Apparatus and method for controlling laser processing of a material

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling laser processing of a material (10), which apparatus comprises a laser (1) for emitting laser radiation (2); means (3) for directing the laser radiation (2) onto the material (10); at least one detector (4) for detecting optical radiation (5) that is emitted by the material (10); an electronic filter (6) for filtering an electronic signal (7) emitted by the detector (4) in response to the detector (4) detecting the optical radiation (5); and a discriminator (8) for analysing the output (9) from the electronic filter (6), the apparatus being characterised in that the electronic fitter (6) and the discriminator (8) are configured to determine at least one characteristic feature (11) of the electronic signal (7) that is indicative of the processing of the material (10) by the laser radiation (2).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.