Patent US4441008A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4441008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of drilling ultrafine channels through glass
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1981-09-14
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Granted: 1984-04-03
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Expires: 2001-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for generating ultrafine channels through and between opposed surfaces of a thin glass body by preheating the glass body to 500°-1040° F., and directing a beam of laser energy having a wavelength of at least about 10.6 microns along a fixed axis at the preheated body and against one of the surfaces for a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of the glass in the path of the beam. The beam is defocused relative to said one surface and pulsed.
Inventors
- 👤 Uck I. Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:48
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/36; B23K26/38; B23K26/40; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces for a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said beam being focused at a point away from said one surface at a distance spaced from said one surface in the range of 0.02-0.08 inches.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces for a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said beam being focused at a point away from said one surface at a distance spaced from said one surface in the range of 0.02-0.08 inches.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces for a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said being being focused at a point away from said one surface and is pulsed on and off with the on periods being in the range of 6-12 milliseconds.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces for a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said being being focused at a point away from said one surface and is pulsed on and off with the on periods being in the range of 6-12 milliseconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as in claim 2, in which the number of pulses is limited to 3-5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 2, in which the off periods are in the range of 2-50 milliseconds.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces of a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said glass body having the spacing between said opposed surfaces in the range of 0.03-0.09 inches, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said beam being focused at a point away from said one surface.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of generating an ultrafine channel through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body, comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-1040° F. (260°-560° C.); and (b) directing a beam of laser energy along a fixed axis at said preheated body and against one of said surfaces of a period sufficient to melt and vaporize the portion of said glass body in the path of said beam, said glass body having the spacing between said opposed surfaces in the range of 0.03-0.09 inches, said laser energy having a wave length of at least about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 200-500 watts, said beam being focused at a point away from said one surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 5, in which the total time for generating said channel is limited to less than 500 milliseconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 1, in which the axis of said beam defines an angle of incidence with respect to the plane of said one surface from zero to 10 degrees.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of beam drilling ultrafine cylindrical channels through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body consisting essentially of about 81% SiO 2 , about 2% Al 2 O 3 , about 13% B 2 O 3 and about 4% Na 2 O 3 , said opposed surfaces being separated by a distance of 0.03-0.09 inches, the method comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-700° F.; (b) irradiating one of said surfaces of said preheated glass body by directing a beam of laser energy thereagainst, said beam being pulsed 3-5 times with the on periods of said pulsing being in the range of 6-12 milliseconds and the off periods between said pulses being in the range of 2-50 milliseconds, said beam being focused at a point between said surfaces, said laser energy having a wave length of about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 260-375 watts.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of beam drilling ultrafine cylindrical channels through and between opposed surfaces of a glass body consisting essentially of about 81% SiO 2 , about 2% Al 2 O 3 , about 13% B 2 O 3 and about 4% Na 2 O 3 , said opposed surfaces being separated by a distance of 0.03-0.09 inches, the method comprising: (a) preheating said glass body to the temperature range of 500°-700° F.; (b) irradiating one of said surfaces of said preheated glass body by directing a beam of laser energy thereagainst, said beam being pulsed 3-5 times with the on periods of said pulsing being in the range of 6-12 milliseconds and the off periods between said pulses being in the range of 2-50 milliseconds, said beam being focused at a point between said surfaces, said laser energy having a wave length of about 10.6 microns and an energy level of 260-375 watts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 8, in which said beam focused between said surfaces has said focus point located a distance spaced from said one surface within the distance range of 0.02-0.08 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 8, in which the total time for generating each channel is limited to 70-110 milliseconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in claim 8, in which a plurality of spaced, parallel arranged channels are sequentially drilled in said glass body with a total drilling time for each of said channels being limited to less than 500 milliseconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-03 | 1987-10-03 | 1988-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-03 | 1991-10-03 | 1992-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-03 | 1995-10-03 | 1996-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |