Stockinger, Lake Forest Park, WA (US);
Synrad, Inc., Mukilteo, WA (US);
Abstract
A laser assembly system and method uses an electrode assembly and flexible housing to reduce manufacturing costs and complexity. The flexible housing also helps to insure uniform contact with the housing and electrically insulating material between the housing and electrodes. The uniform contact in turn assists in maintaining a uniform electric field in the discharge area of the laser, which affects laser performance, and assists in maintaining efficient cooling of the electrodes and the lasing medium. The electrode assembly is pre-assembled before insertion into the laser housing, which reduces adverse effects of anomalies of housing construction and helps to reduce the complexity and cost of manufacturing of the laser. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrodes that are separated by spacers made out of an electrically insulating material such as ceramic. The first and second electrodes are rigidly linked together in the electrode assembly by linkages such as including bolts and ceramic bushings. In an unflexed position, top and bottom walls of the housing are slightly bowed toward the center of the housing. The thickness and bow of the top and bottom walls of the housing allow for substantial resilient flexing of the housing under an applied outward force to the top and bottom walls of the housing. The outward flexing of the top and bottom walls of the housing accommodates insertion of the electrode assembly into the housing. After the electrode assembly is inserted into the housing, the applied force to the top and bottom walls of the housing is removed, which allows the top and bottom walls of the housing to supply a clamping force onto the outer surfaces of the electrode assembly due to the bow and resiliency of the top and bottom walls of the housing.