EP0054840A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing an identifying indicium to a diamond
Assignee: LAZARE KAPLAN AND SONS Inc
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Filing: 1981-12-09
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2001-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A practice for applying indicia to the surface of a precious stone wherein a source of laser energy is directed at the stone surface and controlled to inscribe the surface with the desired indicia.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert D. Gresser
- 👤 George Kaplan
- 👤 Joseph Nussenbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:18
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; B; B44; B44B; B44B7/00; B23; B23K; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
A method for providing an identifying indicium to a precious stone comprising: applying a laser beam to a surface of said stone; and controlling said laser beam to enable said laser beam to inscribe into said stone surface an indicium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
40 words
A method for providing an identifying indicium to a precious stone comprising: applying a laser beam to a surface of said stone; and controlling said laser beam to enable said laser beam to inscribe into said stone surface an indicium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said stone is a diamond.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: said indicium is indelible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said indicium is of any preselected character.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said indicium is indicative of the origin of said stone, whereby said stone can be identified if stolen or lost.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said indicium is indicative of the value of said stone, whereby said value cannot be misrepresented.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said indicium is indicative of one of the color, weight, degree of perfection and vendor of said stone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: controlling of said laser beam is such that said inscribed indicium is of a character which substantially preserves the value of said stone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: controlling of said laser beam is such that said inscribed indicium is of a character which would result in an appreciable reduction in the value of said stone if said indicium were removed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim.1 or 2 wherein: said inscribed indicium is imperceptible to the human eye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: the intensity, width and time duration of application of said laser beam are controlled to inscribe said indicium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: the expanse of said laser beam having sufficient intensity to inscribe said stone is controlled to be equal to or less than approximately 100 microns at said surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the expanse of said laser beam having sufficient intensity to inscribe said stone is controlled to be equal to or greater than approximately 1 micron at said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: the power of said laser beam is controlled to be within a range of approximately 0.5 to 5 kW at said surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein: controlling of said laser beam includes adjusting the laser beam power to a level sufficient to graphitize said diamond at the start of inscribing said indicium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: controlling of said laser beam includes moving said laser beam to follow a path corresponding to said indicium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein: movement of said laser beam is intermittent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein: moving of said beam includes deflecting said beam in a first direction and a second direction transverse to said first direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein: the degree of deflection of said beam in said first and second directions is changed intermittently.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein: each further position to which said beam is moved covers a stone surface area which overlaps the stone surface area covered at the immediately preceding position of said beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: controlling of said beam includes focusing said beam onto said surface of said stone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: said beam is controlled to inscribe a plurality of further indicia on said surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 22 further including: maintaining said diamond stationary during inscription of each said indicium and moving said diamond subsequent to inscription of an indicium and prior to the inscription of the next successive indicium to bring a non-inscribed area of said surface into confronting relationship with said beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein: said method further includes initially orienting said stone to situate the center of rotation of said surface at a point which is on the axis of said beam and which is spaced from the point of focus of said beam by a distance equal to the radius of curvature of said surface; and moving of said stone includes rotating said stone about said point to bring each non-inscribed area into confronting relationship with said beam, whereby said beam is maintained in focus on the successive areas of said surface being inscribed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising: prior to initially orienting said stone, moving said stone to at least three positions for which said surface is at the point to which said beam is to be focused and calculating from said positions the center of rotation and radius of curvature of said surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein: said method further includes initially orienting said stone to situate said surface orthogonal to the axis of said beam; and moving of said stone includes translating said stone to bring each non-inscribed area into confronting relationship with said beam, whereby said beam is maintained in focus on the successive areas of said Y surface being inscribed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method in accordance with claim 26 further comprising: prior to initially orienting said stone, moving said stone to a number of positions for which said surface is at the point to which said beam is to be focused and calculating from said positions the intersection angle of said surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 further comprising: applying an energy absorbing material to said surface of said stone.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein: said material is carbon black.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: applying said laser beam includes Q-switching the output of a continuous laser source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for providing an identifying indicium to a precious stone comprising: means for generating a laser beam; and means for controllably applying said laser beam to a surface of said stone to inscribe into said stone surface an indicium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for providing an identifying indicium to a precious stone comprising: means for generating a laser beam; and means for controllably applying said laser beam to a surface of said stone to inscribe into said stone surface an indicium.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 wherein: S said stone is a diamond.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein: said applying means controls said laser beam such that said inscribed indicium is indelible.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein: said applying means controls said laser beam such that said inscribed indicium is of a character which substantially preserves the value of said stone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein: said applying means controls said laser beam such that said inscribed indicium is of a character which would result in an appreciable reduction in the value of said stone if said indicium were removed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein: said applying means controls said beam such that said inscribed indicium is imperceptible to the human eye.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein: said applying means further comprises: means for controlling the expanse of said beam at said diamond surface; and means for moving said beam over said surface.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
' Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said control means provides an expanse of said laser beam having sufficient intensity to inscribe said surface which is equal to or less than approximately 100 microns at said surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein: said control means provides an expanse of said laser beam having sufficient intensity to inscribe said surface which is equal to or greater than approximately 1 micron at said surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein: said control means includes a lens means for focusing said beam onto said surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said generating means provides a laser beam of sufficient power such that the power of said beam is within a range of approximately 0.5 to 5 kW at said surface.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said generating means includes means for adjusting the laser beam power to a level sufficient to graphitize said surface at the start of inscribing said indicium.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 42 wherein: said adjusting means includes a Q-switch.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said generating means includes a continuous laser source.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said moving means moves said laser beam over a path corresponding to said indicium.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 45 wherein: said moving means intermittently moves said laser beam.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 45 wherein: said moving means further includes: means for deflecting said beam in a first direction; and means for deflecting said beam in a second direction transverse to said first direction.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 47 wherein: said deflecting means each include a digital deflector.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 46 wherein: each further position to which said beam is moved covers a surface area which overlaps the surface area covered at the immediately preceding position of said beam.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 37 wherein: said beam is controlled to inscribe a plurality of further indicia on said surface.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 50 further including: means for maintaining said stone stationary during inscription of each said indicium and moving said stone subsequent to inscription of the next successive indicium to bring a non-inscribed area of said surface into confronting relationship with said beam.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 51 wherein: said stone moving means includes: a first table means for translating said stone in a first direction ; a second table means for translating said stone in a second direction; a third table means supporting said first and second table means for rotating said stone; and a fourth table means for supporting said third table means and translating said stone in said first direction.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 51 further including: computer means for sequentially controlling the operation of said applying means, beam moving means and said stone moving means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein : said stone has an energy absorbing material on said surface.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the expanse of said laser beam having sufficient intensity to inscribe said stone is controlled to be equal to or greater than approximately 10 microns at said surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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