Abstract: For the laser drilling of organic materials, in particular for making blind holes in dielectric layers, a frequency-doubled Nd-vanadate laser with the following parameters is used: pulse width <40 ns pulse frequency ?20 kHz wavelength =532 nm.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are for rapidly processing dielectric substrates using laser beams. A pulsed laser beam having a pulse repetition frequency greater than approximately 50 kHz and having pulse lengths shorter than approximately 200 ns is used for this purpose. Given a suitable choice of the parameters which characterize the processing laser beam, it is possible to ensure both a high throughput of bored holes and a high hole quality. With the use of a Q-switched CO2 laser, a wavelength of approximately 9.2 &mgr;m and a pulse energy of approximately 0.7 mJ are used. As a result, by way of example, 500 holes per second can be bored into an LCP substrate having a thickness of 0.4 mm. The high throughput and the simultaneously high hole quality are a consequence of the wavelength chosen, the short pulse lengths, the high repetition rate and the pulse energy that is likewise high compared with conventional laser processing apparatuses in the area of electronic fabrication.

Abstract: In order to produce a trench structure having steep sidewalls free of residues in an, in particular, glass-fiber-reinforced substrate, the substrate is provided with a conformal mask having cutouts corresponding to the trench structure to be produced. In this case, the laser beam is guided over the cutouts of the mask in such a way that the low-energy edge regions of the laser beam are shielded and that proportion of the laser beam which impinges on the polymer surface, at each point, has an energy density above a threshold at which the substrate material including a glass fiber reinforcement that is possibly present is completely removed.

Abstract: A method and device can be used to pattern both regions of a printed circuit board which are provided for coarse conductor structures and regions which are provided for relatively fine conductor structures of the printed circuit board. In each case, this can be done via laser processing. Both regions are firstly coated with a continuous metallization layer and covered with an etch resistor. The coarse conductor structures are predefined with a laser beam with a relatively long wavelength by exposing the metal surfaces which are not required. In addition, the fine conductor structures are also pre-shaped by processing the etch resist with a laser beam with a relatively short wavelength. Then, in a common etching process, all the exposed surface regions of the metal layer are etched away so that only the coarse and fine conductor track structures which are covered by the remaining etch resist are left.

Abstract: When holes are being drilled in an electric circuit substrate, a laser beam is moved on concentric circular tracks in the region of the hole to be drilled. The transition from one circular track to the next takes place in each case on an arc that departs approximately tangentially from the circular track last traversed and nestles approximately tangentially against the circular track newly to be described in such a way that in each case the starting point of a new circular track is offset by a prescribed angle from the starting point of the preceding circular track.

Abstract: A method and device for the laser drilling of laminates includes the use of a frequency-doubled Nd vanadate laser. The laser includes the following parameters: pulse width<40 ns, pulse frequency≧30 kHz for the metal layer and ≧20 kHz for the dielectric layer, and wavelength=532 nmn. Such a laser is used for the laser drilling of laminates which have at least one metal layer and at least one dielectric layer including an organic material.

Abstract: In order to produce soldered connections between the contacts of components and the associated connections of a support, a deflectable laser beam is aimed at all the soldered points of a component quickly one after another and in a plurality of passes. This is done until the solder has melted at all the soldered points. The energy is supplied in a timesharing procedure, as a result of which more energy can be supplied without the risk of thermal damage, and the processing time can be shortened.

Abstract: In a method for the laser drilling of holes in a circuit substrate with the aid of a perforated mask, a laser beam is moved in the region of the perforated mask on a circular path. The center point of the region lies concentrically with respect to the set position of the respective hole in the mask. Further, the diameter of the region is smaller than the diameter of the hole. At the same time, the diameter of the laser beam spot is chosen to be large enough that it always covers the center point of the perforated mask during the circular motion. As a result, an energy distribution of the laser energy, which is as uniform as possible, is achieved in the region of the perforated mask.

Abstract: When holes are being drilled in an electric circuit substrate, a laser beam is moved on concentric circular tracks in the region of the hole to be drilled. The transition from one circular track to the next takes place in each case on an arc that departs approximately tangentially from the circular track last traversed and nestles approximately tangentially against the circular track newly to be described in such a way that in each case the starting point of a new circular track is offset by a prescribed angle from the starting point of the preceding circular track.

Abstract: In order to produce a trench structure having steep sidewalls free of residues in an, in particular, glass-fiber-reinforced substrate, the substrate is provided with a conformal mask having cutouts corresponding to the trench structure to be produced. In this case, the laser beam is guided over the cutouts of the mask in such a way that the low-energy edge regions of the laser beam are shielded and that proportion of the laser beam which impinges on the polymer surface, at each point, has an energy density above a threshold at which the substrate material including a glass fiber reinforcement that is possibly present is completely removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for describing a predetermined desired course (1) with a beam of particles or waves, wherein a movable beam-directing device influences the direction of the beam, so that the latter describes an actual course (3, 4). The deviation of the actual course (3, 4) from the desired course due to inertia is minimized by specifying a corrected desired course (2), which describes diversions at the point of direction changes. The invention also relates to the use of this method for laser structuring or for writing guard plates or dial plates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are for rapidly processing dielectric substrates using laser beams. A pulsed laser beam having a pulse repetition frequency greater than approximately 50 kHz and having pulse lengths shorter than approximately 200 ns is used for this purpose. Given a suitable choice of the parameters which characterize the processing laser beam, it is possible to ensure both a high throughput of bored holes and a high hole quality. With the use of a Q-switched CO2 laser, a wavelength of approximately 9.2 &mgr;m and a pulse energy of approximately 0.7 mJ are used. As a result, by way of example, 500 holes per second can be bored into an LCP substrate having a thickness of 0.4 mm. The high throughput and the simultaneously high hole quality are a consequence of the wavelength chosen, the short pulse lengths, the high repetition rate and the pulse energy that is likewise high compared with conventional laser processing apparatuses in the area of electronic fabrication.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for calibrating a laser processing machine for processing workpieces. The present invention ensures a fast and reproducible method and arrangement for calibrating a laser processing machine by measuring a position of a predetermined test pattern on a test plate while taking into account any imaging errors caused by the deflection unit.

Abstract: To drill micro-holes in a multi-layer substrate having a first metal layer and at least one second metal layer, and having a dielectric layer arranged between two metal layers, use is made of a solid-state laser. The beam of the laser, in a first operation, ablates the first metal layer and, in a second operation, ablates the dielectric layer down to the second metal layer. In the first operation, the laser beam is set to a repetition frequency of at least 15 kHz, focused onto the first metal layer and moved in a circle corresponding to the diameter of the desired hole, in such a number of passes until this metal layer is cut through. Then, in the second operation, the laser beam is set to a preferably lower repetition frequency, directed out of focus onto the dielectric layer exposed in the hole and moved, with a circumferential velocity which is higher compared with the first operation, in one or more concentric circles, until the dielectric layer is ablated in the hole region.

Abstract: In a method for the laser drilling of holes in a circuit substrate with the aid of a perforated mask, a laser beam is moved in the region of the perforated mask on a circular path. The center point of the region lies concentrically with respect to the set position of the respective hole in the mask. Further, the diameter of the region is smaller than the diameter of the hole. At the same time, the diameter of the laser beam spot is chosen to be large enough that it always covers the center point of the perforated mask during the circular motion. As a result, an energy distribution of the laser energy, which is as uniform as possible, is achieved in the region of the perforated mask.

Abstract: For the laser machining of organic materials, a laser with the below listed parameters is used. The laser has a wavelength of 300 nm to 1200 nm, a pulse width of <50 ns and a pulse frequency of >20 kHz. To increase a degree of absorption and consequently the machining rate, additives with good absorption of the laser beam with the respectively chosen wavelength are admixed with the organic materials.

Abstract: A method and device can be used to pattern both regions of a printed circuit board which are provided for coarse conductor structures and regions which are provided for relatively fine conductor structures of the printed circuit board. In each case, this can be done via laser processing. Both regions are firstly coated with a continuous metallization layer and covered with an etch resistor. The coarse conductor structures are predefined with a laser beam with a relatively long wavelength by exposing the metal surfaces which are not required. In addition, the fine conductor structures are also pre-shaped by processing the etch resist with a laser beam with a relatively short wavelength. Then, in a common etching process, all the exposed surface regions of the metal layer are etched away so that only the coarse and fine conductor track structures which are covered by the remaining etch resist are left.

Abstract: To drill micro-holes in a multi-layer substrate having a first metal layer and at least one second metal layer, and having a dielectric layer arranged between two metal layers, use is made of a solid-state laser. The beam of the laser, in a first operation, ablates the first metal layer and, in a second operation, ablates the dielectric layer down to the second metal layer. In the first operation, the laser beam is set to a repetition frequency of at least 15 kHz, focused onto the first metal layer and moved in a circle corresponding to the diameter of the desired hole, in such a number of passes until this metal layer is cut through. Then, in the second operation, the laser beam is set to a preferably lower repetition frequency, directed out of focus onto the dielectric layer exposed in the hole and moved, with a circumferential velocity which is higher compared with the first operation, in one or more concentric circles, until the dielectric layer is ablated in the hole region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing interconnections with electrically conductive cross connections between the top and the bottom part of a substrate and interconnections having such cross connections. The substrate (S1) is given a slanted, roof-shaped or convex contour (K1) in the area of at least one front face and/or in the area of at least one inner wall of a recess. After metallizing the substrate (S1), printed-board conductor-shaped cross connections (Q) are produced in the area of the above-mentioned contours (K1) simultaneously with laser structuring of printed board conductors (L) on the top part (0) and the bottom part (U) of the substrate (S1).

Abstract: For the laser machining of organic materials, a laser with the below listed parameters is used. The laser has a wavelength of 300 nm to 1200 nm, a pulse width of >50 ns and a pulse frequency of ≧20 kHz. To increase a degree of absorption and consequently the machining rate, additives with good absorption of the laser beam with the respectively chosen wavelength are admixed with the organic materials.