Universal laser for polymeric material processing
AssigneeMarkem-Imaje Corporation
InventorStewart W. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a universal laser system including a laser operable to produce an infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths, an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the laser beam, and electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the laser and the optics assembly, where the laser is configured to produce the infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order, non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the infrared laser beam.
Claims36
A system comprising:
- a laser operable to produce an infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths;
- an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the infrared laser beam;
- and
- electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the laser and the optics assembly,
- wherein the laser is configured to produce the infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order, non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the infrared laser beam.
A system comprising:
- a laser operable to produce an infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths, wherein the laser is operable to produce a continuously tunable infrared laser beam for the range of wavelengths, produce multiple discretely tunable infrared laser beams at multiple different wavelengths for the range of wavelengths, or a combination thereof;
- an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the infrared laser beam;
- and
- electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the laser and the optics assembly,
- wherein the laser is configured to produce the infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order, non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the infrared laser beam.
A system comprising:
- a first laser operable to produce a first infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths;
- an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the first infrared laser beam;
- electronics communicatively coupled with the first laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the first laser and the optics assembly,
- wherein the first laser is configured to produce the first infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order. non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the first infrared laser beam;
- and
- a second laser, wherein the second laser is communicatively coupled with the electronics and configured to produce a second infrared laser beam for a second wavelength that overlaps a primary absorption peak due to C-H dipole interactions of each polymeric material of the at least ten different polymeric materials,
- wherein the first laser is configured to produce the first infrared laser beam in a wavelength range of 1.7 to 2.7 microns, and the second laser is configured to produce the second infrared laser beam in a wavelength range of 3.2 to 3.6 or 6.5 to 7.5 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.