Mark D Sobottke

US Patent:

48842818, Nov 28, 1989

Filed:

Sep 9, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/242792

Inventors:

Pliny S. Hawthorn - New Carlisle OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H01S 3091

US Classification:

372 75

Abstract:

A compact, laser diode pumped, high efficiency, solid-state laser comprises an output coupler mirror forming a front end of a laser cavity. A back end of the laser cavity is formed by a rear mirror through which emissions from a laser diode pass for pumping a laser chip of stoichiometric lasing material. A frequency doubler chip is positioned immediately adjacent the laser chip to double the frequency of light generated by the laser chip and thereby halve its wavelength. The laser chip is bonded to the frequency doubler chip by coupling material having a refractive index matched to the chips to nearly eliminate reflections at the bonded chip surfaces. Such bonding increases the effective Q of the laser cavity which receives the bonded combination of the laser chip and the doubler chip at a beam waist defined within the laser cavity by means of beam shaping with the laser chip being positioned to receive pumping energy from a laser diode through the rear mirror of the laser cavity. Spiking or peaking of the output laser light is effected by gain switching, phase modulation or by imparting vibratory motion to the bonded combination of the laser chip and the frequency doubler chip.

US Patent:

54504295, Sep 12, 1995

Filed:

Jun 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/252948

Inventors:

Daniel R. Klemer - Dayton OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

H01S 310

US Classification:

372 22

Abstract:

A solid-state laser comprises a pump diode for generating pump radiation and transmitting the pump radiation into a laser cavity. The pump radiation passes through an entrance mirror and enters a laser gain chip which lases to produce fundamental laser light. The fundamental laser light passes through a harmonic reflector and a first dispersive element and is frequency doubled by a frequency doubler chip to produce harmonic laser light. The harmonic laser light passes through a second dispersive element and impinges on a mirrored surface. A portion of the harmonic laser light passes through the mirrored surface to form the output beam of the laser. The remaining portion of the harmonic laser light is reflected back into the laser cavity. First and second dispersive elements control the phase of the harmonic laser light in the laser cavity such that substantially all of the harmonic laser light is in-phase when the harmonic laser light impinges upon the mirrored surface.

US Patent:

54208769, May 30, 1995

Filed:

Jun 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/252947

Inventors:

Jamie N. Lussier - Huber Heights OH
Daniel R. Klemer - Dayton OH
Pliny S. Hawthorn - Vandalia OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

H01S 310

US Classification:

372 22

Abstract:

An intracavity frequency-doubled solid-state laser uses a Nd:GdVO. sub. 4 laser gain chip to generate a beam of visible laser light which may have wavelengths substantially in the green portion of the optical spectrum. A back end of the laser cavity is defined by an entrance mirror while a front end of the laser cavity is defined by a mirrored surface. A laser diode generates pump light which is transmitted through the entrance mirror into the laser gain chip. The laser gain chip, which may be immediately adjacent the entrance mirror, emits fundamental laser light having a wavelength of approximately 1063 nm in response to the pump light. A frequency doubler chip positioned immediately adjacent the laser gain chip doubles the frequency of the fundamental laser light to produce harmonic laser light having a wavelength of substantially 532 nm. In a second embodiment, the frequency doubler chip is immediately adjacent to the entrance mirror and the laser gain chip is immediately adjacent to the frequency doubler chip. The mirrored surface reflects a portion of the harmonic laser light back into the laser cavity and transmits a portion of the harmonic laser light from the laser.

US Patent:

54654939, Nov 14, 1995

Filed:

Jun 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/253073

Inventors:

Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH
Daniel R. Klemer - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G01C 1500
G01B 1100

US Classification:

33286

Abstract:

A pipe alignment system and method is provided for positioning a pipe line along a predetermined path. A light transmitter generates a reference light beam along which the pipe line is to be positioned. The light beam has wavelengths substantially in the green portion of the optical spectrum. An optical target is positioned at one end of each pipe section to assist in alignment thereof. Preferably, the optical target has a green tint which filters the green light from ambient light. The optical target may also have reference indicia thereon to assist in aligning the target with the reference beam of light.

US Patent:

49881930, Jan 29, 1991

Filed:

Mar 1, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/317512

Inventors:

Gary L. Cain - New Carlisle OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH
Gerald H. Church - Huber Heights OH
James T. Zalusky - Beavercreek OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01C 100
G01C 918
G01D 536

US Classification:

356152

Abstract:

Apparatus operable in accordance with the method of the present invention for measuring the angle of incidence of a light beam or plane relative to level comprises a photodetector array for sensing the light and a level mirror preferably comprising a pool of mercury. Optics are provided for transmitting the light to the photodetector array in alignment with the angle of incidence of the light (aligned light) and also after the light has been reflected from the mercury pool (reflected light). A shutter is provided for separating aligned light from reflected light such that distinct signals representative of the two are generated by the photodetector array. The distinct signals are processed by up-counting and down-counting a counter circuit to determine the average centers of light spots representative of the aligned light and the reflected light and the distance between those average centers which is representative of the deviation of the light beam or plane from level.

US Patent:

50956299, Mar 17, 1992

Filed:

Jan 31, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/648559

Inventors:

Daniel R. Klemer - New Carlisle OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH
Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G01C 1500
G01B 1100

US Classification:

33293

Abstract:

A laser beam target for use with a projector capable of providing a reference laser beam of light traveling in a predetermined path is provided and includes a main body portion having first and second surfaces. A plurality of projections are provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces for directing at least a portion of the reference beam of light into a specific range of vertical viewing angles away from the path of the beam as the light passes from the body, thereby permitting a worker viewing the target to more easily determine when the reference beam of light is in alignment with appropriate reference indicia on the target.

US Patent:

54794315, Dec 26, 1995

Filed:

Jun 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/252949

Inventors:

Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH
Daniel R. Klemer - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

H01S 308

US Classification:

372 92

Abstract:

An active etalon comprising a laser gain chip interposed between an input mirror and an etalon end mirror is provided. In an intracavity frequency-doubled solid-state laser, a pump source emits pump radiation which passes through the input mirror and into the laser gain chip. The laser gain chip lases in response to the pump radiation to produce fundamental laser light. The etalon end mirror reflects a portion of the fundamental laser light back into the laser gain chip and transmits the remaining portion of the fundamental laser light into the laser cavity. The input mirror reflects substantially all of the fundamental laser light into the laser gain chip. The portion of the fundamental laser light which passes through the etalon end mirror may be frequency doubled by a frequency doubler chip and a portion thereof transmitted through the front end of the laser cavity to form the output laser beam.

US Patent:

46765980, Jun 30, 1987

Filed:

May 15, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/734325

Inventors:

Theodore J. Markley - Vandalia OH
Richard J. Omlor - Englewood OH
William K. Vatter - Springfield OH
Mark D. Sobottke - Kettering OH

Assignee:

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 2714
G01C 1500

US Classification:

350171

Abstract:

Apparatus for projecting a laser beam to provide simultaneously a stationary reference beam and a moving reference beam, which rotates in a plane normal to the stationary reference beam, includes a beam diverting arrangement for intercepting a primary beam and for splitting the beam into the two reference beams. The beam diverting arrangement includes first and second deflecting elements which deflect the beam by 90. degree. with respect to the primary beam. A portion of the primary beam, striking the first deflecting element, passes through the element and is shifted slightly by refraction. This shift is compensated by a third beam deflecting element which is fully transmissive, and which refracts the stationary reference beam into alignment with the primary beam. By cutting the first and third deflection elements from the same sheet of material and reorienting the elements appropriately, slight deviation from parallelism in the opposing surfaces of the sheet of material are compensated.