Abstract: A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

Abstract: A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

Abstract: A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses and light illumination to a coated surface. Reflected light resulting from the light illumination impinging the coated surface is directed to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The reflected light is either sensed directly from the coated surface by the photosensitive detector or the reflected light is directed along at least a portion of the common optics path to the photosensitive detector. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the coating removal apparatus is configured as a head component coupled to a body component.

Abstract: A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

Abstract: A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

Abstract: A coating removal device, comprising a head component and a body component, removes a coating from a surface. The head component has a means for detachably engaging a removable aperture adapter and for enabling an operator to change and use another aperture adapter for a different application of the device. Aperture adapters are configured for specified deflections of laser beams. In some embodiments, the device is coupled to a waste collection shroud, which achieves 100% collection of waste products without surface contact by establishing a suction flow normal to and in a direction toward a centerline of the device, despite presence of a purge flow that is ejected along with laser beams from the aperture adapter. In other embodiments, the device has a camera for enabling the operator to view an ablation processing region on a display when the device is in operation within a confined space.

Abstract: A coating removal apparatus removes a coating from a surface. The apparatus has a movable scanning head and scanning optics. The scanning head is movable in one dimension, and the scanning optics adjust in two dimensions to compensate for movement of the scanning head to implement long range scanning with a uniform scanning pattern. Further, a surface roughness is determined by measuring specular and scattered reflections at various angles. For composite surfaces, the apparatus utilizes UV laser radiation and a controlled atmosphere to remove coating and alter the chemical characteristics at the surface.

Abstract: A rotary refractive laser scanner head uses two sets of lenses and prisms aligned along a common optical axis. Each prism is paired with one of the lenses. The lens-prism pairs are separately mounted rotatable on a common axis coaxial with the optical axis. A motor drives two gear sets. Each gear set is separately coupled to one of the two lens-prism pairs and rotates them at selected, typically different speeds. An input laser beam is directed along the optical axis at one of the lens-prism pairs. The first pair collimates and refracts the input beam into an intermediate deflected beam according to Snell's law and the characteristics of the laser beam and optics. The second pair receives the intermediate beam and further deflects it to form an output beam. By selecting the motor speed, gear ratios, optics spacing, characteristics and prism wedge (deflection) angle, the scanner head effectively can scan an output laser beam over a desired pattern area.