Abstract: An anti-counterfeiting mark is formed on a surface of an object, preferably by engraving with a laser at the point of manufacture. The mark includes a padlock symbol visible to a person without magnification for informing the person that anti-counterfeiting techniques are in use. The mark also includes a microscopic pattern. Preferably, the microscopic pattern is varied from object to object for uniqueness. The microscopic pattern must be magnified to properly discern its intricacies. The mark further includes a bar code containing data relating to the microscopic pattern. The microscopic pattern may be compared against the data stored by the bar code to verify authenticity.

Abstract: The laser marking device of the present invention utilizes a networked distributed scalable architecture for high-speed simultaneous or sequential marking on a plurality of stationary or moving objects. A plurality of marking units and a controller are connected with one another through a network interface. The controller generates commands and data for the entire marking process and performs general flow control.

Abstract: Precise timing control can be obtained for a gas discharge laser, such as an excimer or molecular fluorine laser, using a timed trigger ionization. Instead of using a standard approach to control the timing of the emission or amplification of an optical pulse using the discharge of the main electrodes, the timing of which can only be controlled to within about 10 ns, a trigger ionization pulse applied subsequent to the charging of the main electrodes can be used to control the timing of the discharge, thereby decreasing the timing variations to about 1 ns. Since ionization of the laser gas can consume relatively small amounts of energy, such a circuit can be based on a fast, high-voltage, solid state switch that is virtually free of jitter. Trigger ionization also can be used to synchronize the timing of dual chambers in a MOPA configuration. In one such approach, ionization trigger can include at least a portion of the optical pulse from the oscillator in a MOPA configuration.

Abstract: Precise timing control can be obtained for a gas discharge laser, such as an excimer or molecular fluorine laser, using a timed trigger ionization. Instead of using a standard approach to control the timing of the emission or amplification of an optical pulse using the discharge of the main electrodes, the timing of which can only be controlled to within about 10 ns, a trigger ionization pulse applied subsequent to the charging of the main electrodes can be used to control the timing of the discharge, thereby decreasing the timing variations to about 1 ns. Since ionization of the laser gas can consume relatively small amounts of energy, such a circuit can be based on a fast, high-voltage, solid state switch that is virtually free of jitter. Trigger ionization also can be used to synchronize the timing of dual chambers in a MOPA configuration. In one such approach, ionization trigger can include at least a portion of the optical pulse from the oscillator in a MOPA configuration.