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| United States Patent |
6,433,306
|
|
Grubb
, et al.
|
August 13, 2002
|
Semiconductor laser high power amplifier system for materials processing
Abstract
A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing
comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating
ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of
SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 .mu.J to about
100 .mu.J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal
from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical
output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal
sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire
repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to
the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam
relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The
high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power
applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric,
organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g., material processing, surface
texturing, heat treatment, surface engraving, fine micro-machining,
surface ablation, cutting, grooving, bump forming, coating, soldering,
sealing, surface diffusion and surface conversion to a compound. A
particular example is given for texturing of disk surfaces of magnetic
disk media prior to the deposition or coating of a thin magnetic film on
the textured surfaces to prevent slider stiction.
| Inventors:
|
Grubb; Stephen G. (Fremont, CA);
Welch; David F. (Menlo Park, CA);
Zanoni; Raymond (Fremont, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
JDS Uniphase Corp. (San Jose, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
585262 |
| Filed:
|
June 2, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
219/121.73; 219/121.68; 219/121.65 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B23K 026/06 |
| Field of Search: |
219/121.73,121.63,121.64,121.76,121.77,121.68,121.69,121.65
|
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| |
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| |
Primary Examiner: Elve; M. Alexandra
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kudirka & Jobse, LLP
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