IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012

H01S - Definition fr

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Devices using stimulated emission, for the generation or amplification of coherent electromagnetic waves or other forms of wave energy, e.g. masers, lasers, X-ray lasers, gamma lasers, optical amplifiers.

Constructional details or arrangements, e.g. housings, packages, cooling, electrodes.

Configuration of the resonators, or shape of the active media.

Processes or apparatus for pumping (exciting) said devices.

Such functions as modulating, demodulating, frequency-changing, controlling, or stabilising of said coherent electromagnetic waves, insofar these functions are performed by elements being part of the optical resonators or amplifier's arrangements; this includes particularly:

The special choice or adaptation of materials as active media.

Devices using non-linear amplification effects, e.g. stimulated Raman or Brillouin scattering

Relationship between large subject matter areas

This subclass covers functions as modulating, demodulating, frequency-changing, controlling, or stabilising of coherent electromagnetic waves, insofar these functions are performed by elements being part of the optical resonators or amplifier's arrangements, e.g. inside-cavity harmonic generation. Said functions when performed outside the resonators or amplifier's arrangement, e.g. harmonic generation, are covered by subclass G02F.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Super-luminescent diodes

H01L 33/00
Examples of places where the subject matter of this class is covered when specially adapted, used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:

Eye surgery using laser

A61F 9/008

Radiation therapy using laser light

A61N 5/067

Sintering by using laser light

B22F 3/105

Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting, boring

B23K 26/00

Joining of preformed parts by using laser light

B29C 65/16

Laser printers

B41J 2/44, B41J 2/455

Ring laser gyrometers; fibre laser gyrometers

G01C 19/66, G01C 19/72

Investigating or analysing colour or spectral properties of materials by using tunable lasers

G01N 21/39

Apparatus specially adapted for photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces

G03F 7/20

Laser heads for recording or reproducing

G11B 7/125

Laser recording associated with non-optical reproducing, or laser reproducing associated with non-optical recording

G11B 11/00

Trimming by laser in the manufacture of resistors

H01C 17/242

Photolithographic processing on semiconductor bodies

H01L 21/027

Transmission systems employing light, e.g. all-optical repeaters

H04B 10/00, H04B 10/17

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements

G02B 6/42

Laser speckle optics

G02B 27/48

Control of light beams in general

G02F

Non-linear optics per se

G02F 1/35

Semiconductor devices specially adapted for light emission

H01L 33/00

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Active medium

A medium providing for optical gain by the stimulated emission effect when excited by an excitation (pump) energy source.

Pumping

The process of providing the active medium for excitation energy.

Synonyms and Keywords

LASER

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

MASER

Microwave Amplification By Stimulated Emission Of Radiation – also known as Microwave Laser

EDFA

Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifier

SOA

Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

DBR Laser

Distributed Bragg Reflector Laser

DFB Laser

Distributed Feed-Back Laser

In patent documents the following expressions/words:

"active medium", " gain medium" and "lasing medium"

"excitation, and "pump(ing)"

are often used as synonyms.