Jason W Bethel

US Patent:

6603794, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Sep 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/948054

Inventors:

Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA
Eugene F. Yelden - Mukilteo WA
Alex B. Dexter - Lake Stevens WA
Jeffery A. Broderick - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 308

US Classification:

372 98, 372 55, 372 64

Abstract:

A system and method for laser beam coupling between waveguide optics uses extension members to reduce power losses in a laser beam traveling within a resonator cavity of the laser beam. In some embodiments, the extension members are made of electrically conducting material and are spaced from longitudinal ends of electrodes by electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is sized to prevent electrical discharge from occurring between the electrode and the extension member adjacent thereto. In other embodiments, the extension members are fashioned from a lasing medium such as from a solid-state crystal lasing medium.

US Patent:

6614826, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

May 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/565733

Inventors:

Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA
Eugene F. Yelden - Mill Creek WA
Jeffery A. Broderick - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 306

US Classification:

372 64, 372 66, 372 87, 372 39

Abstract:

A laser system and method having an output laser beam uses an gain medium with one or more output beam transverse profile tailoring (OBTPT) longitudinal strips to tailor the transverse profile of the output laser beam to a desirable shape such as having a symmetrical profile transverse to the direction of propagation of the output laser beam. The laser system has two reflector systems on opposite ends in the long z-axis dimension of the gain medium to form a resonator that outputs the output laser beam following the same long z-axis dimension. In some embodiments the gain medium has a narrow y-axis dimension and a wide x-axis dimension. In these embodiments the OBTPT longitudinal strips have lengths running the long z-axis dimension, widths running the wide x-axis dimension and thicknesses running the narrow y-axis dimension of the gain medium. The widths of the OBTPT longitudinal strips are generally chosen with respect to coupling width of the output laser beam. The OBTPT longitudinal strips are contoured to change their y-axis thicknesses with respect to position along the z-axis so that the output laser beam is formed with a desired transverse profile upon exiting the laser system.

US Patent:

20010033588, Oct 25, 2001

Filed:

Jan 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/766248

Inventors:

Jeffery Broderick - Seattle WA, US
Benjamin Jones - Seattle WA, US
Jason Bethel - Seattle WA, US
Eugene Yelden - Mukilteo WA, US

International Classification:

H01S003/14

US Classification:

372/039000

Abstract:

A laser system and method for beam enhancement utilizes shaped electrodes or one or more shaped lasing media, including crystal media, to prescribe the operational transverse modes of a laser beam produced by the laser. The electrodes and shaped lasing media are shaped with respect to the transverse mode or modes to be selected for operational use. In some embodiments shaping is done according to a desired mode so that the desired mode has the highest power level of any of the modes present in the laser beam during operation of the laser. In some embodiments, the electrodes or lasing media are so shaped that the total power of the laser beam fluctuates below plus and minus 10% of an average total power level. Some embodiments utilize folded resonators. Other embodiments utilize other resonators including resonators having multiple discharge sections and are not folded.

US Patent:

61987581, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Dec 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/472726

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Broderick - Seattle WA
Benjamin K. Jones - Seattle WA
Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA
Eugene F. Yelden - Mill Creek WA

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 304

US Classification:

372 36

Abstract:

A laser with a heat transfer system and method of making the same using electrodes. The heat transfer system draws heat from the electrodes which have internal electrode surfaces adjacent to a lasing medium of the laser. Cooling of the electrodes helps to maintain proper operating temperature for the lasing medium. The heat transfer system utilizes thermally conductive material positioned between external surfaces of the electrodes and internal surfaces of a housing that contains the electrodes and the lasing medium. Since the thermally conductive material adds capacitance to the laser system, inductance may be added for compensation depending upon the amount of thermally conductive material used. Options exist for positioning and applying the thermally conductive material between the electrodes and housing including press fitting strips of the thermally conductive material in depressions in the electrodes, and spray coating the thermally conductive material onto the electrodes, or the housing, or onto both the electrodes and the housing.

US Patent:

6198759, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Dec 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/472733

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Broderick - Seattle WA
Benjamin K. Jones - Seattle WA
Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA
Eugene F. Yelden - Mill Creek WA

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 314

US Classification:

372 39

Abstract:

A laser system and method for beam enhancement utilizes shaped electrodes or one or more shaped lasing media, including crystal media, to prescribe the operational transverse modes of the laser. The electrodes and shaped lasing media are shaped with respect to the transverse mode or modes to be selected for operational use. In some embodiments shaping is done according to the selected transverse modes for operation so that at least a designated percentage of the total operational power of the beam is made up of the selected transverse modes. The designated percentage of total operational power of the selected transverse modes can be 90% of the total power of the beam, but in other more relaxed cases can be 85% and in other more stringent cases are 95% of the beam. In some embodiments, the electrodes or lasing media are so shaped that the theoretical fundamental transverse mode is the only selected transverse operational mode. Some embodiments utilize folded resonators.

US Patent:

61953792, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Dec 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/472735

Inventors:

Benjamin K. Jones - Seattle WA
Jeffery A. Broderick - Seattle WA
Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA
Eugene F. Yelden - Mill Creek WA
Erik R. Stockinger - Lake Forest Park WA

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 3097

US Classification:

372 87

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.

US Patent:

20200203912, Jun 25, 2020

Filed:

May 9, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/612601

Inventors:

- Mukilteo WA, US
Jason Bethel - Seattle WA, US
Ross Wheeler - Mukilteo WA, US
Patrick Kolsch - Mukilteo WA, US

Assignee:

Novanta Corporation - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 3/082
H01S 3/137
H01S 3/081
H01S 3/105
H01S 3/106
H01S 3/223

Abstract:

An external optical feedback element () for tuning an output beam of a gas laser () having multiple wavelengths includes a partially reflective optical element () positioned on a beam path of the output beam () outside of an internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), and a stage () to support the optical element and adjust rotation, horizontal tilt angle, and vertical tilt angle of the optical element with respect to the beam path. The output beam () is partially reflected at the optical element () and fed back into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), with the intensity varying for multiple wavelengths and adjusted by changing rotation, horizontal tilt angle and vertical tilt angle of the optical element. Thereby, a variable feedback of the output beam into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser is provided, which leads to a selective output wavelength of the gas laser, either at a single line or at multiple lines simultaneously. This setup may allow to control the wavelength of a commercial CO2 gas laser without a modification of the laser itself by adding a coupled cavity with a wavelength selective element like a grating to the given gas laser resonator.

US Patent:

20170214210, Jul 27, 2017

Filed:

Apr 30, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/265743

Inventors:

- Mukilteo WA, US
Raymond L. Silta - North Bend WA, US
Jason W. Bethel - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Synrad, Inc. - Mukilteo WA

International Classification:

H01S 3/08
H01S 3/097
H01S 3/038
H01S 3/22

Abstract:

A resonator for a laser includes a first resonator wall and a second resonator wall with a lasing medium disposed in a gap therebetween. The resonator further includes a first mirror disposed at a first end of the first and second resonator walls and a second mirror disposed at a second end of the first and second resonator walls. The mirrors cooperate to form an intra-cavity laser beam that travels along a plurality of paths through the lasing medium. Furthermore, the first mirror and the second mirror form a laser resonator for a parasitic laser mode. A parasitic mode suppressor is located within the superfluous region.