US 12,155,179 B2
Laser apparatus and method of operation therefor
Arkady Khachaturov, Haifa (IL)
Assigned to Lumenis Ltd., Yokneam Ilit (IL)
Filed by LUMENIS LTD., Yokneam (IL)
Filed on Apr. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/226,263.
Application 17/226,263 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IL2019/051060, filed on Sep. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/745,376, filed on Oct. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0234340 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/04 (2006.01); H01S 5/40 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 5/4075 (2013.01) [G02B 26/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser apparatus for emitting a train of laser pulses along a single optical path towards a target, the laser apparatus comprising:
an array of laser devices LD(i) where i=1, . . . , n under individual fire control for emitting laser pulses, said array of laser devices including:
a trailing laser device LD(1) remotest from the target, and
at least one laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n between said trailing laser device and the target,
wherein the laser device of said at least one laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n is configured to emit laser pulses along an optical axis OA(i) where i=2, . . . , n,
wherein at least one of the optical axis OA(i) where i=2, . . . , n intercepts the single optical path and is not co-axial with the single optical path;
a motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement for continuously rotating a laser pulse reflector LPR(i) associated with each said laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . , n around a rotation axis offset by a radius R from the single optical path at a uniform angular velocity ω for reflecting laser pulses along the single optical path toward the target; and
a controller synchronized with said motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement for individually firing each said laser device of said array of laser devices for emitting a train of laser pulses reaching the target without obstruction by said motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement,
wherein each laser pulse reflector LPR(i) associated with each said laser device LD(i) where i=2, . . . n, has an arcuate shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge with respect to an intended direction of rotation, the leading edge and trailing edge defining an arc length AL which satisfies the following: AL is greater than or equal to ωτR+D, where τ is a pulse width of the laser pulses, and D is a laser pulse diameter.