Laser scoring of metal/polymer structures
AssigneePreco, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Chow, James J. Bucklew, Daniel B. Miller, Feng Wu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of scoring a multi-layer film structure, wherein the multi-layer film structure comprises a metal layer and polymer layer bonded to each other, the method comprises using a single laser beam incident to the polymer layer to produce a score line in the polymer layer, wherein the laser energy is absorbed only by the metal layer.
Claims34
A method of scoring a multi-layer film structure comprising a metal layer positioned between a first and a second polymer layer, the metal layer being bonded to the first polymer layer, the method comprising:
- scoring with a single laser beam, the laser beam being incident to the first polymer layer and having a wavelength such that laser energy is not absorbed but transmitted through the first polymer layer, the wavelength being sufficiently absorbable by the metal layer such that a plume is generated from the metal layer of sufficient energy to cut through the first polymer layer such that the film structure is selectively scored concurrently through the first polymer layer and the metal layer while the second polymer layer is either not scored or only partially scored.
A method of using a single laser beam to selectively score a multi-layer film structure comprising a first polymer layer and a metal layer bonded to each other, the metal layer being positioned beneath the first polymer layer, the method comprising:
- scoring at least the first polymer layer with the single laser beam, the laser beam being incident to the first polymer layer and being transmitted through the first polymer layer, the laser beam being sufficiently absorbable by the metal layer to generate a plume from the metal layer of sufficient energy to cut through the first polymer layer such that the film structure is selectively scored through the first polymer layer and the metal layer concurrently.
A laser system consisting essentially of a single laser beam for selectively scoring a multiple layer film structure comprising at least one metal layer and a first polymer layer, the laser system comprising:
- the laser beam produced by the laser system, the laser beam transmitted through the first polymer layer and being readily absorbed by the metal layer;
- the laser beam having a laser energy density sufficiently high to melt and vaporize a portion of the metal layer generating a plume for cutting through the first polymer layer;
- and
- the laser beam having a laser pulse length sufficiently short such that melting and vaporization of the metal layer on a side of the laser incidence occurs at a time shorter than a time in which heat conduction of the metal layer allows a side of the metal layer opposite to the laser incidence to reach the melt temperature.
A method of making a multilayer product using a multilayer film structure comprising a metal layer and a first polymer layer bonded to each other, the metal layer positioned beneath the first polymer layer, the method comprising:
- using one laser type to concurrently score the metal layer and the top polymer layer with a laser beam having a wavelength such that the beam is transmitted through the top polymer layer and absorbed by the metal layer sufficiently to generate a plume from the metal layer of sufficient energy to cut through the top polymer layer to form a scored multi-layer film;
- and fabricating the scored multilayer film structure to form the multilayer product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.