Abstract: Apparatus and method for undercutting the insulation material below the surface of adjacent commutator bars on the armature of a direct current motor. A focused laser beam is directed substantially normal to the commutator surface. The beam can be delivered to the surface of the commutator by several different beam focusing and shaping technologies. The high energy beam is scanned over the surface as the armature is held in a fixture and allowed to rotate about its axis to cause the ablation of a predetermined amount of insulative material from between the commutator bars. A high pressure air nozzle is directed at the surface of the armature to remove particles ablated from the surface of the armature by the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which enables zones (10, 11) of a printed circuit (6) to be precisely and quickly exposed, both on the conductors (3) and to the side of these.Work is carried out on a blank provided with an insulating coating (4, 5) which may cover its entire surface. The coating is acted upon the zones (10, 11) to be exposed by means of a machining head having one or more laser beams and being controlled by a computer which receives the coordinates of the zones. The power of the beam is modulated differently on the conductors (3) and to the side of them, just as it is to make holes in the circuit or cut it along its periphery.The invention applies to the production of flexible printed circuits.

Abstract: The present invention has as its subject a device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks to be welded edge to edge.The device comprises, on the one hand, for each sheet metal blank, means (14a, 15a) for supporting the sheet metal blank along a horizontal reference plane and movable horizontally in the direction of a laser beam and means (14c, 15c) for vertical pressing of the sheet metal blank onto the support means and movable horizontally in synchronisation with the said support means for the movement by adherence of the sheet metal blanks and, on the other hand, means for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks in the axis of the laser beam and means for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks.

Abstract: Laser joining of dissimilar material in order to form an integral structure. Such structure of this type, generally, allow circuit breaker components which are constructed of different material, to be joined together to form an integral circuit breaker.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing improved efficiency in laser bonding is disclosed. In particular, at least one piece part in the arrangement is formed to include means for concentrating a beam of radiation at a predetermined attachment location (or several locations). The concentrating means may be in the form of an aperture, such as a conical or parabolic opening, which will concentrate the radiation to the area of interest. Alternatively, if the piece part is transparent to the wavelength of the radiation, the concentrating means may be in the form of a lens or grating formed on the surface of the piece part.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a laser generator, a laser beam delivery tube, a beam bender, a laser delivery robot, a beam bender support unit, and a three-axis adjustable head. The beam bender support unit comprises a base, a riser, and first and second support plates welded to two side faces of the riser and to the base. The beam bender support unit also comprises a horizontal support arm and first and second arm support plates mounted to the two side faces of the vertical riser and to the horizontal support arm. The beam bender is mounted to the three-axis adjustable head providing adjustment of the location of the beam bender in first and second horizontal directions and a third vertical direction, wherein the beam bender has increased isolation from floor vibrations.

Abstract: A door seal apparatus for a laser operating station, comprises a fixed wall with an opening, a turn table device with a turn table wall positioned within the opening, the turn table device having at least two positions in which the turn table wall is substantially parallel and coplanar with the fixed wall, with a gap existing between the fixed wall and turn table wall, cylinders for driving a first plate in a first direction over a first portion of the gap, and a cam plate for operationally engaging the first plate to a second plate and for driving the second plate in a second direction over a second portion of the gap as the first plate is driven in a first direction, wherein the first and second plates prevent direct light leaks from the first and second portions of the gap.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to laser bonding electrical components having conductive elements which are naturally reflective of the laser beam wavelength. Component leads or pads which are made of copper or have a gold coating, for example, will reflect the wavelength of an Nd:YAG laser, making it difficult to form physical and electrical bonds using the laser bonding technique. In preferred embodiments, the conductive elements are coated with a non-flux, non-metallic, coating material which is less reflective of the laser energy than the conductive elements, making it possible to efficiently use a laser to accomplish bonding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of soldering electronic components to each other. When a member to be bonded is soldered to a base material by irradiating the member to be bonded with laser lights, the laser lights are incident upon a laser light transmittable probe and are emitted from the front end of the probe and the front end of the probe is in substantial contact with a solder or the member to be bonded.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cutting sheets of plastic material takes place upon a mobile support, such as a pallet. The pallets is centered for the cutting of the material and for the removal thereof in an assembly zone integral with a production line in which the materials of laminate glass are assembled. The pallet passes along a closed circuitous route, preferably in the presence of a plurality of similar pallets.

Abstract: A first laser beam and a second laser beam with a longer wavelength than the first laser beam are directed at a first metal member in contact with a second metal member. At the ambient temperature the first member has high absorption of energy from the first laser beam but low absorption of energy from the second laser beam. As the first member absorbs energy from the first laser beam the temperature of the first member increases and the reflectivity of the first member decreases so that the first member has high absorption of energy from the second laser beam. The first member then absorbs energy from the second laser beam, the temperature of the first member further increases and at least one of the members melts. After discontinuing the laser beams a solid bond forms between the members.

Abstract: Method for on-line quality assurance when processing materials with laser energy by means of electro-optical detection of the near-infrared radiation of the material which is thrown out of the "key-hole" during the material processing operation with laser, thus detecting the dimension of hollows (pores, holes) which have arisen in the workpiece. The detection of the thermal radiation of the thrown out material is effected in a wavelength of 800 nm up to approximately 1300 nm, preferably with simultaneous detection of the ultraviolet radiation of the plasma could in a preferred wavelength of approx. 200 nm up to 450 nm. Finally, there is also a description of the processing procedure for near-infrared signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to an method and apparatus for soldering microelectronic lead connections to pads on a ceramic substrate with the aid of a fiber based Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Such structures of this type, generally, provide a means of delivering sufficient localized heating to the ceramic substrate to reflow solder plate or melt solder cream (paste) within the lead connection without any substrate preheating.

Abstract: Welding a first body (11) of a first metal which has been plated on one surface thereof with a layer (13) of a second metal comprises the step of vaporizing a portion of said layer. This is done by directing a first pulsed laser beam (17) at the layer (13), the first pulsed laser beam having a first relatively high peak power and a first relatively low pulse duration. The vaporizing results in exposure of a portion of the first body (11). Thereafter, part of the first body is melted by directing a second pulsed laser beam (20) at the exposed portion of the first body, said second pulsed laser beam having a second peak power smaller than the first peak power and a second pulse duration longer than said first pulse duration. By using the same laser (18) in a two-step process, first to vaporize a portion of the plating, such as gold plating on Kovar, and thereafter using the same laser for making the weld, one can avoid a microcracking problem in a manner that is quick, simple and convenient.

Abstract: An electrically powered portable cigarette lighter includes a laser for generating a beam of energy and means directing the beam to a point in the region of the end of a cigarette inserted into the lighter. Means are provided for preventing the beam of energy from escaping through the opening in which the cigarette is inserted.

Abstract: This invention relates to laser joining of dissimilar materials in order to form an integral structure. Structures of this type, generally, allow circuit breaker components, which are constructed of different materials, to be joined together in order to form an integral circuit breaker.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a high power laser beam for three dimensional operation consists of a mirror and three linear servo-mechanisms to tilt and to translate the mirror. The movement of the linear servo-mechanisms is controlled by a computer numerical control system or programmable logic controller.

Abstract: An ornament includes a hollow ornament body having an inner coating layer in which a pattern is formed, to form an ornamental indicia for the ornament. The pattern in the inner coating layer may be a pattern of openings or a pattern of discolorations. The pattern in the inner coating layer may be formed by directing a laser beam through the hollow ornament body into the inner coating layer in a predetermined pattern. The laser beam may vaporize the inner coating layer or discolor the inner coating layer without harming the body of the ornament. The laser may be a Nd:YAG marking laser. Input patterns are provided to the laser after conversion from planar to spheroidal coordinates so that a pattern may be produced in the inner coating layer without distortion. When illuminated from within, the ornament produces a unique appearance because the ornamental indicia is illuminated due to the removal or discoloration of the inner coating layer.

Abstract: A strip welding machine for butt-welding cut surfaces of a strip beginning and a strip end of metal strips to be connected is described. The welding seam is manufactured with a laser welding head. In order to obtain a plane and parallel and gap-free butt joint of the cut surfaces, two separately mounted cutting tools are provided. Each cutting tool has an upper knife and two lower knives, wherein each upper knife is moved virtually without a gap between the two lower knives. Consequently, the cut surfaces at the strip end and the cut surfaces at the strip beginning of the metal strips to be connected are manufactured with equal cutting forces, so that dimensional inaccuracies cannot occur.

Abstract: A laser beam generator is mounted stationarily relative to a sheet roll feed mechanism of the type used in roll feed drafting plotters so as to project a laser beam lengthwise of the crossrail of such feed mechanism. A right angle reflecting and focusing assembly is mounted on a carriage moveable along the crossrail for directing the laser beam toward a sheet positioned by the feeder. The sheet is moved in one axis (the x-axis) by the roll feed mechanism, while the reflecting and focusing assembly is moved in the other axis (y-axis) by the carriage--all under computer control. On-off signals for the laser are derived from the pen up, pen down signaling mechanism of the plotter so that a design or pattern is cut in the sheet as though the plotter were drawing a drafting pattern. Mechanism is provided to calculate the actual speed of the focused laser beam relative to the sheet being cut and to adjust the power output of the laser automatically so that a uniform cut is achieved.