Protection of laser bond inspection optical components
AssigneeLSP Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteven M. Toller, David Sokol, Mark E. O'Loughlin, Jeff L. Dulaney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for the protection of optical components used during laser bond inspection. In one embodiment, an optic surface wetting enhancement is provided on a protective optic to assist in forming a substantially flat film of transparent liquid from transparent liquid applied to a surface of a protective optic. A flat film of transparent liquid on a surface of a protective optic may be used to retain debris and effluent backscatter produced during a laser bond inspection process.
Claims20
A protective optic for use in a laser bond inspection system to protect components of the laser bond inspection system from effluent backscatter and debris produced during a laser bond inspection process, the protective optic comprising:
- a first surface and a second surface opposite each other, the first surface and the second surface comprising a central portion configured to transmit a laser beam from a laser beam delivery system of the laser bond inspection system, the second surface oriented nearer the laser beam delivery system, the first surface comprising an optic surface wetting enhancement modification such that the first surface is configured to support a transparent liquid on the first surface which is effective to retain the effluent backscatter and the debris.
A laser bond inspection system having a protective optic with enhanced surface wetting for protecting components of the laser bond inspection system from effluent backscatter and debris during a laser bond inspection process, the laser bond inspection system comprising:
- (1) a laser configured to produce a laser beam;
- (2) a laser beam delivery system, the laser beam delivery system configured to deliver the laser beam from the laser source to an inspection head, the laser beam delivery system comprising at least one of:
- one or more mirrors,
- one or more optical fibers, and
- an articulated arm;
- (3) an inspection head, the inspection head configured to output the laser beam to a workpiece surface, the inspection head comprising:
- a housing;
- a first output to output the laser beam;
- at least one second output configured to output at least one of:
- a transparent overlay, and a transparent liquid;
- a final focusing optic;
- and
- one or more evacuation ports for removing the transparent liquid;
- and
- (4) a protective optic for protecting components of the laser bond inspection system within the inspection head housing from effluent backscatter and debris during a laser bond inspection process, the protective optic comprising:
- a first surface and a second surface opposite each other, the first surface and the second surface comprising a central portion configured to transmit a laser beam from a laser beam delivery system, the second surface oriented nearer the laser beam delivery system, the first surface comprising an optic surface wetting enhancement modification such that the first surface is configured to support the transparent liquid on the first surface which is effective to retain the effluent backscatter and the debris.
A method for laser bond inspection, comprising:
- wetting at least one surface of a protective optic comprising an optic surface wetting enhancement with a transparent liquid;
- forming a substantially flat film of the transparent liquid;
- transmitting a laser through at least a transparent portion of the protective optic and the substantially flat film of the transparent liquid to lase a surface of a workpiece for laser bond inspection;
- lasing at least one of:
- a transparent overlay, and an opaque overlay on the workpiece surface to produce a plasma plume for laser bond inspection;
- retaining effluent backscatter or debris produced by the plasma plume in the substantially flat film of the transparent liquid;
- and
- evacuating at least a portion of the substantially flat film of the transparent liquid from the at least one surface of the protective optic having the optic surface wetting enhancement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.