With Monitoring Patents (Class 219/121.83)
  • Patent number: 9856734
    Abstract: A system for adaptively machining a shroud of a blade used in a turbomachine is provided. The system may include a computer system including a module(s) configured to: extract geometric location data from a 3D model of the shroud after use in the turbomachine, the 3D model created by digitizing using a digitizing device. The geometric location data includes geometric location data of a hard face plane of the shroud exposed to wear during turbomachine operation and of a non-worn surface adjacent to the hard face plane substantially unexposed to wear during turbomachine operation. Comparing the geometric location data of the non-worn surface from the three-dimensional model to a manufacturing model of the blade determines a change in position of the non-worn surface from use of the blade in the turbomachine. The change in position is used to modify a machining instruction used by a machining device to repair the hard face plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Salm, Mark Carmine Bellino, James Ryan Connor, Gareth William David Lewis, Keith Alan Lord
  • Patent number: 9839977
    Abstract: An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser (4) for generating a laser beam and a laser head (5) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam (7) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Christian Liebl, Steffen Schlothauer
  • Patent number: 9791620
    Abstract: It is proposed a home optical data network formed of an optical fiber comprising an optical core and an optical cladding surrounding the optical core, the optical core having a refractive graded-index profile with a minimal refractive index n1 and a maximal refractive index n0, said optical fiber being such that it has a numerical aperture NA and an optical core radius a satisfying a criterion C of quality of optical communications defined by the following equation: C = NA - 0.02 × a where ? : NA = n 0 2 - n 1 2 = n 0 · 2 ? ? ? ? with ? ? ? = n 0 2 - n 1 2 2 ? n 0 2 , ? is the normalized refractive index difference, and in that said minimal and maximal refractive indexes n1, n0 and said optical core radius a are chosen such that NA>0.20, a>10 ?m and |C|<0.20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DRAKA COMTEQ BV
    Inventors: Denis Molin, Pierre Sillard, Pierre Sansonetti
  • Patent number: 9636769
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the generative production of components, particularly of single-crystalline or directionally-solidified components, particularly for the production of components for turbomachines, in which the component is constructed in layers on a substrate or a previously produced part of the component (3), wherein a construction in layers takes place by melting of powder material in layers with a high-energy beam (14) and solidification of the powder melt (16) takes place, wherein the high-energy beam has a beam cross section (19) in the area of its impingement on the powder material that is altered in comparison to a circular or other symmetrical cross section and/or the beam energy is distributed non-uniformly, in particular asymmetrically or eccentrically, over the beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Thomas Goehler, Thomas Hess, Tobias Maiwald-Immer
  • Patent number: 9588285
    Abstract: It is proposed an optical fiber including an optical core and an optical cladding surrounding the optical core. The optical core has a refractive graded-index profile with a minimal refractive index n1 and a maximal refractive index n0. The optical fiber has a numerical aperture NA and an optical core radius ? satisfying a criterion C of quality of optical communications defined by the following equation: C=NA?0.02×a where: NA=?{square root over (n02?n12)}=n0·?{square root over (2?)} with ? = n 0 2 - n 1 2 2 ? ? n 0 2 , ? is the normalized refractive index difference. The minimal and maximal refractive indexes n1, n0 and the optical core radius a are chosen such that NA>0.20, a>10 ?m and |C|<0.20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DRAKA COMTEQ BV
    Inventors: Denis Molin, Pierre Sillard, Pierre Sansonetti
  • Patent number: 9533375
    Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus configured to measure a temperature distribution of a surface to be measured is provided. The temperature sensing apparatus includes a lens set, a filtering module, a plurality of sensor arrays, and a processing unit. The lens set is configured to receive radiation from the surface to be measured. The filtering module is configured to filter the radiation from the lens set into a plurality of radiation portions respectively having different wavelengths. The sensor arrays are configured to respectively sense the radiation portions. The processing unit is configured to calculate an intensity ratio distribution of the radiation between the different wavelengths according to the radiation portions respectively sensed by the sensor arrays and determine the temperature distribution according to the intensity ratio distribution. A laser processing system and a temperature measuring method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Cho, Yi-Chen Hsieh, Kai-Ping Chuang, Sen-Yih Chou, Chun-Jen Lin
  • Patent number: 9505086
    Abstract: In a method for detecting flaws in continuous laser welding processes, including a sensor measures plasma emission spectrum in a range of wavelengths between ?max and ?min in N channels, each measuring radiation strength emitted in the band centered at wavelength ?i (1?i?N) and width ??i. Deviation detection is based upon calculating intensity relationships of signals measured at specific wavelengths and in comparison with pre-determined threshold values. A calibration phase ensures a series of K weldings is performed, under optimized conditions, for each a number J of spectra OJ,K, is acquired, each one corresponding to a vector of N intensity values at wavelengths ?i, 1?i?N, and a series of weldings K? is then performed, (K??K), a single welding parameter A is altered by a known quantity, for each welding being acquired a sequence of J? spectra AJ?,K?, (J??J), which are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventors: Guido Toci, Roberto Pini
  • Patent number: 9423248
    Abstract: A visual error calibration method configured to calibrate visual positioning errors of a laser processing apparatus is provided. The method includes: providing an alignment mark having at least one alignment point; locating a preset point of the alignment mark at a first preset position of a working area, and locating a preset image point at a preset position of the visible area; locating the alignment point at one of the second preset positions in the working area; adjusting parameters of a scanning module to locate an alignment image point at the preset position; relatively moving the alignment image point to positions of the visible area in sequence; recording the positions of the alignment image point in the visible area, the positions of the alignment point in the working area and the parameters of the scanning module, so as to produce an alignment table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shao-Chuan Lu, Jie-Ting Tseng, Min-Kai Lee
  • Patent number: 9375974
    Abstract: A system for removing a coating from a surface is provided. This system includes a laser scanner, wherein the laser scanner further includes at least one laser source, wherein the at least one laser source is operative to generate at least one laser beam, and wherein the laser beam is directed onto a work surface by the laser scanner; and a controller for operating the laser scanner. The controller further includes an imaging device for imaging the work surface; a lighting device for illuminating the work surface and overwhelming light generated by the interaction of the laser beam with the work surface; and a processor for processing information collected by the imaging device and adjusting the power output of the at least one laser source, if and when desirable or necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Edison Welding Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Ream, Craig T. Walters
  • Patent number: 9272367
    Abstract: A cutting machine includes a suction duct that is movable with a cutting head of the cutting machine, using a common drive. The suction duct is disposed beneath the workpiece support and coupled to the motion unit supporting the cutting head so that it moves with the motion unit while an opening of the suction duct remains positioned below the cutting head during a cutting operation. The suction duct removes cutting debris and dust, and protects underlying machine components from beam damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Trumpf, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonid Zeygerman
  • Patent number: 9233434
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the focus of a fibers laser is described, which comprises positioning the output of a fibers laser relative to a workpiece; measuring at least a portion of back reflected radiation from the workpiece (step 52); determining an integral of this; changing the relative position of the output and the workpiece one or more times (step 54,56), each time determining an integral of values for the back-reflection, and using the integrals to determine optimum focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SPI LASERS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Keen
  • Patent number: 9133537
    Abstract: A method of improving a superalloy component is proposed. The method involves the introduction of at least one additive into the superalloy component, the at least one additive being selected from the group of Hf, La, and Y. The at least one additive is introduced into a surface layer of the component. Preferably, the surface layer has a depth of 0.5 mm or less. The component may include, for example, an airfoil of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Paul Mathew Walker
  • Patent number: 9120177
    Abstract: A laser machining apparatus includes a main control unit executing NC program; a laser oscillator oscillating laser light according to instruction from the main control unit; a distance sensor measuring distance L between a nozzle and a workpiece; a sensor-data processing unit sampling a measured value of the distance sensor; and a copying control unit moving a machining head to maintain the distance constant based the measured value, wherein the sensor-data processing unit samples the measured value with an operation period shorter than that of the main control unit and, when a portion corresponding to the through hole in the workpiece comes off and the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value during the inner hole machining, causes oscillation of laser light to be stopped by outputting a stop signal to the laser oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9044819
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes a beam diameter adjusting unit provided between a laser oscillator and a focusing unit, an imaging unit for detecting the beam diameter of the laser beam directed to a detection path, an optical path length changing unit for moving the imaging unit along the detection path to thereby change an optical path length, and a controller for controlling the imaging unit, the beam diameter adjusting unit, and the optical path length changing unit. The controller operates to move the imaging unit to two positions where different optical path lengths are provided, detect the beam diameters of the laser beam at the two positions, and controls the beam diameter adjusting unit according to the two beam diameters detected above so that the two beam diameters have a predetermined relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morikazu
  • Patent number: 9018560
    Abstract: A turbine component repair apparatus includes: a first die having male and female halves for clamping a first section of a turbine blade with a platform and a root portion of an airfoil, the first die having a recess shaped to receive the root portion and retain a faying surface thereof in predetermined alignment; and a second die having male and female halves for clamping a repair section which defines a tip portion of the airfoil, the second die having a second recess shaped to receive the tip portion and retain a faying surface of the tip portion in predetermined alignment. The first and second dies have mating front faces configured to align their bottom surfaces in a common plane. A alignment device is removably attached to the second die to temporarily align the repair section in the absence of the male half of the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Gary Krizansky, Gary R. Peters, Hai Sam
  • Patent number: 9018561
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation for a high power broad band elongated thin beam laser annealing light source, which may comprise a gas discharge seed laser oscillator having a resonance cavity, providing a seed laser output pulse; a gas discharge amplifier laser amplifying the seed laser output pulse to provide an amplified seed laser pulse output; a divergence correcting multi-optical element optical assembly intermediate the seed laser and the amplifier laser. The divergence correcting optical assembly may adjust the size and/or shape of the seed laser output pulse within a discharge region of the amplifier laser in order to adjust an output parameter of the amplified seed laser pulse output. The divergence correcting optical assembly may comprise a telescope with an adjustable focus. The adjustable telescope may comprise an active feedback-controlled actuator based upon a sensed parameter of the amplified seed laser output from the amplifier laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cymer, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L Sandstrom, Daniel J. W. Brown, Thomas Hoffmann, Jason D Robinson, Craig W Unick
  • Patent number: 8987634
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for determining misalignment of a powder feed nozzle and a laser beam. The method includes forming a test structure on a workpiece in at least two different directions by deposition laser welding with powder at substantially constant deposition parameters without relative rotation between a powder feed nozzle and a laser beam, measuring heights and/or wall thicknesses of the test structure along the test structure, and determining a direction and/or an amount of misalignment of the powder feed nozzle relative to the laser beam based on the measured heights and/or wall thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Pieger, Sebastian Kaufmann, Philip Anthony Carroll
  • Patent number: 8981258
    Abstract: Laser cutting processes are provided which are controlled using as a reference signal one or more emission lines which are characteristic of the radiation emitted by a gas or, more generally, by an emitting element present in the volume irradiated by the laser beam focussed by a laser head and adjusting, on the basis of this reference signal, at least one of the following process control parameters: the power of the laser, the frequency and the duty cycle of the laser pulse, the pressure of an assisting gas emitted by a nozzle forming part of the laser head, the relative speed of the laser head with respect to the workpiece, the distance between the laser head and the surface of the workpiece, and the distance between the focal point of the laser beam and the surface of the workpiece. Laser cutting devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Adige S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Sbetti, Stefano Bertoldi, Daniele Colombo, Barbara Previtali, Giovanni Riva, Matteo Danesi, Lorenzo Molinari Tosatti, Diego Parazzoli
  • Publication number: 20150052751
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an airfoil includes an unfocused laser beam and a first fluid column surrounding the unfocused laser beam to create a confined laser beam directed at the airfoil. A sensor inside the airfoil detects penetration of the confined laser beam through the surface of the airfoil. A method for manufacturing an airfoil includes confining an unfocused laser beam inside a first fluid column to create a confined laser beam, directing the confined laser beam at a surface of the airfoil, and penetrating the surface of the airfoil with the confined laser beam. The method further includes detecting penetration of the confined laser beam through the surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhaoli Hu, Douglas Anthony Serieno, Mark Joel Kromer
  • Patent number: 8952290
    Abstract: In the thermal cutting of a workpiece by means of a laser beam, said beam is generated by means of a laser source and supplied to a movable laser head. In the laser head, an optical deflection element is provided for deflecting the laser beam such that, when viewed in working direction, it encloses a tilt angle (?) differing from 0 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the laser head. Starting therefrom, to produce the inclination of the collimated laser beam to the vertical with a very small number of optical components if possible, the invention suggests that the laser beam is supplied to the laser head by means of an optical fiber and the laser beam is collimated, passes through the deflection element laterally offset to the longitudinal axis of the laser head and is deflected by means of said element onto the workpiece surface and focused at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Messer Cutting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Eck
  • Publication number: 20150034614
    Abstract: A laser irradiation apparatus is provided. The laser irradiation apparatus includes a laser beam generator configured to generate laser beams; a slit unit configured to selectively transmit the laser beams; a mirror unit configured to change a path of the selectively transmitted laser beams, so as to irradiate the selectively transmitted laser beams onto a processing target; a first optical system, wherein a first portion of the selectively transmitted laser beams penetrates through the mirror unit and is projected to the first optical system; and a second optical system, wherein a second portion of the selectively transmitted laser beams penetrates through the mirror unit and is projected to the second optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Hyung KIM, Hae-Sook LEE, Sung-Gon KIM, IL-Young JEONG, Gyoo-Wan HAN, Je-Kil RYU, Kyoung-Seok CHO
  • Patent number: 8946595
    Abstract: An apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a laser emitting unit 2, a monitor unit 3, a storage unit 4, an image extraction unit 5, a bead recognition unit 6, and a bead shape determination unit 7. The bead shape determination unit 7 is configured to calculate the position of the end of a bead region based on the bead region recognized by the bead recognition unit 6, and to determine whether the shape of the end of the bead region is convex or concave in the extending direction of the bead region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenobu Ishida, Naoki Ozawa, Tsukasa Hagihara, Shuichi Usui
  • Publication number: 20150028007
    Abstract: A rotary tool (21) working surface (23) includes a plurality of cutting bodies (24). The rotary tool (21) can be driven about a rotational axis (R). The actual enveloping surface (HF) of the working surface (23) is ascertained by an optical measuring arrangement (29). At least one other target variable (GS) is detected, which describes a microscopic parameter of the working surface (23). The actual variable (GI) corresponding to each specified target variable (GS) is detected by the measuring arrangement (29), and the deviation between the target variable (GS) and the actual variable (GI) is determined. If the actual enveloping surface (HF) lies outside of a specified target enveloping area (HR) or if a deviation (D) between an actual variable (GI) and the corresponding target variable (GS) is unacceptably large, selected first and/or second cutting bodies (24a, 24b) are machined and/or removed by a laser device (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Plüss, Heinrich Mushardt, Oliver Wenke
  • Patent number: 8933374
    Abstract: A pulse laser machining apparatus and method generates a clock signal, emits a pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal, scans the pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal only in a one-dimensional direction, moves a stage in a direction perpendicular to the one-dimensional direction, passes or cuts off the pulse laser beam in synchronization with the clock signal, and controls the passing or cutting off of the pulse laser beam based on the number of light pulses of the pulse laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8927897
    Abstract: In one form a maintenance device includes a flexible member with an inspection end sized to be inserted through an inspection port of a workpiece such as a gas turbine engine or a blade of a gas turbine engine. The maintenance device includes a directed energy member that in one form is configured to produce a double pulse laser with an interval time between a first one of the pulses and a second one of the pulses greater than the time of either the first one of the pulses or the second one of the pulses. The first one of the pulses is sufficiently powerful to produce a quantity of debris upon irradiation of the workpiece. The debris produced from the first one of the pulses can be evaporated by the second one of the pulses to eliminate and/or reduce a recast layer on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Ruiwen Xu, Timothy Paul Fuesting, William J. Brindley
  • Publication number: 20150001196
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a laser welding bead irradiates a laser to a surface of a welding bead when welding with a laser welding machine, collects a signal reflected from the surface of the welding bead as an image signal, and then extracts at least one feature variable of a bead shape using the collected image signal. Then, the apparatus for monitoring the laser welding bead determines welding defects using the at least one feature variable, and controls an operation of the laser welding machine according to whether or not the welding defects are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Keo-Sik KIM, Hyun Seo KANG, Young Soon HEO, Hyoungjun PARK, Kwon-Seob LIM, Jeong Eun KIM, Eun Kyoung JEON
  • Patent number: 8921733
    Abstract: Removing material from the surface of a first circuit comprises generating a first laser pulse using a pulse generator; targeting a spot on the first circuit using a focusing component; delivering the first laser pulse to the spot on the first circuit, the first circuit including a digital component; ablating material from the spot using the first laser pulse without changing a state of the digital component; testing performance of the first circuit, the testing being performed without reinitializing the circuit between the steps of ablating material and testing performance. Targeting the spot on the first circuit comprises generating a second laser pulse using a pulse generator; delivering a second laser pulse to a sacrificial piece of material; detecting the position of the ablation caused by the second laser pulse with a vision system that forms an image; and using this image to guide the first laser to the spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Raydiance, Inc.
    Inventors: David Gaudiosi, Laurent Vaissie
  • Patent number: 8906469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coating method using a plasma shock wave, the method including the steps of: irradiating a pulse laser to a first surface of a mixed layer obtained by mixing powders and resin to generate a plasma, the mixed layer being formed on a second surface of a substance to be coated; striking the powders on the second surface by using a shock wave of the plasma; and forming a coat of the powders on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Adachi, Hiroyuki Takehisa, Yuji Sano, Itaru Chida
  • Publication number: 20140346150
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for detecting an incomplete cutting action when cutting a workpiece with a high-energy beam are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes taking an image of a region of the workpiece to be monitored, the region including an interaction region of the high-energy beam with the workpiece, evaluating the image taken in order to detect pooled slag at an end of the interaction region opposite a cutting front, and detecting whether a related cutting action is incomplete based on an occurrence of detection of pooled slag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Tim Hesse, David Schindhelm, Boris Regaard
  • Publication number: 20140339209
    Abstract: The disclosure is a method and system for monitoring the condition of an optical protective component in a laser system associated with a data processor. In one embodiment, the method begins with directing light from the process head of a laser through the optical protective component onto a workpiece. A return light via the workpiece causes light signals coupled through the protective component and into to a fiber which extends proximate the protective component and thereafter flexibly to a sensor. The sensed signals allow monitoring the condition of the protective component during use. The method and system is operative for use with optical protective elements downstream of the process head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Valentin Gapontsev, Michael Digiantomasso, Yuri Grapov
  • Patent number: 8890022
    Abstract: A method for welding two metal parts from aluminum alloys with the steps: melting of the metal parts to be joined in a weld region through an energy input by means of a laser beam with the formation of a weld seam, smoothing the surface of the weld seam through a further energy input with partial melting of the weld seam in the region of the surface, wherein the further energy input is a defocused laser beam, of which the focal point is positioned in the beam direction in front of or behind the surface of the weld seam, wherein the defocused laser beam and the surface normal of a surface of the two metal parts to which the laser beam is applied, incorporate an angle of greater than or equal to 5 degrees, and a connecting arrangement welded with this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Beck, Wolfgang Becker, Markus Geyer, Ulix Goettsch, Klaus Goth, Wolfgang Gref, Claus-Dieter Reiniger
  • Patent number: 8890024
    Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Hunter, Bruce Adams, Joseph Michael Ranish
  • Patent number: 8890023
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to verifying a seam quality during a laser welding process. In certain aspects, a method includes detecting, in a spatially resolved manner, a first amount of radiation emerging from a workpiece in a first wavelength range, determining a first geometric parameter of a seam characteristic based on the first amount of radiation detected in the first wavelength range, detecting, in a spatially resolved manner, a second amount of radiation emerging from the workpiece in a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different than the first wavelength range, determining a second geometric parameter of the seam characteristic based on the second amount of radiation detected in the second wavelength range, comparing the first and second geometric parameters to respective reference values or to respective tolerance intervals to provide respective comparison results, and logically combining the respective comparison results to verify the seam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Dorsch, Holger Braun, Dieter Pfitzner
  • Patent number: 8890028
    Abstract: A laser processing system includes: a numerical control device (1) outputting a laser output signal and a digital signal; a converter (231) converting the laser output signal to an analog signal; a pulse signal generator (22) generating a pulse signal for controlling the analog signal; an auxiliary controller (7) generating a logic signal which forcedly controls transmission/stop of a laser beam; a logical operation unit (28, 29) outputting a result of the logical operation between the pulse signal and the logic signal; a switching device (27) generating a laser drive signal for alternately transmitting/stopping the laser output on the basis of the logical operation result; and a sensor (6) for measuring intensity of light radiated or reflected from a workpiece irradiated with a laser beam. The auxiliary controller (7) generates the logic signal in accordance with the intensity of the light measured by the sensor (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Mori
  • Patent number: 8884181
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for generating low-energy electrons in a biological material. The biological material is held in position by a support. Laser beam pulses are directed by a focusing mechanism toward a region of interest within the biological material. This generates filaments of low-energy electrons within the region of interest. The method and system may be used for radiotherapy, radiochemistry, sterilization, nanoparticle coating, nanoparticle generation, and like uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SOCPRA-Sciences Sante et Humaines S.E.C.
    Inventors: Daniel Houde, Ridthee Meesat, Jean-François Allard, Tiberius Brastaviceanu
  • Publication number: 20140326705
    Abstract: A welding position detecting apparatus for laser beam welding includes: an imaging device that captures, at a predetermined time interval, images of an irradiated portion of a welding material irradiated with a welding laser beam, and a surrounding area thereof, of a welding material; an image processing device that identifies a position of the irradiated portion irradiated with the welding laser beam by performing image processing calculating, from two or more images acquired by the imaging device, a direction and an amount of parallel movement of points in the images; and a display device that displays the position of the irradiated portion irradiated with the welding laser beam, the position being identified by the image processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kodama, Koji Yano, Masahito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8878096
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and adjusting the focus (F) of a laser beam when laser machining workpieces, having the following steps: a.) guiding and focusing a laser beam of a machining laser (1) emitted from a machining head (48) into a machining point (26) on or with respect to the surface (49) of a workpiece to be machined, wherein the focusing takes place by means of an optical focusing element (2); b.) guiding and focusing the radiation (28, 31) emitted by at least one first adjusting light source (22) and one second adjusting light source (23) onto the surface (49) of the workpiece to be machined, wherein the wavelengths of the radiation emitted by the adjusting light sources (22, 23) are different; c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LT Ultra-Precision-Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Marius Jurca
  • Publication number: 20140312019
    Abstract: A laser system includes one or more lasers and one or more laser processing units each connected to a respective one of the one or more lasers by a laser light cable and a data line associated uniquely with the laser light cable. Each laser processing unit includes a safety device for monitoring the laser processing unit and an interface for the data line. The laser system also includes a central safety control operably associated with the one or more laser processing units and configured to monitor the safety devices of multiple laser processing units of the laser system. The interface of each of the one or more laser processing units is connected to the central safety control and via the data line to the respective one of the one or more lasers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Rainer Thieringer
  • Patent number: 8866041
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of laser diode unit of the present invention includes steps: placing a laser diode on top of a solder member formed on a mounting surface of a submount, applying a pressing load to the laser diode and pressing the laser diode against the solder member, next, melting the solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature higher than a melting point of the solder member while the pressing load is being applied, and thereafter, bonding the laser diode to the submount by cooling and solidifying the solder member, thereafter, removing the pressing load, and softening the solidified solder member by heating the solder member at a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder member after the pressing load has been removed, and thereafter cooling and re-solidifying the solder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Rohm Co., Ltd, SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Shimazawa, Osamu Shindo, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Yasuhiro Ito, Kenji Sakai
  • Patent number: 8866039
    Abstract: A laser system simulates heat flux levels of rocket motor output. A laser is mechanically associated with a platform. The laser is configured to emit an electromagnetic beam. A plurality of positions are associated with the platform. Optical elements are associated with the platform. Each optical element is positionable in a plurality of positions without changing a location of the corresponding positioner. The optical elements are arrangeable into a plurality of combinations corresponding to at least one optical path beginning at the laser and terminating at a sample. Each combination corresponds to one of a plurality of distinct permutations of operatively positioned optical elements that reducingly interact with an emitted electromagnetic beam, yielding one of many versions of the emitted electromagnetic beam that is incidented upon the sample. Each version of the emitted electromagnetic beam that is incidented upon the sample has a lower power than the emitted electromagnetic beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Joseph Haycraft, Kevin Paul Ford
  • Patent number: 8859934
    Abstract: A method of removing slag formed during laser cutting a hypotube may include flowing cooling gas into a laser nozzle, directing flow of the cooling gas onto an external surface of the hypotube, and injecting cooling fluid into an inner lumen of the hypotube at a velocity. Flowing the cooling gas and injecting the cooling fluid may at least partially remove slag from the external surface of the hypotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Insera Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vallabh Janardhan, Vikram Janardhan
  • Patent number: 8857055
    Abstract: A process is provided for forming shaped air holes, such as for use in turbine blades. Aspects of the disclosure relate to forming shaped portions of air holes using a short pulse laser, forming a metered hole corresponding to each shaped portion, and separately finishing the shaped portion using a short-pulse laser. In other embodiments, the order of these operations may be varied, such as to form the shaped portions and to finish the shaped portions using the short-pulse laser prior to forming the corresponding metered holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bin Wei, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Kathleen Blanche Morey, Jane Marie Lipkin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt
  • Patent number: 8853591
    Abstract: A surface treatment equipment is designed for forming nickel barriers on a plurality of terminals for preventing solder wicking is disclosed. The surface treatment equipment includes a retractable feeding system, a laser engraving system, an image sensor, and a control system. The retractable feeding system is utilized to transmit a strip that has the terminals. The laser engraving system is utilized to ablate the terminals. The image sensor is utilized to collect a plurality of images of the ablated terminals. The control system receives the images to perform image recognition. When a defective terminal is recognized, the control system controls the retractable feeding system to transmit in reverse and controls the laser engraving system to repeatedly ablate the defective terminal. The defective terminals can be automatically recognized by the image sensor accompanying the control system. Thus, the drawback of a human visual inspection is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-wei Wang, Jung-kuang Liu, Tsai-sheng Shen
  • Publication number: 20140291305
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform laser ablation in the vicinity of a charged particle beam while simultaneously protecting the light optical components of the apparatus utilized to perform the ablation from being coated with debris resulting from the ablation process. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a protective transparent screen is used to shield the laser optical components. A preferred screen could be replaced or repositioned without breaking vacuum in the sample chamber and would not be particularly susceptible to undesirable charging effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Marcus Straw
  • Patent number: 8847113
    Abstract: A laser processing system includes a first positioning system for imparting first relative movement of a beam path along a beam trajectory with respect to a workpiece, a processor for determining a second relative movement of the beam path along a plurality of dither rows, a second positioning system for imparting the second relative movement, and a laser source for emitting laser beam pulses. The system may compensate for changes in processing velocity to maintain dither rows at a predetermined angle. For example, the dither rows may remain perpendicular to the beam trajectory regardless of processing velocity. The processing velocity may be adjusted to process for an integral number of dither rows to complete a trench. A number of dither points in each row may be selected based on a width of the trench. Fluence may be normalized by adjusting for changes to processing velocity and trench width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Unrath, Andrew Berwick, Alexander A. Myachin
  • Patent number: 8847107
    Abstract: A roll forming system which roll-forms a shaped beam by a roll forming unit including a plurality of roll formers is disclosed. A laser welding device for the roll forming system may include: front and rear guide means disposed apart from each other at the rear of the roll forming unit, and guiding movement of the shaped beam; laser welding means mounted above and between the front and rear guide means, reciprocatedly rotating a mirror by controlling a mirror motor so as to irradiate a laser beam to a welding position of the shaped beam, and thereby forming a welding bead having a predetermined welding pattern; forming speed detecting means detecting a forming speed of the shaped beam and transmitting a signal corresponding thereto to a controller; a camera disposed at the rear of the laser welding means, photographing a welding portion of the shaped beam, and transmitting an image signal corresponding thereto to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Yong Lee, Hyun-Uk Seol
  • Patent number: 8835800
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser irradiation apparatus which can accurately control positions of beam spots of laser beams emitted from laser oscillators and the distance between the adjacent beam spots. A laser irradiation apparatus of the present invention includes a first movable stage with an irradiation body provided, two or more laser oscillators emitting laser beams, a plurality of second movable stages with the laser oscillators and optical systems provided, and a means for detecting at least one alignment maker. The first stage and the second stages may move not only in one direction but also in a plurality of directions. Further, the optical systems are to shape the laser beams emitted from the laser oscillators into linear beams on the irradiation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Yoshiaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8835813
    Abstract: A light-emission output of a flash lamp for performing a light-irradiation heat treatment on a substrate in which impurities are implanted is increased up to a target value L1 over a period of time from 1 to 100 milliseconds, is kept for 5 to 100 milliseconds within a fluctuation range of plus or minus 30% from the target value L1, and is then attenuated from the target value L1 to zero over a period of time from 1 to 100 milliseconds. That is, compared with conventional flash lamp annealing, the light-emission output of the flash lamp is increased more gradually, is kept to be constant for a certain period of time, and is then decreased more gradually. As a result, a total heat amount of a surface of the substrate increases compared with the conventional case, but a surface temperature thereof rises more gradually and then drops more gradually compared with the conventional case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shinichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8829393
    Abstract: The thermal processing device includes a stage, a continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source, a series of lenses, a translation mechanism, a detection module, a three-dimensional auto-focus, and a computer system. The stage is configured to receive a substrate thereon. The continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source is disposed adjacent the stage, and is configured to emit continuous wave electromagnetic radiation along a path towards the substrate. The series of lenses is disposed between the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source and the stage, and are configured to condense the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation into a line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation on a surface of the substrate. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the stage and the line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation relative to one another. The detection module is positioned within the path, and is configured to detect continuous wave electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean C. Jennings, Mark Yam, Abhilash J. Mayur, Vernon Behrens, Paul A. O'Brien, Leonid M. Tertitski, Alexander Goldin
  • Patent number: 8822882
    Abstract: A process and system scribe sapphire substrates, by performing the steps of mounting a sapphire substrate, carrying an array of integrated device die, on a stage such as a movable X-Y stage including a vacuum chuck; and directing UV pulses of laser energy directed at a surface of the sapphire substrate using a solid state laser and locating edges of the substrate. The cutting is stopped based on the edge location, to prevent impacting background elements. The pulses of laser energy have a wavelength below about 560 nanometers, and preferably between about 150 in 560 nanometers. In addition, energy density, spot size, and pulse duration are established at levels sufficient to induce ablation of sapphire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: New Wave Research
    Inventors: Kuo-Ching Liu, Pei Hsien Fang, Daniel J. Dere, Jenn Liu, Jih-Chuang Huang, Antonio Lucero, Scott Pinkham, Steven Oltrogge, Duane Middlebusher