Laser marking system and method

A laser marking system comprising:

• a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprising a multi-pixel, linear array of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractors;
• a laser operable to illuminate the SLM;
• imaging optics operable to focus a linear swath of modulated light onto a surface of a workpiece, the linear swath comprising light from multiple pixels of the SLM;
• and a controller operable to control the SLM, laser and imaging optics to mark the surface of the workpiece to record an image thereon,
• wherein the imaging optics comprise a number of galvanometric mirrors, and wherein the controller is operable to control the number of galvanometric mirrors to scan the linear swath of modulated light across the surface of the workpiece to record a two-dimensional (2D) image thereon, and
• wherein the imaging optics comprise a number of cylindrical lenses to focus modulated light from the SLM onto the number of galvanometric mirrors, and a focus lens to focus the linear swath of modulated light from the number of galvanometric mirrors onto the surface of the workpiece.

A laser marking system comprising:

• a laser;
• a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprising a multi-pixel, linear array of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractors;
• illumination optics operable to illuminate the SLM with light from the laser, the illumination optics including a beam forming optical system to direct a rectangular beam onto the SLM;
• imaging optics operable to focus a linear swath of modulated light onto a surface of a workpiece, the imaging optics comprising:
• a first cylindrical lens to focus modulated light from the SLM in an X focal plane at the surface of the workpiece;
• a second cylindrical lens to focus modulated light from the SLM in an Y focal plane, wherein an Y-focus determines a swath height of the linear swath of modulated light on the surface of the workpiece;
• and
• a number of galvanometric mirrors disposed in a light path between the first and second cylindrical lenses and the surface of the workpiece;
• and
• a controller operable to control the laser, SLM, and the number of galvanometric mirrors to scan the linear swath of modulated light across the surface of the workpiece to record a two-dimensional (2D) image thereon.

A laser marking system comprising:

• a fixture on which a workpiece having a surface to be marked is positioned;
• a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprising a multi-pixel, linear array of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractors;
• a laser operable to illuminate the SLM;
• imaging optics operable to focus a linear swath of modulated light onto the surface of the workpiece, the linear swath comprising light from multiple pixels of the SLM;
• a controller operable to load image data to the SLM, position the fixture, and to control the SLM, laser and imaging optics to mark the surface of the workpiece to record an image thereon,
• wherein the SLM is operable to signal the laser when image data loaded to the SLM is ready to be recorded on to the workpiece so that the laser can be pulsed, and
• wherein the fixture includes a number of sensors to signal one or more of the controller, the SLM or the laser when the workpiece is in proper position to record an image thereon.