JPH04196379A - Output timing control device of q-switch pulse laser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the timing control of a laser output to be carried out in time variation smaller than the rated accuracy of a timing controller by a method wherein a means which enables Q-switch timing signals given to a Q-switching element to change with time is provided. CONSTITUTION:A Q-switching element 2 and a means 4 which enables Q-switch timing signals 6 given to the Q-switching element 2 to change with time are provided. Therefore, the Q-switch timing signals 6 is directly controlled in timing in an optimal range of a time difference between the Q-switch timing signals 6 and a flashing light signal 5, whereby the timing control of a laser output can be carried out without including the time variation of the other circuits. By this setup, the timing control of a laser output can be carried out in time variation smaller than the rated accuracy of a timing controller 4.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to output control of a Q-switched pulsed laser, and particularly to output control of a Q-switched pulsed laser that controls the laser emission start time of the Q-switched pulsed laser. Regarding equipment.

[Prior Art] A conventional output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser has a laser resonator 1 as shown in FIG.
and a laser power source 3 that outputs a laser output signal to the Q-switch element 2 provided in the laser resonator 1.

In this Q-switch pulse laser output timing control device, the Q-switch timing signal 6 to the Q-switch element 2 is temporally variable in order to have an optimal time difference with respect to the flash lamp emission signal 5 of the laser power source 3. I'm letting you do it.

Furthermore, the timing control of the laser output is performed by varying the flash lamp emission signal 5 of the laser power source 3 using the timing controller 4. The Q-switching timing signal 6 is fixed at an optimal time with respect to the flash lamp emission signal 5. That is, Q-
Once the switch timing signal 6 is set, it is never changed again.

In such a Q-switch pulse laser output timing control device, the flash lamp 7 of the laser resonator 1 emits light in response to the flash lamp light emission signal 5 of the laser power source 3.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a laser timing control device for a Q-switch pulsed laser, even if the timing controller 4 sets the time, the setting is only for the flash lamp emission signal 5 of the laser power source 3. It's just that. The drawback is that the timing of the laser output can only be controlled with precision that includes the time fluctuations of these circuits.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, in a Q-switched pulse laser, an element that performs Q-switching and a means for temporally varying a Q-switching timing signal to the element are provided. An output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser is obtained.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an output timing control device for a Q-switched pulse laser according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same parts as in FIG. 3 will be described with the same reference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 1, the output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser includes a Q-switched element 2 that performs Q-switching, and a Q-switched timing signal 6 to this element 2 that is temporally varied. It has a circuit. By instantaneously varying the Q-switching timing signal 6, the laser emission start time of the Q-switched pulse laser is controlled.

In the Q-switch pulse laser output timing control device, a flash lamp 7 of a laser resonator 1 emits light in response to a flash lamp light emission signal 5 output from a laser power source 3. At the same time, a part of the flash lamp light emission signal 5 enters the external signal input of the timing controller 4, and after a time difference set by the timing controller 4, the Q-switching timing signal 6 is output.

This Q-switching timing signal 6 drives the Q-switch element 2 to perform Q-switching. moreover,
The laser output of the Q-switched pulse laser is obtained with a time difference set by the timing controller 4 with respect to the flash lamp light emission signal 5. At this time, the setting time variable range of the timing controller 4 needs to be an optimal range for performing Q-switching.
Outside this optimum range, the laser output will decrease or the laser output will not be obtained.

This Q-switched pulse laser output timing control device includes a Q-switched timing signal 6,
Within the optimal range of time difference with flash emission signal 5, Q-
By directly controlling the timing of the switching timing signal 6, laser output timing control that does not include time fluctuations of other circuits is performed. The laser output timing control is controlled by time fluctuations with an accuracy equal to or less than the setting accuracy of the timing controller 4.

FIG. 2 shows an output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, this Q-switched pulse laser output timing control device consists of two laser power sources 3 and 3.
, 10, and laser resonators 1 and 8 respectively connected to these laser power sources 3 and 10. The output timing control device of Q-switched pulsed laser is
In response to the emission command signal 14, the laser power supplies 3 and 10 output flash lamp light emission signals 5 and 11, respectively, causing the flash lamps 2 and 13 to emit light. At this time, the generation timing of the flash lamps 2 and 13 includes time fluctuations in the circuits of the respective laser power sources 3 and 10, but the timing controller 4 changes the time setting with the Q-switching timing signal 6, respectively, in response to the emission command signal 14. , 12, the time difference with the laser output obtained from the laser resonators 1, 8 depends only on the time setting of the timing controller 4, and the time difference between the flash lamp emission signals 5, 11 of each laser power source 3, 10 and the Q-switch. Q- of element 2゜9
Set the switching timing signals 6, 12 to the optimum times, and set the flash lamp emission signals 5.11 of the laser power supplies 3, 10 and the Q-switching timing signals 6°12 of the Q-switch elements 2, 9 to the optimum times. The flash lamp generation signal 5 of the laser power supply 3 and the flash lamp generation signal 11 of the laser power supply 10 must be
The temporal relationship with

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above in the embodiments, according to the output timing control of the Q-switched pulse laser of the present invention, the output timing control of the Q-switched pulsed laser is performed using the Q-switching timing signal and the flash. By directly controlling the timing of the Q-switching timing signal within the optimal range of the time difference with the light emission signal, laser output timing control that does not include time fluctuations of other circuits can be achieved, and time fluctuations with an accuracy less than the setting accuracy of the timing controller can be achieved. The difference is that it can be controlled by

By directly time varying the Q-switching timing signal of the Q-switched pulse laser output from the Q-switched element, there is an effect that the accuracy can be obtained with time fluctuations that depend on the accuracy of the timing controller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an output timing control device for a Q-switched pulse laser according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an output timing control device for a Q-switched pulse laser according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser. 1; Laser resonator, 2; Q-switch element, 3; Laser power supply, 4: Timing controller, 5: Flash lamp light emission signal, 6; Q-switching timing signal, 7; Flash lamp, 9; Q-switch element, 11
; Flash lamp light emission signal; 14: Emission command signal. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a Q-switched pulsed laser, Q
- An output timing control device for a Q-switched pulsed laser, comprising a switching element and means for temporally varying a Q-switching timing signal to the element.