Patent ID: 6304475
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A laser power supply apparatus for supplying AC power to a gas contained in a laser device by way of a pair of dielectric layers to form a high-frequency discharge in the gas, exciting the gas, thereby causing the laser device to radiate, said laser power supply apparatus comprising:a DC power supply having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; andinverter means comprising two pairs of series-connected arms, the pairs of series-connected arms being connected in parallel, each pair of series-connected arms including a high voltage arm connected to the positive terminal of said DC power supply and a low voltage a rm connected to the negative terminal of said DC power supply, each arm including a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in series, each pair or of series-connected arms directly converting a DC voltage from said DC power supply into a series of AC output pulses having an AC voltage higher than the DC voltage and supplied to the laser device by simultaneously turning on or off said semiconductor or switches in respective arms, and furnishing the series of AC output pulses to the laser device at a pair of output terminals, each output terminal being located between said high voltage arm and said low voltage arm of each pair of series-connected arms.