Closed-loop focal positioning system and method

A closed-loop focal positioning system, said system comprising:

• a focusing assembly for focusing a laser beam to a focal depth position;
• a feedback positioning device for determining the position of said focusing assembly;
• a computer processor interconnected to said feedback positioning device, said processor adapted to instruct movement of said focusing assembly based on a value for a desired focal depth position, and said processor adapted to receive an actual position value of said focusing assembly from said feedback positioning device;
• and
• a laser source for generating a laser beam to be directed through said moveable focusing assembly, wherein said laser source is an infrared, ultrashort pulse laser with a pulse duration of less than 10 picoseconds;
• wherein said feedback positioning device is adapted to read the linear movement of the focusing assembly to obtain said actual position value, and said processor is adapted to compute a delta value between said actual position value and said desired position value, and said processor is adapted to reposition said focusing assembly if the delta value is within an acceptable range.

A method of positioning a focusing assembly for focusing a laser, said method comprising:

• moving a focusing assembly to a desired position based on a desired position value;
• determining an actual position value for the actual linear movement of said focusing assembly;
• determining a delta value between said actual position value and said desired position value;
• and
• repositioning said focusing assembly if said delta value is within a particular range.

A method of positioning a focusing assembly for focusing a laser, said method comprising:

• moving a focusing assembly to a desired position based on a desired position value;
• determining an actual position value for the actual linear movement of said focusing assembly;
• determining a delta value between said actual position value and said desired position value;
• and
• repositioning said focusing assembly if said delta value is within a particular range;
• and
• providing a laser source for generating a laser beam to be directed through said moveable focusing assembly, wherein the laser source is an infrared, ultrashort pulse laser.