US 12,444,900 B2
Methods of laser pulse development and maintenance in a compact laser resonator
Micha Boyd, Longmont, CO (US)
Assigned to Arete Associates, Northridge, CO (US)
Filed by Arete Associates, Niwot, CO (US)
Filed on May 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/675,616.
Application 18/675,616 is a continuation of application No. 17/958,317, filed on Sep. 30, 2022, granted, now 12,009,631.
Application 17/958,317 is a continuation of application No. 17/107,940, filed on Nov. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,469,569.
Application 17/107,940 is a continuation of application No. 16/198,758, filed on Nov. 21, 2018, granted, now 10,855,050.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/660,244, filed on Apr. 19, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/589,510, filed on Nov. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0313500 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. H01S 3/115 (2006.01); G02F 1/03 (2006.01); H01S 3/083 (2006.01); H01S 3/10 (2006.01); H01S 3/127 (2006.01); H01S 3/13 (2006.01); H01S 3/136 (2006.01); H01S 3/0941 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 3/1305 (2013.01) [G02F 1/0327 (2013.01); H01S 3/083 (2013.01); H01S 3/10061 (2013.01); H01S 3/115 (2013.01); H01S 3/127 (2013.01); H01S 3/136 (2013.01); H01S 3/0941 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A Q-switched laser system, comprising:
a laser cavity comprising a Q-switch module, a laser gain medium, an output coupler, and a reflector, the Q-switch module being optically coupled between the laser gain medium and the reflector;
a pump diode optically coupled to the laser gain medium, and operable to pump the gain medium with optical energy;
an electric pulse generator electrically coupled to the Q-switch module;
an adjustable power supply electrically coupled to the electric pulse generator, and operable to control the electric pulse generator to apply multilevel voltage pulses to the Q-switch module that cause the gain medium to build optical energy for emission of laser pulses through the output coupler; and
a feedback module optically coupled to the output coupler and operable to automatically adjust the adjustable power supply based on a laser pulse emitted from the laser cavity through the output coupler to maintain at least one of a pre-determined shape a pre-determined intensity of a laser pulse output from the laser cavity.