Patent ID: 7254147

Claim:
A method for controlling a laser, comprising: setting an OFF time value, initializing a counter to cause a laser to emit N laser pulses, continuously irradiating a gain medium with light, thereby turning a Q-switch ON for a first ON time period, then turning the Q-switch OFF for a first OFF time period to increase a gain of the laser when the first ON time period is longer in duration than said OFF time value, turning the Q-switch ON; turning the Q-switch OFF for a second OFF time period to increase a gain of the laser when the first ON time period is shorter in duration than said OFF time value, the first OFF time period being of different duration from the second OFF time period, turning the Q-switch ON to cause said laser to emit a first of said N laser pulses, and turning the Q-switch OFF and ON for N−1 successive cycles to emit N−1 laser pulses, wherein the Q-switch is turned OFF for a second OFF time period to obtain each of the N−1 laser pulses, and the second OFF time period is equal to said OFF time value.