Patent ID: 8687662

Claim:
The method of generating pulses of laser radiation at high repetition rates, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least two laser units, each capable of producing pulses of laser radiation at a repetition rate of F (pulses per second), and capable of being triggered by external low-voltage pulse triggers; (b) providing an electronic pulse generator unit, capable of producing low-voltage trigger pulses that have a repetition rate of 2Ã—F or greater, and capable of triggering said laser units of step (a); (b.1) providing at least one electronic delay unit, capable of accepting the pulses from said pulse generator of step (b) as inputs and providing output pulses that are delayed from said inputs by specified time instants; (c) triggering one of said laser units of step (a) by one sub-set of trigger pulses produced by said pulse generator of step (b); delaying another sub-set of trigger pulses from said pulse generator using one of said electronic delay units of step (b.1); triggering another of said laser units of step (a) by said delayed pulses produced by said electronic delay unit; and triggering other laser units of step (a) by other delayed trigger pulses produced by other electronic delay units to which inputs are other sub-sets of trigger pulses from said pulse generator of step (b); (d) providing a timing data file having timing instants at which all the laser pulses from all the said laser units of step (a) are to be emitted; and (e) using the timing data file of step (d) to control the delays of said electronic delay units of step (b.1) and timings of the generation of the different sub-sets of trigger pulses produced by said pulse generator of step (b), such that said different laser units of step (a) are triggered by said sub-sets of trigger pulses produced by said pulse generator of step (b) and said electronic delay units of step (b.1) at specified time instants, such that the repetition rate of an aggregate train of laser pulses from all said laser units of step (a) is greater than said repetition rate of F of a single laser unit, and the laser pulses in said aggregate train of laser pulses are emitted at specified time instants.