Abstract: A combination of laser energy and ultrasonic energy is used for soldering an insulated wire to a pad located on a substrate. The combined laser energy and ultrasonic energy strips the insulation from the wire and solders the resulting bare wire to the pad. The method has particular use for soldering insulated wire to pads located on heat sensitive substrates or to pads located in close proximity to heat sensitive devices. A principal application is for soldering fine insulated wires for connecting a thin film magnetic head to a circuit carrier substrate.

Abstract: A laser cutting head has a nozzle as well as a lens disposed in a holder that is moveable by a mechanical drive along the laser beam axis and has a working gas supply port at the nozzle side of the head. The head also has an annular groove that is defined by concentric internal and external cylinders and a drive gas supply port in the external cylinder at the laser supply side of the head. An annular piston is formed at the laser beam application side end of the movable lens holder, that is disposed in the annular groove. The piston may be pressed toward the nozzle side of the head by the pressure of drive gas supplied through the drive gas supply port. The drive gas pressure and the area of the piston is selected to define an offsetting pressure for reducing the effect of the cutting gas on the lens and lens holder.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for scribing indicia into a surface using a laser as an emission source. Means are provided for controlling the beam scan over the surface being inscribed responsive to a digitized control signal representing the indicia. Laser power is controlled to avoid damaging the structural integrity of the glass. The system is suited for automation both for the input of data representing indicia and for the actual inscribing operation. The apparatus includes an emitter housing containing a laser and marking head for positioning the beam on the surface. The emitter housing further includes means for controllably directing the output beam to form the desired pattern in the surface and locating pins which cooperate with system circuitry to permit laser operation only when the emitter housing is properly located with respect to a surface being etched.

Abstract: Apparatus for excimer laser image protection ablation of a target material comprising a projection lens system for projecting a mask pattern to be ablated onto the target, which lens system is telecentric towards the image (target) end of the projection path, and means for moving the target along the projection path whereby in use the size of the projected image areas to be ablated from the target is adjusted substantially without altering their relative portions of the target.

Abstract: A piping arrangement in which a plurality of sealing means (70 through 78) are arranged on a sheathing pipe (42) provided as an outer pipe of a robot wrist (18) of a laser robot to thereby define annular chambers (84 through 90); the annular chamber (86 and 90) being used as a gas-carrying annular chamber for transferring an assist gas from one line to another, and a liquid-carrying chamber for transferring a liquid coolant from one line to another; the assist gas and the liquid coolant being supplied and returned through the gas-carrying annular chamber and the liquid-carrying annular chamber (84 and 90).

Abstract: A method for eroding material, particularly material in a thin-film structure, that includes at least one thin-film arranged over at least one transparent layer, includes irradiating the thin-film with a laser pulse through the transparent layer. The laser pulse has a wavelength in the absorption region of the thin-film. The irradiated thin-film region, together with any layers lying above the thin-film region, are popped off, without any residue, from the transparent layer.

Abstract: A debris control system is provided for an electron-beam drilling apparatus having a chamber encompassing a drilling area and a calibration area. The debris control system includes a calibration-area shielding assembly which shields a calibration area of such apparatus from drilling-generated debris and an isolation assembly which isolates drilling-generated debris within such drilling area.

Abstract: A laser marker system for marking indicia onto a substrate includes an exit lens having a focal length and a single laser source. The surface of the substrate to be marked is positioned generally at the focal plane of the lens. The single laser source is arranged so that its energy output beams are oriented in a generally parallel relationship. The single laser source includes segmented reflecting means for generating a plurality of output energy beams to create a column of spots on the substrate with a higher resolution. The segmented reflecting means is comprised of a back-reflecting mirror which is formed of a plurality of different mirror segments. A device is provided for moving each of the plurality of different mirror segments between a lasing position and a non-lasing position to vary the number of output energy beams and thus the number of spots on the substrate.

Abstract: An electron beam welding apparatus in which the beam deflection coils controlling the weld may be modified by the superimposition of a variable input voltage so as to control the fade-out slope of the welding region.

Abstract: Tablet treating system 10 treats a series of pharmaceutical tablets 50T with pulses of laser energy 24P within at least one predetermined treatment site 50S on each tablet. A tablet conveyer 12 continuously moves individual tablets along a tablet path 10P. A Laser 14 provides the pulses of laser energy along a stationary laser path which crosses the tablet path defining a stationary intersection zone 14Z common to both paths. The tablet path has periodic treatment windows 20W during which the treatment sites 50S on the moving tablets pass through the stationary intersection zone. The operation of the laser has periodic laser ready windows 24W during which the laser may be fired. A controller 16 is responsive to the movement of the tablet conveyer and to the operation of the laser for activating the laser and treating the tablets. The controller activates the laser when a tablet is passing through the intersection zone and the tablet treatment window coincides with the laser ready window.

Abstract: A laser irradiation nozzle free from clogging, adhesion of metal oxides, directional gas blowing, and oxidation occurring on the weld; yet capable of providing sound bead morphology and a stable weld depth on a workpiece. Accordingly, the laser irradiation nozzle comprises a conical outside nozzle and a conical inside nozzle being arranged as such to give a concentric ring-shaped top, having an assist gas outlet being established between the inside and the outside nozzles, wherein, the distance h between the laser beam focal position on the workpiece and said irradiation nozzle is controlled to a predetermined value, and the ratio of the cross sectional area of the assist gas outlet being as defined between the outside and the inside nozzles to the cross sectional area of the inside concentrical ring defined by the outer diameter of said ring on the nozzle top is also controlled to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus which allows cutting to be automatically restarted or redone without intervention from an operator once a cutting error or fault occurs. In a first embodiment, when the fault occurs the apparatus discontinues processing on the product corresponding to the fault. Thereafter, it moves to, and restarts cutting at, a starting position of the next product to be cut. In a second embodiment, the apparatus corrects a fault and continues cutting on the product corresponding to the fault by restarting cutting at the fault point. It determines whether a restart is possible at the point of the fault based on the type or definition of the fault. If a predetermined number of restarts are attempted at the point of fault without a successful restart, then the apparatus moves to a new start position. In another embodiment, the apparatus uses a profile sensor to prevent machine damage by sensing the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for maximizing light beam utilization in patterning applications by positioning a plurality of mask mirrors in the light beam path to form patterned light onto a plurality of work pieces. Each mask mirror is designed so that a portion of the light beam area needed for exposing a work piece to patterned light is reflected from the mask mirror, while the remainder is passed through the mask mirror to another mask mirror. Alternatively, each mask mirror can be designed so that a portion of the light beam area needed for exposing a work piece to patterned light is passed through the mask mirror, while the remainder is reflected to another mask mirror.

Abstract: The passive components of the analog channel of the trip device are achieved by serigraphy on a thick layered hybrid circuit. Adjustment, by laser, of the value of an offset voltage compensating resistance and of a measuring resistance enables the offset voltage and gain of the channel to be adjusted with precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for securing an end of a headbox flow tube to an end plate. The method includes the steps of laser cutting the end plate such that the end plate defines an opening for reception therein of the end of the flow tube. The end of the flow tube is positioned within the opening, and the end of the flow tube is laser welded to the end plate in the vicinity of the opening for generating a water tight seal between the end of the flow tube and the end plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring material removal from a workpiece by a beam of energy during a material processing operation are disclosed. A detector is positioned for sensing optical emissions from the workpiece caused by removal of material when an energy beam pulse is incident upon the surface of the workpiece. A computing circuit, algorithm or artificial neural network is provided for determining a quantity of material removed from the sensed optical emissions in real-time during the material processing operation. Analysis of the optical emission pulses caused by the material removal provides an indication of the efficiency of the material processing system and provides feedback for manual or automatic adjustment of material processing parameters during the material processing operation.

Abstract: A laser processing apparatus which is high in production efficiency, and capable of easily and automatically changing processing heads from one to another according to the type of the thermal processing to be done is disclosed. The laser processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing heads composed of a processing head for cutting work, a processing head for welding work and a processing head for hardening work. The laser processing apparatus moves one processing head toward a processing position with respect to the frame having a laser beam generator by a processing head driving unit. The apparatus includes a workpiece moving system for moving a workpiece with respect to the processing head positioned in the processing position. Therefore, a compact laser processing apparatus, high in production efficiency, and which is capable of selecting an optimum processing head from processing heads according to the type of the thermal processing to be done, results.

Abstract: A monitoring system monitors a laser process which delivers energy from a laser source to a workpiece along a process path while producing plasma at a beam delivery point along the path. An infrared radiation detector is positioned for receiving infrared radiation from a point behind and in close proximity to the beam delivery point. The detector provides a temperature signal having a value which varies with changes in the intensity of the received infrared radiation over a predetermined test interval. A plurality of temperature limits are established with each temperature limit having a different value. The temperature signal is compared with each temperature limit and a violation indication is provided each time the temperature signal violates one of the limits. The number of violation indications for each limit are counted over the predetermined test interval. The laser process is evaluated as a function of the number of violation indications during the test interval.

Abstract: Sheared steel sheet materials are abutted against each other with burrs of the steel sheet materials directed in the same direction. A laser beam is irradiated onto the abutment portion of the assembly of the steel sheets from the sagging side of the assembly. At the same time, a filler wire is supplied to the abutment portion from the same side as the laser beam irradiation. The steel sheet materials are joined together to form a press material. Then, the press material is set in a press machine in a direction that a surface of the press material opposite to the laser beam irradiated surface, faces the exterior when stamped and mounted to a vehicle. Then, the press material is stamped and is formed into a vehicle panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides microprocessing and the device therefor which is characterized by radiating proessing pulse laser together with trapping laser to perform the modification and processing of particles and microcapsules.In the case of using such method for implosion, the reaction group is caused to be released by imploding the microcapsule with the reactive goup enclosed to implosion, permitting specified reaction and processing.