Author: claimsbot

1. A sound process apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a memory having machine executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the sound process apparatus to perform operations comprising:
obtaining sound data based on sound collected by a remote microphone disposed in a remote site;
first determining a volume level of voice and a volume level of noise in the remote site based on the obtained sound data;
second determining a volume level of noise in a local site based on the sound collected by a local microphone disposed in the local site;
third determining a target volume level based on the volume level of the voice in the remote site, the volume level of the noise in the remote site, and the volume level of the noise in the local site; and
notifying a user of information related to the target volume level, and
obtaining the volume level of the voice and the target volume level from a second sound process apparatus disposed in the local site,
wherein the second determining includes determining a volume level of voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and
wherein the third determining includes:
determining whether the volume of the voice from the second sound processing apparatus is greater than the volume of the voice in the local site determined by the second determining, and
determining the target volume from the second sound processing apparatus as the target volume when the volume of the voice from the second sound processing apparatus is greater than the volume of the voice in the local site determined by the second determining.
2. The sound process apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third determining includes determining the target volume level based on at least one of a difference and a ratio between the volume level of the voice in the remote site and the volume level of the noise in the remote site.
3. The sound process apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the second determining includes determining a volume level of voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and wherein
the notifying includes notifying a user of information indicating a relationship between the target volume level and the volume level of the voice in the local site as the information related to the target volume level.
4. The sound process apparatus according to claim 1, wherein notifying a user of information showing that the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level when the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level which the local microphone is able to collect sound.
5. The sound process apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the obtaining includes obtaining a plurality of the sound data collected by a plurality of the remote microphones disposed in a remote site, and wherein
the first determining includes determining the smallest volume level of the voice among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the voice in the remote site and the largest volume level of the noise among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the noise in the remote site.
6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform operations comprising:
obtaining a plurality of sound data based on sound collected by a plurality of remote microphones disposed in a remote site;
determining a volume level of voice and a volume level of noise in the remote site based on the obtained plurality of sound data;
determining a volume level of noise in a local site based on the sound collected by a local microphone disposed in the local site;
determining a target volume level based on the determined volume level of the voice in the remote site, the determined volume level of the noise in the remote site, and the determined volume level of the noise in the local site; and
notifying a user of information related to the target volume level,
wherein the determining the volume level of the voice and the volume level of the noise in the remote site includes determining a smallest volume level of the voice among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the voice in the remote site and a largest volume level of the noise among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the noise in the remote site.
7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the determining the target volume level further includes determining the target volume level based on at least one of a difference and a ratio between the volume level of the voice in the remote site and the volume level of the noise in the remote site.
8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein
the determining the volume level of the noise in the local site further includes determining the volume level of voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and wherein
the notifying includes notifying a user of information indicating a relationship between the target volume level and the volume level of the voice in the local site as the information related to the target volume level.
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the notifying further includes notifying a user of information showing that the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level when the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level which the local microphone is able to collect sound.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 6, further storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform operations comprising:
obtaining the volume level of the voice and the target volume level from a second computer disposed in the local site, wherein
the determining the volume level of the noise in the local site further includes determining the volume level of the voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and wherein
the determining the target volume level includes:
determining whether the volume of the voice from the second computer is greater than the determined volume of the voice in the local site, and
determining the target volume from the second computer as the target volume when the volume of the voice from the second computer is greater than the determined volume of the voice in the local site.
11. A method for a conference system comprising:
obtaining, by a processor disposed in a local site via a communication interface, sound data based on sound collected by a remote microphone disposed in a remote site;
determining, by the processor disposed in the local site, a volume level of voice and a volume level of noise in the remote site based on the obtained sound data;
determining, by the processor disposed in the local site, a volume level of noise in the local site based on the sound collected by a local microphone in the local site;
determining, by the processor disposed in the local site, a target volume level based on the determined volume level of the voice in the remote site, the determined volume level of the noise in the remote site, and the determined volume level of the noise in the local site;
displaying, on a display, information related to the target volume level; and
obtaining, by the processor disposed in the local site, the volume level of the voice and the target volume level from another processor disposed in the local site,
wherein the determining the volume level of the noise in the local site further includes determining the volume level of the voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and
wherein the determining the target volume level includes:
determining whether the volume of the voice from the other processor is greater than the determined volume of the voice in the local site, and
determining the target volume from the other processor as the target volume when the volume of the voice from the other processor is greater than the determined volume of the voice in the local site.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining the target volume level further includes determining the target volume level based on at least one of a difference and a ratio between the volume level of the voice in the remote site and the volume level of the noise in the remote site.
13. The method according to claim 11,
wherein the determining the volume level of the noise in the local site further includes determining the volume level of voice in the local site based on the sound collected by the local microphone, and
wherein the displaying includes displaying information indicating a relationship between the target volume level and the volume level of the voice in the local site as the information related to the target volume level.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the displaying further includes displaying information showing that the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level when the target volume level exceeds a maximum volume level which the local microphone is able to collect sound.
15. The method according to claim 11, wherein
the obtaining further includes obtaining a plurality of the sound data collected by a plurality of the remote microphones disposed in a remote site, and
wherein the determining the volume level of the voice and the volume level of the noise in the remote site includes determining the smallest volume level of the voice among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the voice in the remote site and the largest volume level of the noise among the plurality of the sound data as the volume level of the noise in the remote site.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed:

1. A method of superimposing an additional information signal on a video signal, and detecting said additional information from said video signal on which said additional information is superimposed, which comprises:
generating a first spectral spreading code in predetermined intervals synchronized with a sync signal contained in the video signal;
generating inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes by inverting the polarity of said first spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units;
spectrally spreading the additional information signal by said inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes to generate a spectrally spread additional information signal;
superimposing the spectrally spread additional information signal on said video signal to generate a video signal with additional information;
generating a second spectral spreading code which is the same as the first spectral spreading code in synchronism with the sync signal contained in said video signal with additional information;
adding or subtracting values of said video signal with additional information corresponding to chips of said second spectral spreading code according to the values of said chips of said second spectrally spread signal and the polarity of said predetermined intervals to calculate a cumulative value; and
detecting said additional information in said video signal with additional information by determining whether the cumulative value exceeded either a positive or negative threshold value.
2. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said cumulative value is calculated by adding an additionsubtraction result for intervals of said second spectral spreading code corresponding to inverting intervals of said inverting spectral spreading code, to an additionsubtraction result for non-inverting intervals.
3. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more vertical periods, or 1N (N1) vertical periods, of said video signal.
4. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more horizontal periods of said video signal.
5. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal in said predetermined interval units.
6. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal according to a random number sequence in said predetermined interval units.
7. A method of superimposing an additional information signal, wherein a first spectral spreading code is generated in a predetermined interval synchronized with a sync signal contained in a video signal, inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes are generated by inverting or not inverting the polarity of said first spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units, a spectrally spread additional information signal is generated by spectrally spreading an additional information signal by said inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes, and a video signal with additional information is generated by superimposing said spectrally spread additional information signal on said video signal.
8. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 7, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more vertical periods, or 1N (N1) vertical periods, of said video signal.
9. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 7, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more horizontal periods of said video signal.
10. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 7, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal in said predetermined interval units.
11. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 7, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal according to a random number sequence in said predetermined interval units.
12. A method of superimposing a spectrally spread additional information signal on a video signal, and detecting said additional information from said video signal on which said additional information is superimposed, wherein:
a first spectral spreading code is generated in predetermined intervals synchronized with a sync signal contained in the video signal,
inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes are generated by inverting the polarity of said first spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units,
an additional information signal is spectrally spread by said inverted and non-inverted spectral spreading codes to generate a spectrally spread additional information signal,
the spectrally spread additional information signal is superimposed on said video signal to generate a video signal with additional information,
a second spectral spreading code which is the same as the first spectral spreading code is generated in synchronism with the sync signal contained in said video signal with additional information,
values of said video signal with additional information corresponding to chips of said second spectral spreading code are added or subtracted according to the values of said chips of said second spectrally spread signal and the polarity of said predetermined intervals to calculate a cumulative value, and
said additional information in said video signal with additional information is detected by determining whether the cumulative value exceeded either a positive or negative threshold value.
13. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 12, wherein said cumulative value is calculated by adding an additionsubtraction result for intervals of said second spectral spreading code corresponding to inverting intervals of said inverting spectral spreading code, to an additionsubtraction result for non-inverting intervals.
14. A device for superimposing an additional information signal on a video signal, and detecting said additional information from said video signal on which said additional information is superimposed, wherein:
a first spectral spreading code is generated in predetermined intervals synchronized with a sync signal contained in the video signal,
inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes are generated by inverting the polarity of said first spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units,
the additional information signal is spectrally spread by said inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes to generate a spectrally spread additional information signal,
the spectrally spread additional information signal is superimposed on said video signal to generate a video signal with additional information,
a second spectral spreading code which is the same as the first spectral spreading code is generated in synchronism with the sync signal contained in said video signal with additional information,
values of said video signal with additional information corresponding to chips of said second spectral spreading code are added or subtracted according to the values of said chips of said second spectrally spread signal and the polarity of said predetermined intervals to calculate a cumulative value,
said additional information in said video signal with additional information is detected by determining whether the cumulative value exceeded either a positive or negative threshold value.
15. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 14, wherein said cumulative value is calculated by adding an additionsubtraction result for intervals of said second spectral spreading code corresponding to inverting intervals of said inverted spectral spreading code, to an additionsubtraction result for non-inverting intervals.
16. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 1, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more vertical periods, or 1N (N>1) vertical periods, of said video signal.
17. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined inclaim 14, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more horizontal periods of said video signal.
18. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 14, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal in said predetermined interval units.
19. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 14, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal according to a random number sequence in said predetermined interval units.
20. A device for superimposing an additional information signal, wherein a first spectral spreading code is generated in predetermined intervals synchronized with a sync signal contained in a video signal, inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes are generated by inverting or not inverting the polarity of said first spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units, a spectrally spread additional information signal is generated by spectrally spreading an additional information signal by said inverted and non-inverted spectral spreading codes, and a video signal with additional information is generated by superimposing said spectrally spread additional information signal on said video signal.
21. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 20, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more vertical periods, or 1N (N1) vertical periods, of said video signal.
22. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 20, wherein said first spectral spreading code is generated in intervals equal to one or more horizontal periods of said video signal.
23. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 20, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal in said predetermined interval units.
24. A device for superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 20, wherein said inverted and non-inverted spectrally spread signals are generated by alternately inverting and not inverting said first spectrally spread signal according to a random number sequence in said predetermined interval units.
25. A device for superimposing a spectrally spread additional information signal on a video signal, and detecting said additional information from said video signal on which said additional information is superimposed, wherein:
a spectral spreading code is generated in predetermined intervals synchronized with a sync signal contained in the video signal,
inverting and non-inverting spectral spreading codes are generated by inverting the polarity of said spectral spreading code in said predetermined interval units,
an additional information signal is spectrally spread by said inverted and non-inverted spectral spreading codes to generate a spectrally spread additional information signal,
the spectrally spread additional information signal is superimposed on said video signal to generate a video signal with additional information,
a spectral spreading code which is the same as the aforesaid spectral spreading code is generated in synchronism with the sync signal contained in said video signal with additional information,
values of said video signal with additional information corresponding to chips of said spectral spreading code are added or subtracted according to the values of said chips of said spectrally spread signal and the polarity of said predetermined intervals to calculate a cumulative value,
said additional information in said video signal with additional information is detected by determining whether the cumulative value exceeded either a positive or negative threshold value.
26. A method of superimposing an additional information signal as defined in claim 25, wherein said cumulative value is calculated by adding an additionsubtraction result for intervals of said second spectral spreading code corresponding to inverting intervals of said inverted spectral spreading code, to an additionsubtraction result for non-inverting intervals.

What is claimed is:

1. A two phase navigation system for vehicles comprising: in the first phase, operating means for visually guiding a vehicle from a zone area of its present location to a zone area of a selected destination, said operating means visually displaying representations of the two zone areas, with the displacement between the two zone areas being represtative of the distance between the two zone areas, and the angular displacement between the two being representative of the directional heading for the vehicle to follow to reach the selected destination, the two displayed zone areas converging toward each other as the vehicle proceeds toward the selected destination, and the the two displayed zone areas diverging away from each other as the vehicle proceeds away from a correct heading toward its destination, and in a second phase, said navigation system having means for displaying detailed local information of streets-roads in the zone area of destination, thereby in the first phase, enabling the vehicle to be guided by heading direction between said two zones, and in the second phase enabling the vehicle to be guided directly to a selected destination using localized street-road information.
2. In the system of claim 1,
the addition of means providing audible instructions of directional heading during the first phase.
3. In the system of claim 1,
said initially operating means including a plurality of fixed road signs displaced apart from each other in each zone,
said signs bearing coded information identifying the zone of their location,
and a remotely operated code reader for said signs being carried by said vehicle to read the codes on said road signs as said vehicle progresses in the zone of said signs.
4. In the system of claim 1,
in the second phase, a plurality of fixed road signs displaced apart from each other in the destination zone,
said signs bearing coded information referencing detailed local road information in the vicinity of each sign,
and said vehicle adapted to support a reader for reading said coded signs as the vehicle proceeds within said destination zone, thereby to read said signs and enable the detailed referenced local content thereof to be provided for guidance of said vehicle.
5. In the system of claim 1,
A plurality of coded street signs disposed in each zone near street intersections and referencing traffic control restrictions including stop signs,
And said vehicle navigation system being provided with a sign reader to read said coded street signs and provide information regarding said traffic control restrictions, including one of visual and audible information.
6. In the system of claim 1,
said initial operating means including means for determining the distance between the location zone of the vehicle and the selected destination zone for the vehicle and enabling the degree of enlargement of the visual presentations of the two zones to be changed as the vehicle nears the destination zone.
7. In a vehicle navigation system,
A plurality of fixed road signs spaced apart from each other within each zone of an extended region subdivided into a plurality of equal sized zones,
Each sign containing a coded message identifying the zone in which it is located,
A navigation receiver for a vehicle having a visual display screen and a reader for said coded signs,
said receiver being energized by the reader to display the changeable zones of the vehicle as the different signs are read,
entry means for the receiver for entering a selected destination zone into the receiver and visually displaying said destination zone on the receiver display,
whereby the receiver displays the zone of the changeable location of the vehicle together with the zone of the selected destination, thereby to enable navigation of the vehicle by following the directional heading indicated on the display between the two displayed zones.
8. In the system of claim 7,
the addition of local navigation means for guiding the vehicle within the destination zone,
said local navigation means comprising coded information being provided on said signs to reference local information in the vicinity of that sign,
said code reader reading said information and energizing said receiver to display the local information,
thereby to enable guidance of said vehicle to specific locations within said destination zone.
9. In the system of claim 7,
said coded signs additionally referencing information pertaining to traffic controls and restrictions at the sign location, to thereby display such information on the receiver screen as such sign is read.
10. In the system of claim 7,
said system containing additional coded signs on buildings and street addresses that identify such additional building and addresses, said signs being readable by the receiver reader to display such identifications on the receiver screen.
11. In the system of claim 7,
said navigation receiver having an audible generator for audibly announcing the information referenced by the coded signs.
12. In an electronic navigation system for guiding a movable vehicle to a selected destination by incrementally communicating the actual location of the vehicle referenced to a selected destination, and wherein said navigation system includes an on-board navigation receiver for communicating the locations of the vehicle referenced to said selected destination,
The improvement comprising:
means for detecting the changing locations of the vehicle as the vehicle proceeds from location to location along a route of travel,
a plurality of digital signs spaced apart from one another along said route, each digital sign containing information relating to that signs location,
and a wireless reader associated with said receiver in the movable vehicle for remotely reading the information on the digital signs, and entering said information into the receiver to be communicated for navigating the vehicle.
13. In the system of claim 12,
said digital signs having passively recorded digital codes thereon,
and said reader generating a wireless beam to remotely read the recorded digital codes.
14. In the system of claim 12,
said digitally coded signs comprising active transponders being activated by said wireless reader to tranmit the digitally c coded information back to the receiver.
15. In the navigation system of claim 12,
said digitally coded signs containing traffic control information to be read by the reader and entered into the receiver, thereby to be communicated for aiding in the control of the vehicle.
16. In the navigation system of claim 12,
said digitally coded signs being embedded in the roadway.
17. In the navigation system of claim 12,
said digitally coded signs each containing an identification of the location where that sign is located, thereby to continually provide the receiver with the location of the vehicle as each sign is read.
18. In the navigation system of claim 12,
Said digitally coded signs containing local information referencing the area in the vicinity of each sign including streets, traffic, parking, and services.
19. In the navigation system of claim 12,
said reader comprising a laser scanner for remotely reading said digital signs, and each of said signs containing a coded identification of the location of that sign whereby the navigation system continually communicates the location of the vehicle as the vehicle proceeds from sign to sign along its route of travel.
20. In the navigation system of claim 12,
the addition of digitally coded signs being located at different street addresses with each sign containing a digital identification of that street address, wherby the navigation receiver provides localized guidance of the vehicle directly to a selected street address
21. In the navigation system of claim 12,
said digitally coded signs referencing local information in the vicinity of each sign,
said local information including the names of a plurality of streets-roads in the vicinity of each said sign; traffic control information including speed limits, stop signs, one way streets; locations of fuel, vehicle services, and parking; and the street-road address numbers associated with said names of streets-roads.
22. A two phase vehicle navigation system for initially guiding a vehicle by heading direction from one area zone to a destination area zone, both within an extended region subdivided into a series of area zones, and wherein upon reaching the destination zone then guiding the vehicle locally within said destination zone to a specific location by communicating additional detailed information about said local destination zone,
the improvement comprising distance determining means for determining the distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the destination,
an on-board navigation receiver having a display screen,
said receiver displaying on the screen the location of the vehicle referenced to the location of the destination,
and means for changing the scale of enlargement of the screen display of vehicle location referenced to destination location as the vehicle proceeds toward the destination location.
23. In the system of claim 21,
said receiver having an audible announcer for vocally Announcing the heading direction toward the destination.
24. In the system of claim 21,
digitally operating detection means associated with the receiver for remotely detecting traffic control information
25. In the system of claim 21,
digitally operating detection means associated with the receiver for remotely defeating traffic control information,
said digital detecting means including a plurality of displaced fixed signs disposed within said zones, each sign containing a digitally coded message referencing the local traffic Information at the location of that sign.
26. A digital guidance-system for movable vehicles traveling along streets and roads comprising:
A plurality of digital information sources externally of the vehicle and dispersed along the streets and roads being traveled by the vehicle,
A digital reader for said vehicle for detecting the information sources as the vehicle proceeds near each source and conveying digital information being detected within said vehicle,
Communicating means within said vehicle for receiving the digital information from said reader and communicating messages to occupants within said vehicle related to the digital information being read by the digital reader,
Said communicating means comprising one of a visual display of said messages and an audible announcement of said messages,
Said information sources comprising one of G.P.S. signals received by the reader at different locations along said streets and roads and plural digitally coded street signs disposed along said streets and roads, and detected by said reader.
27. In the system of claim 26,
Said vehicle having a transparent windshield for enabling an operator of the vehicle to view the streets and roads from within the vehicle,
And said communicating means including a heads-up visual display for visually presenting said messages to be viewed by the operator of the vehicle while observing the streets-roads through the transparent windshield.
28. In the system of claim 26,
Said digital reader and communicating means including a memory having plural messages prestored therein, said messages pertaining to street and road related information of interest to operators of vehicles traversing the streets and roads,
Said plural messages being stored at different digital addresses in the memory,
and said information sources along said streets and roads each containing a digital code corresponding to an an addresse in said memory accessing a message related to that information source, whereby as the digital reader receives a digital code from an information source, the related message is downloaded from the memory and communicated within the vehicle.
29. A guidance and control system for movable vehicles to assist in the control of vehicles on roadways traveled by other vehicles and regulated by traffic control restrictions comprising:
Digitally operating detecting means for periodically determining the changing locations of the vehicle as the vehicle travels a roadway, and detecting preexisting traffic control restrictions at each of said locations,
A receiver interior of the vehicle and energized by said digital ly operating detecting means to communicate the detected location information in analog form interior of the vehicle, thereby to assist in the guidance of the vehicle from each location to another location,
Said digitally operating detecting means detecting traffic control restrictions at each of said locations and energizing said receiver to communicate said traffic control restrictions within the vehicle in analog form, whereby at each location the operator of the vehicle is informed of the vehicle location and also informed of any preexisting traffic restrictions.
30. In the system of claim 29,
Said digitally operated detecting means including a fixed digitally coded road sign at each location, and a laser scanner for the vehicle that reads each digitally coded road sign and energizes the receiver to communicate the location and traffic control restrictions in analog form.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for controlling the temporal energy profile characteristics of laser output pulses, comprising:
employing a first subresonator with a first subresonator length that imparts a rise time characteristic to a first subresonator pulse profile in response to lasing pulse initiation, the first subresonator having a first subresonator section with a first subresonator section length that contributes to the first subresonator length;
employing a second subresonator with a second subresonator length that imparts a pulse width characteristic to second subresonator pulse profile in response to lasing pulse initiation, the second subresonator having a second subresonator section with a second subresonator section length that contributes to the second subresonator length, and the second subresonator length being longer than the first subresonator length;
employing a common resonator subsection that is shared by the first and second subresonators to cause the characteristics imparted from the first and second subresonator pulse profiles to be expressed during a lasing pulse, the common resonator subsection having a length that contributes to both the first subresonator length and the second subresonator length;
initiating the lasing pulse to express the characteristics imparted from the first and second subresonator pulse profiles such that the first and second subresonators operate during at least a partly overlapping time; and
emitting a laser output pulse
having the rise time characteristic imparted from the first subresonator and the pulse width characteristic imparted from the second subresonator.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the first subresonator has a short first subresonator length that imparts a short rise time to the laser output pulse and the second subresonator has a long second subresonator length that imparts a long pulse width to the laser output pulse so that the laser output pulse exhibits a short rise time and a long pulse width.
3. The method of claim 1 in which the laser output pulse exhibits a rise time that is shorter than 8 ns and a pulse width that is longer than 10 ns.
4. The method of claim 1 in which the laser output pulse exhibits two separated peaks within a time period of from 15 ns to 300 ns.
5. The method of claim 1 in which a beam splitter is employed to integrate the first and second subresonators.
6. The method of claim 1 in which a polarizer is employed to integrate the first and second subresonators.
7. The method of claim 1 in which the common resonator subsection includes a Q-switch.
8. The method of claim 1 in which each of the first and second subresonator sections comprises a Q-switch.
9. The method of claim 1 in which the common resonator subsection includes a solid-state laser medium.
10. The method of claim 1 in which the common resonator subsection comprises a highly reflective mirror and the first and second subresoriator sections each have an output port.
11. The method of claim 1 in which the laser output pulse is converted to a different wavelength by use of an extra-cavity wavelength converter.
12. The method of claim 1 in which the common resonator subsection comprises one or more wavelength converters.
13. The method of claim 1 in which the initiation of the first and second subresonator pulse profiles is substantially simultaneous.
14. The method of claim 1 in which laser output pulses are generated a repetition rate of greater than 1 kHz.
15. The method of claim 1 in which laser output pulses are generated at a repetition rate of greater than 40 kHz.
16. The method of claim 1 in which a time delay is introduced between initiation of the first and second subresonator pulse profiles.
17. The method of claim 16 in which the time delay is shorter than 300 ns.
18. The method of claim 16 in which the time delay ends just before lasing pulse action stops in the subresonator that is first initiated.
19. The method of claim 1 in which the first and second subresonator sections each include a solid-state laser medium.
20. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections comprise the same lasant material.
21. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections comprise different lasant materials that emit at a substantially similar wavelength.
22. The method of 21 in which the solid-state laser media of the first subresonator section comprises Nd:YVO, and the solid-state laser media of the second subresonator section comprises Nd:YAG.
23. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections have different dimensions.
24. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections have dimensions that are about the same.
25. The method of claim 19 in which the first and second subresonator sections each comprise one or more wavelength converters.
26. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections are pumped at different levels.
27. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-slate laser media of the first and second subresonator sections are pumped at levels that are about the same.
28. The method of claim 19 in which pumping is initiated for the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections at different times.
29. The method of claim 19 in which pumping is initiated for the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections at about the same time.
30. The method of claim 19 in which the solid-state laser media of the first and second subresonator sections have different shapes.
31. The method of claim 19 in which the solid state laser media are CW pumped.
32. The method of claim 1 in which the common resonator subsection includes a common output port from which the laser output pulse is emitted.
33. The method of claim 32 in which the laser output pulse has a temporal energy profile that is inseparable into the pulse profiles of the first and second subresonators.
34. The method of claim 32 in which the common output port comprises an output coupling mirror.
35. The method of claim 1 in which each of the first and second subresonator sections has its own output port.
36. The method of claim 35 in which each of the first and second subresonator sections includes a wavelength converter.
37. The method of claim 35 in which the first subresonator pulse profile and the second subresonator pulse profile propagating from the respective output ports of the first and second subresonator sections are combined along a common optical path to provide the laser output pulse.
38. The method of claim 37 in which a first emission from the first subresonator section andor a second emission from the second subresonator section is converted to a different wavelength such that the first and second emissions combined along the optical path include at least two wavelengths.
39. The method of claim 37 in which a first emission from the first subresonator section andor a second emission from the second subresonator section have different spot size characteristics.
40. The method of claim 37 in which the initiation of the first and second subresonator pulse profiles is substantially simultaneous.
41. The method of claim 37 in which a time delay is introduced between initiation of the first and second subresonator pulse profiles.
42. The method of claim 37 in which the first and second subresonator pulse profiles express their spikes at substantially the same time.
43. The method of claim 37 in which laser output pulses are propagated at a repetition rate of greater than 40 kHz.
44. The method of claim 37 in which the laser output pulse has an output profile with a visible- or UV-wavelength spike and an IR tail.
45. The method of claim 44 in which the IR tail comprises a wavelength of one of about 1.047, 1.054, 1.064, or 1.32 microns.
46. The method of claim 1 in which the laser output pulse is employed to sever a link on-the-fly.
47. A method for generating a laser output pulse having a laser output pulse pulse profile that includes at least two wavelengths, comprising:
employing a common resonator subsection having a common resonator subsection length along a common optical path;
employing a beam splitter positioned to intersect the common optical path;
employing a first subresonator section including a first subresonator path that intersects the common optical path in proximity to the beam splitter, the first subresonator section having a first subresonator section length, the first subresonator section and the common resonator subsection forming a first subresontaor having a first subresonator length that includes the first subresonator section length and the common resonator subsection length, and the first subresonator length imparting to each laser pulse a first spike characteristic and a first pulse width characteristic;
employing a second subresonator section including a second subresonator path that intersects the common optical path in proximity to the beam splitter, the second subresonator section having a second subresonator section length, the second subresonator section and the common resonator subsection forming a second subresonator having a second subresonator length that includes the second subresonator section length and the common resonator subsection length, the second subresonator length imparting to each laser pulse a second spike characteristic and a second pulse width characteristic, and the second subresonator length being longer than the first subresonator length;
employing first and second solid-state laser media positioned in the respective first and second subresonator sections for receiving laser pumping light from one or more laser pumping sources, the first and second laser media being adapted to facilitate lasing action at a fundamental wavelength, wherein the common resonator section links the lasing action in the first subresonator with the lasing action in the second subresonator such that the first and second subresonators operate during at least a partly overlapping time to cause propagation of a laser pulse that exhibits at least the first spike characteristic imparted from the first subresonator and the second pulse width characteristic imparted from to second subresonator;
employing a first output port from the first subresonator section and a second output port from the second subresonator section to split each laser pulse into to first laser output that propagates through the first output port and second laser output that propagates through the second output port the first laser output exhibiting the first spike and pulse width characteristics and the second laser output exhibiting the second spike and second pulse width characteristics;
employing a first wavelength converter positioned along a first beam path from the first output port to convert the first laser output to a first wavelength andor employing a second wavelength converter positioned along a second beam path from the second output port to convert the second laser output to a second wavelength; and
combining the first laser output with the second laser output to provide a laser output pulse having at least first spike characteristics at the fundamental or first wavelength and having at least second pulse width characteristics at the fundamental or second wavelength such that the laser output pulse exhibits at least two distinct wavelengths.
48. A method for controlling the temporal energy profile andor pulse width characteristics of a laser output pulse, comprising:
employing a first subresonator with a first design feature that imparts a first energy profile andor pulse width characteristic to each laser pulse, the first subresonator including a first laser medium;
employing a second subresonator with a second design feature that imparts a second energy profile andor pulse width characteristic to each laser pulse, the first subresonator including a second laser medium, the first and second design features imparting different characteristics to the pulses of laser output;
employing a common resonator subsection that is shared by the first and second subresonators to couple lasing action in the first and second subresonators such that the first and second subresonators operate during at least a partly overlapping time, at least one of the first subresonator, the second subresonator, or the common subresonator section including a Q-switch; and
directing at a target a laser output pulse having laser output energy profile andor pulse width characteristics derived from the first and second energy profile andor pulse width characteristics.
49. The method of claim 48 in which a beam splitter is employed to integrate the first and second subresonators.
50. The method of claim 48 in which the first subresonator has a length that is shorter than the second subresonator such that the first subresonator imparts a short rising edge to the pulses of laser output and the second subresonator imparts a long pulse width to the pulses of laser output so that the laser output pulses exhibit a short rising edge and a long pulse width.
51. The method of claim 48 in which the common resonator subsection includes the Q-switch.
52. The method of claim 48 in which the common resonator subsection provides a common output port for the laser output pulses.
53. The method of claim 48 in which the common resonator subsection includes a solid-state laser medium.
54. The method of claim 48 in which the first and second subresonators each include a solid-state laser medium and a Q-switch.
55. The method of claim 48 in which the pulses of laser output are converted to a different wavelength by use of an extra-cavity wavelength converter.
56. The method of claim 48 in which the common resonator subsection comprises a highly reflective mirror and the first and second subresonators each have an output port.
57. The method of claim 48 in which the first and second laser media comprise lasants that have different characteristics.