# Gordon Gould's Early Concepts for High-Frequency Radiation Devices

> A 1968 patent by Gordon Gould describing methods to generate and amplify radiation at frequencies exceeding visible light, building on his foundational laser work.

- **Patent:** US 3388314
- **Original title:** Apparatus for generating radiation of frequencies higher than those of light
- **Owner:** Control Data Corp
- **Granted:** 1968
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 53
- **Field:** semiconductors, energy

## What it does

The patent details apparatus designs for generating electromagnetic radiation at frequencies significantly higher than visible light, specifically targeting the ultraviolet and X-ray spectrums. It describes using a gas discharge or similar excitation mechanism to create a population inversion, which allows for the stimulated emission of radiation. By utilizing optical cavities or resonant structures, the device forces this radiation to amplify into a coherent beam, effectively extending the principles of the laser into higher energy regimes.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover standard visible-light lasers operating at lower frequencies.
- Does not cover specific medical imaging applications or diagnostic X-ray machines.
- Does not cover solid-state semiconductor laser diodes.

## The clever bit

Gould realized that the same principles of stimulated emission used for visible light could be scaled to much higher frequencies, provided one could find a way to excite atoms to the necessary energy levels.

## Real-world examples

1. Experimental X-ray lasers
2. High-energy ultraviolet light sources for lithography

## Why it matters

Gordon Gould is a central figure in the history of the laser, having fought a decades-long legal battle to be recognized as its inventor. This specific patent represents his efforts to push the boundaries of light amplification into the high-energy spectrum, which remains a core objective in modern physics research.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does Gordon Gould's Early Concepts for High-Frequency Radiation Devices cover?

A 1968 patent by Gordon Gould describing methods to generate and amplify radiation at frequencies exceeding visible light, building on his foundational laser work.

### Who owns patent US 3388314?

Control Data Corp owns this patent, granted in 1968.

### 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 3388314 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 53 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

Gordon Gould is a central figure in the history of the laser, having fought a decades-long legal battle to be recognized as its inventor. This specific patent represents his efforts to push the boundaries of light amplification into the high-energy spectrum, which remains a core objective in modern physics research.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover standard visible-light lasers operating at lower frequencies.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3388314/laser-gordon-gould

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US3388314

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the First Laser Was Invented](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2929922/laser-maser) — The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology.
- [How Ernest Lawrence Invented the Cyclotron Particle Accelerator](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1948384/cyclotron-lawrence) — This 1934 patent describes the cyclotron, a machine that uses magnetic and electric fields to whip particles into high speeds for scientific research.
- [How William Coolidge Invented the Modern X-Ray Tube](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1203495/coolidge-x-ray-tube) — A 1916 patent by William Coolidge for a high-vacuum X-ray tube that used a heated tungsten filament to control electron flow, replacing older, unreliable gas-filled tubes.
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