JPS6324688A - Laser block assembled unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a new structure for a ring laser, and more particularly to a structure that can be manufactured at lower cost than conventional structures.

[Conventional technology]

Ring laser angular rate sensors are well known and are described, among other things, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,373.650 and 3.390.606. Such ring laser angular velocity sensors generally employ blocks made of dimensionally thermally and mechanically stable materials. The block typically includes a plurality of interconnected gas-containing tunnels or cavities forming a closed loop path in the form of a triangle, rectangle or any polygon.

A reflector is mounted on the block at each intersection of a pair of interconnected tunnels. This arrangement, interconnected with the reflector, forms a closed optical loop path. Additionally, at least one anode and at least one cathode are mounted on the block and communicated with the gas. The nine components, including the reflector and the anode and cathode, must be sealed to the block to form a hermetic seal. Inside the block there is usually a laser active gas such as a mixture of helium and neon. A sufficiently large potential is applied between the anode and the cathode to cause a discharge between the anode and the cathode. As a result of the discharge, a pair of laser beams propagating in opposite directions are generated within the block.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

An essential part of a ring laser is the laser block. Conventional materials for laser blocks include Zerodur (Z@rodur), Surpit ((@rvit)
, borosilicate glass, etc. Holes must be precisely drilled in the block to form the interconnecting tunnels that form the polygonal ring laser path, and sometimes the gas reservoir. Polygonal ring laser paths are generally rectangular or triangular.

Precise drilling is of course time consuming and expensive. This is especially the case since the materials used are based on silicon dioxide.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to obtain a new structure of a ring laser block that can be produced at low cost and a method of assembling the same.

[Means for solving problems]

Briefly, the present invention provides a ring laser made from a ninety-two piece block with a mirror assembly assembled together. The three-part block includes a first block member and a second block member having cavities that are mirror images of each other and form a polygonal cavity. The two block members are attached to each other by a heat sealable adhesive and are positioned such that the polygonal cavities of each block member are aligned with each other.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one half of the laser block assembly of the present invention. This figure shows a block member 10 having a first surface (not shown) and a second surface 12. As shown in FIG. Second
From the surface 12 of the block member 10 is a first
The cavities 11.13°15 of the pair are extended to form the vertices 17,1
8. Construct a polygonal path with 19. Block member 1
0 also includes gas reservoir space 20a #20b120e. Each gas reservoir cavity is connected to adjacent intersecting cavities, e.g. 11 and 15.
It has hollow portions 21&, 21b along the lines, and a large hollow portion 22.

The gas reservoir cavities 20&-20a are for containing laser working gas.

Cavities 23, 24 leading to cavities 11, 13 and 15 respectively
, 25 are also provided. The cavities 23, 24, 25 are connected to electrodes to ionize the gas in a well-known manner.

Figures 2 and 2 are plan views of the ring laser of the present invention. This figure shows a pair of block members 10a+10b, reflecting mirror assemblies 202, 204, 206, and electrodes 210, 212°2.
14 is shown. The block member 10b is provided with a pair of cavities that are mirror images of the cavities in the block member 1Oa. Identical block members 1 with line symmetry
0m and 10b are preferred structures.

The reflector assembly and electrodes are arranged similarly to a conventional ring laser.

FIG. 2b, which is a side view of FIG. 2a, shows cavities 11°, 13.
A pair of block members 10m, 10b are shown juxtaposed such that 15 are aligned with each other.

These pair of block members IQa, 10b are different from the conventional ring laser block as described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat.
390,606 to form a complete ring laser block that performs the same intended function as that of the ring laser block shown in No. 390,606. Block members 1Oa and 1
0b is simply attached by suitable bonding techniques that absorb the thermal and mechanical stresses experienced in the intended application. Block members 10a and 10b are attached to each other by a thin film of heat sealable adhesive or optical contact.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2b, each block member 1Qa,
10b includes end faces 30, 31, 32 (end face 32 is not shown in Figure 2b). Block members 101 and 10
b are properly joined together, the reflectors 202, 20
4,206, their end faces are polished appropriately for joining. The mirrors can be attached to the υbron 2 members 10&, 10b by optical contact techniques, heat-sealable adhesives, or other bonding techniques as required by the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, block members 10&
110b starts out as a solid block with opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface is then coated with a thin film of bonding agent (preferably a thin film of glass applied to the first surface by vacuum sputtering) that can be heat sealed. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a cavity is formed in the diblock member 10 by ultrasonic processing. However, it is also possible to form these cavities by machining.

Once the pair of block members have been properly cleaned, the block members are placed together in alignment with a bonding agent applied to the joints. The block member is then placed in a furnace and heated to a temperature at which the glass thin film melts together with the block member. Of course, the heating temperature depends on the melting temperature or softening point of the selected bonding agent. Glass bonding agents typically soften at temperatures in the range of 450-800°C.

In the embodiments described herein, the thin film bonding agent is
It consists of a thin glass film initially deposited by vacuum sputtering. Examples of glasses that can be used are Corning ((oyn)
Glass & 7954 made of lead oxide glass by Ing) Co., Ltd.
Or a low expansion glass such as Na0211, which is a borosilicate glass. The thickness of the vacuum sputtered glass layer is from 1 to about 20 microns. The thicker the layer, the stronger the thermal mismatch effect, which can shorten the lifetime of the rape. Therefore, the membrane should be the minimum thickness necessary to achieve the desired bond strength.

Moreover, a pair of block members can also be joined by optical contact. When bonding by optical contact, the above steps can be used as they are, except for the step of applying the bonding agent. After forming the cavity in the block member, the surface of the block member containing the cavity can be polished to provide optical contact.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring laser block member, FIG. 2a is a plan view of a ring laser block assembly including a reflecting mirror,
Figure 2b is a side view of Figure 2a. 10aelOb ” ” ・Block member, 11.
13゜15*eas cavity, 20&, 20b, 20e@
--@Gas reservoir empty space, 23, 24, 25-... empty space,
202.204,206...Reflector assembly, 21
0,212°214-... Electrode. Patent applicant Masaki Yamakawa (and 2 others), sub-agent of Honeywell Inc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) a first surface having an opposite first surface and a second surface and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface;
a second block member having opposing first and second surfaces and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface; The plurality of cavities of the member are
at least a first polygon structure that combines to form the selected polygonal structure.
the plurality of cavities of the second block member include at least a second set of cavities that combine to form a mirror image of the selected polygon; The second block member is connected to the first block such that the cavities forming the selected polygons of the block member and the selected polygons of the second block member are aligned with each other. A laser block assembly characterized in that it is joined to a member. (2) a first surface having an opposite first surface and a second surface and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface;
a second block member having opposing first and second surfaces and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface; a reflective surface; the plurality of cavities of the first block member include at least a first set of cavities that combine to form a selected polygonal structure; The plurality of cavities includes at least a second set of cavities that combine to form a mirror image of the selected polygon, and the selected polygon of the first block member and the second set of cavities combine to form a mirror image of the selected polygon. the second block member is attached to the first block member by a thin film of heat-sealable adhesive such that the cavities forming the selected polygon of the block member are aligned with each other; The laser block has an end face at each of the cavities intersecting each of the cavities forming the polygon, and the reflective surface is fixed to the end face of the laser block to define the selected polygonal cavity. A ring laser assembly characterized in that the ring laser assembly is sealed to form an optically closed loop path. (3) a first surface having an opposite first surface and a second surface and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface;
a second block member having opposing first and second surfaces and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface; The plurality of cavities of the member are
at least a first polygon structure that combines to form the selected polygonal structure.
the plurality of cavities of the second block member include at least a second set of cavities that combine to form a mirror image of the selected polygon; a block member is attached to the first block member by a thin film of heat-sealable adhesive, and the selected polygons of the first block member and the selected polygons of the second block member 2. A laser block assembly, wherein said second block member and said first block member are attached to each other such that said cavities forming a laser block are aligned with each other. (4) a first surface having an opposite first surface and a second surface and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface;
a second block member having opposing first and second surfaces and a plurality of cavities extending inwardly from the second surface; , a reflective surface, the plurality of cavities of the first block member including at least a first set of cavities that combine to form a selected polygonal structure;
the plurality of cavities of the block member of includes at least a second set of cavities that combine to form a mirror image of the selected polygon, and the second block member includes a heat sealable bonding agent. attached to the first block member by a membrane of the invention, the cavities forming the selected polygons of the first block member and the selected polygons of the second block member are aligned with each other; the second block member and the first block member are attached to each other such that the laser block has end faces at respective intersecting cavities forming the polygon; A ring laser assembly, wherein a reflective surface is fixed to the end face of the laser block to seal the selected polygonal cavity and form a closed optical loop path.