US4761534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser apparatus
Assignee: NIS Ltd OF COMMON BANK EMPLOYMENT AREA
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Filing: 1986-02-24
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Granted: 1988-08-02
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Expires: 2006-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Laser apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece (6) comprises a laser source (2) supplying a laser beam (4) which may be focused onto the workpiece (6) by a focusing unit (3). A representation of the surface of the workpiece (6) is generated by sensing means (7) which are associated with a computer (8). An image of the surface can be displayed on, for example, a VDU which allows an operator to determine a line across which the beam (4) should scan. The laser source (2) is then operated and the beam (4) is caused to scan along the selected line by appropriate movement of focusing unit (3) by a control unit (10) associated with the computer (8). Focusing unit (3) may be of variable focal length so as to ensure that the beam (4) is always focused on the surface of the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L. Foulkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:14
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/04; B23K26/042; B23K26/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
Laser apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece comprising: a laser source, computing means, surface imaging apparatus remote from the workpiece for forming a representation of a surface of the workpiece, said imaging apparatus being associated with said computing means whereby said representation may be stored in said computing means, focusing means remote from the workpiece for focusing the laser beam from said source onto the workpiece, translation means operable under the control of the computing means for translating the beam in a line relatively across the surface of the workpiece in accordance with a selected input to the computing means and, focus control means under the control of said computer means for adjusting the focus of the laser beam in accordance with the three dimensional characteristics stored in the computer of the surface along the line along which the beam translates relative to the workpiece for maintaining the focus of the laser beam at the predetermined position relative to said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
Laser apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece comprising: a laser source, computing means, surface imaging apparatus remote from the workpiece for forming a representation of a surface of the workpiece, said imaging apparatus being associated with said computing means whereby said representation may be stored in said computing means, focusing means remote from the workpiece for focusing the laser beam from said source onto the workpiece, translation means operable under the control of the computing means for translating the beam in a line relatively across the surface of the workpiece in accordance with a selected input to the computing means and, focus control means under the control of said computer means for adjusting the focus of the laser beam in accordance with the three dimensional characteristics stored in the computer of the surface along the line along which the beam translates relative to the workpiece for maintaining the focus of the laser beam at the predetermined position relative to said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising a housing in which a workpiece may be located during its processing by the laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for focusing the laser beam is of variable focal length which is controlled to maintain said predetermined focus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for focusing the laser beam is of variable focal length which is controlled to maintain said predetermined focus and the housing has a plurality of mounting positions at any one of which the focusing means may be positioned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the focusing means comprises opposed mirrors, at least one of which is of variable curvature to provide for said variable focal length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface imaging apparatus comprises laser range finding means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein surface imaging apparatus comprises laser range finding means and the opposed mirrors have aligned apertures through which a beam from the range finding means may pass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Laser apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the focusing means is movable relative to a plurality of axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3571555A
Cited
FR2190568A1
Cited
US4049945A
Cited
FR2352624A1
Cited
EP0077405A1
Cited
GB2104652A
Cited
JPS59163091A
Cited
JPS6064790A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-02 | 1992-02-01 | 1992-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-02 | 1996-02-01 | 1996-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-02 | 2000-02-01 | 2000-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |