How the First Laser Was Invented
The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology.
Original patent title: “Masers and maser communications system”
The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology. Granted to Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc in 1960 with 145 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes the transition from masers, which amplify microwaves, to optical masers, which we now call lasers. It details the use of a resonant cavity with reflective ends to trap light, allowing it to bounce back and forth through an active medium. This process stimulates the emission of more light, creating a highly focused, single-color beam. It essentially provides the blueprint for using light as a precise tool for communication and energy transmission.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of semiconductor materials for lasers, which were developed later.
- Does not cover fiber optic cables themselves, only the light-amplification device.
- Does not cover non-resonant methods of light amplification.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The inventors realized that by using a long, thin cavity with mirrors at the ends, they could force light to travel in a single, coherent direction, effectively turning a chaotic light source into a powerful, directed beam.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Fiber optic communication networks
Laser eye surgery
Barcode scanners
Laser pointers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is widely considered the birth certificate of the laser. It turned a theoretical physics concept into a practical device that now powers everything from internet fiber optics to medical surgery and barcode scanners.
Filed
July 30, 1958
Granted
March 22, 1960
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Every major telecommunications company, including AT&T and Verizon, relies on the principles established here for global data transmission. Modern laser manufacturers like Coherent and IPG Photonics continue to refine the high-power applications of this original design.
Market impact
This patent effectively launched the field of photonics, enabling the entire modern internet infrastructure. It shifted light from being just a source of illumination to being a primary medium for high-speed data transmission and precision manufacturing.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes the transition from masers, which amplify microwaves, to optical masers, which we now call lasers. It details the use of a resonant cavity with reflective ends to trap light, allowing it to bounce back and forth through an active medium. This process stimulates the emission of more light, creating a highly focused, single-color beam. It essentially provides the blueprint for using light as a precise tool for communication and energy transmission.
The clever bit
The inventors realized that by using a long, thin cavity with mirrors at the ends, they could force light to travel in a single, coherent direction, effectively turning a chaotic light source into a powerful, directed beam.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of semiconductor materials for lasers, which were developed later.
- Does not cover fiber optic cables themselves, only the light-amplification device.
- Does not cover non-resonant methods of light amplification.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$42K – $134K
Midpoint $84K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Townes, C. H., & Schawlow, A. L. (1960). How the First Laser Was Invented (U.S. Patent No. 2,929,922). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2929922/laser-maser
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the First Laser Was Invented cover?
The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology.
Who owns patent US 2929922?
Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc owns this patent, granted in 1960.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2929922 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 145 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is widely considered the birth certificate of the laser. It turned a theoretical physics concept into a practical device that now powers everything from internet fiber optics to medical surgery and barcode scanners.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of semiconductor materials for lasers, which were developed later.
Same assignee
More from Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc
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