Patent ID: 6339604
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: B23K,H01C,H01G,H01S

Abstract:
A pulsed laser system comprising:a laser pump; a laser rod; a reflector interposed between the laser pump and the laser rod, through which energy from the laser pump enters the laser rod; an output reflector through which energy is emitted from the laser rod; a switch interposed between the laser rod and the output reflector configured to be closed to cause energy to be stored in the laser rod for a desired period of time, and to be opened to allow energy to be emitted from the laser rod during an emission period; a control device constructed to allow a primary laser pulse emitted from the laser rod during the emission period to impinge on a workpiece and to prevent at least a portion of secondary laser emission occurring after the primary pulse during the emission period from impinging on the workpiece; and a processor programmed to cause the control device to allow the primary laser pulse emitted from the laser rod during the emission period to impinge on the workpiece and to prevent at least a portion of secondary laser emission occurring after the primary pulse during the emission period from impinging on the workpiece.