Device and method for generating a print image in a laser-marking system

A laser-marking system to place dot markings onto a product, comprising:

• a laser that emits a laser beam through an acousto-optic deflector to place the dot markings onto the product;
• a controller coupled to a memory and coupled to said laser to control when said laser emits said laser beam;
• and
• a frequency synthesizer coupled to said controller that emits a dot frequency signal into an amplifier and onto said acousto-optic deflector to change the index of refraction of said acousto-optic deflector and deflect the dot markings;
• said controller controlling said frequency synthesizer and adding an offset to said dot frequency signals to control the vertical placement of the dot markings on the product.

A laser-marking system to place dot markings onto a product, comprising:

• a laser that emits a laser beam through an acousto-optic deflector to place the dot markings onto the product;
• a controller coupled to a memory and coupled to said laser to control when said laser emits said laser beam;
• a frequency synthesizer coupled to said controller that emits a dot frequency signal into an amplifier and onto said acousto-optic deflector to change the index of refraction of said acousto-optic deflector and deflect the dot markings;
• and
• said controller accessing a dot-marking profile in memory and controlling said frequency synthesizer to emit said dot frequency signal according to said dot-marking profile.

A method of creating a dot-marking profile for use by a laser-marking system that emits a laser beam from a laser through an acousto-optic deflector onto a product, comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the frequency range of dot frequencies to print onto the product;
• b) determining an increment frequency between said dot frequencies to be emitted onto the acousto-optic deflector between subsequent said dot markings placed onto the product for the desired height of said dot markings;
• c) determining the dot frequency signal with the lowest efficiency;
• d) increasing the amplitude of said dot frequency signal with the lowest efficiency until its power reaches a maximum value;
• and
• e) adjusting the amplitudes of the remaining of said dot frequencies.

A method of placing dot markings onto a product by emitting a laser beam from a laser through an acousto-optic deflector onto the product, comprising the steps of:

• a) selecting a dot-marking profile containing dot frequency signal amplitudes correlating to the efficiency of the acousto-optic deflector for a particular dot frequency signal range;
• b) emitting a dot frequency signal onto the acousto-optic deflector at said dot frequency signal amplitude according to said dot-marking profile for said dot frequency signal;
• and
• c) emitting a laser beam through the acousto-optic deflector onto the product.