US 2014/0110384 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING AN ARTICLE

Abstract

The invention is a method and an apparatus for marking an article and the article thus marked. It includes providing the article. Generating a plurality of groups of laser pulses. At least one of the plurality of groups is generated by modulating a beam of laser pulses to form a plurality of beamlets. Each, of the plurality of beamlets, include at least one laser pulse. It also includes directing the plurality of groups of laser pulses onto the article such that laser pulses within the at least one of the plurality of groups impinge upon the article at spot areas that do not overlap one another, wherein laser pulses within the plurality of groups are configured to produce a visible mark on the article.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A method of marking an article, comprising:

providing an article having a preliminary visual appearance;
and
generating a plurality of groups of laser pulses, wherein at least one of the plurality of groups is generated by:
modulating a beam of laser pulses to form a plurality of beamlets, each of the plurality of beamlets including at least one laser pulse;
and
directing the plurality of groups of laser pulses onto the article such that laser pulses within the at least one of the plurality of groups impinge upon the article at spot areas that do not overlap one another,
wherein laser pulses within the plurality of groups are configured to produce a visible mark on the article, the mark having a modified visual appearance different from the preliminary visual appearance.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/059,029Filed 21 Oct 2013

Priority

22 Oct 2012

Published

24 Apr 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B23K 26/082
Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece: scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative…
B23K 26/352
Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring: for surface treatment
B23K 26/0006
Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring: taking account of the properties of the material involved
B23K 26/009
Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring: using a non-absorbing, e.g. transparent, reflective or refractive, layer on the workpiece

Method and apparatus for marking an article

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for marking an article

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46