US 2022/0175617 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PATTERNS ON ARTICLES AND INSPECTION THEREOF

Abstract

Embodiments of a method and system for applying patterns on the surfaces of articles and inspecting the patterns are disclosed. A laser irradiation system has a laser transmission element, irradiation zone and irradiation inspection element. A set of articles is positioned within the irradiation zone and irradiated with laser energy from the transmission element during an irradiation period. The irradiation causes interactions between a beam and the article surfaces which transiently generate localized illuminations at the article surfaces during the interactions. The interactions also collectively form post-irradiation patterns in the article surfaces that persist after the interactions. An irradiation inspection image of the irradiation zone is captured during the irradiation period by the irradiation inspection element. The irradiation inspection image includes illumination patterns defined by the localized illuminations. If an illumination pattern fails to match the corresponding target pattern to which it is compared, the respective article is rejected.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A method of applying patterns on the surfaces of articles and inspecting said patterns, the method comprising:

providing a laser irradiation system having a laser transmission element, an irradiation zone and an irradiation inspection element, the laser transmission element being configured to transmit at least one beam of laser energy toward the irradiation zone;
positioning a set of articles within the irradiation zone, each article having an article surface;
irradiating the set of articles with the laser energy during an irradiation period by way of the laser transmission element, wherein the irradiation causes interactions between the beam and the article surfaces which
(a) transiently generate localized illuminations at the article surfaces during the interactions, and
(b) collectively form post-irradiation patterns in the article surfaces wherein the post-irradiation patterns persist after the interactions;
and
capturing an irradiation inspection image of the irradiation zone during said irradiation period by way of the irradiation inspection element, wherein the irradiation inspection image includes illumination patterns defined by the localized illuminations.

4 more elements

A system for applying patterns on the surfaces of articles and inspecting said patterns, the system comprising:

an irradiation zone configured to receive a set of articles therein, wherein each article has an article surface;
a laser transmission element configured to transmit at least one beam of laser energy toward the irradiation zone to irradiate the set of articles with the laser energy during an irradiation period, wherein the irradiation is configured to cause interactions between the beam and the article surfaces which
(a) transiently generate localized illuminations at the article surfaces during the interactions, and
(b) collectively form post-irradiation patterns in the article surfaces wherein the post-irradiation patterns persist after the interactions;
and
an irradiation inspection element configured to capture an irradiation inspection image of the irradiation zone during said irradiation period, wherein the irradiation inspection image includes illumination patterns defined by the localized illuminations;
and
a processor element configured to compare the illumination patterns to corresponding target patterns, wherein if an illumination pattern fails to match the respective target pattern, the respective article is rejected.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for applying patterns on articles and inspection thereof

Life of this patent

System and method for applying patterns on articles and inspection thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45