System and method for laser marking substrates
AssigneeAlltec Angewandte Laserlicht Technologie GmbH
InventorsPeter J. Kueckendahl, Daniel J. Ryan
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Abstract
A laser marking system comprises at least one controller to control an array of optical devices, between a laser source and a scan head. The array applies a selected pattern of portions of the received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions. The second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate to create a mark without ablation.
Claims21
A method of laser marking a substrate comprising:
- positioning a substrate relative to a scan head of a laser marking system having a laser source that generates a laser beam of predetermined power and predetermined duration;
- producing a laser beam having a first intensity;
- and
- controlling, by at least one controller, an array of optical devices, between the laser source and the scan head, to apply a selected pattern of portions of a received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of the laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions wherein the second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate without ablation to create a mark.
A laser marking system having a scan head for marking a substrate via carbonization of components of the substrate, the system comprising:
- a laser source that generates a laser beam of predetermined power, first spatial profile and predetermined duration;
- an array of optical devices between the laser source and the scan head;
- and
- at least one controller to control the array of optical devices, between the laser source and the scan head, to apply a selected pattern of portions of a received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of the laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions wherein the second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate to create a mark.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.