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US4818835A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser marker and method of laser marking

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-02-26
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2008-02-26
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Abstract

Abstract A laser marker comprises a liquid crystal device for displaying pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a pulse laser oscillator, a liquid crystal device power switch connected to the liquid crystal device, a laser switch connected to the pulse laser oscillator, and timer circuits operative to retard the operation of the laser switch with respect to that of the liquid crystal device power switch, whereby after the character to be printed is displayed properly on the liquid crystal device, a pulse laser beam is irradiated on the liquid crystal device so as to sharply print the character on the object.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kouji Kuwabara
  • 👤 Makoto Yano
  • 👤 Takao Umeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 00:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/06; H10P72/0614; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/064; B23K26/066; B44; B44B; B44B7/00; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/1313; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/1065; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/007

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator; and delay means for retarding operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator; and delay means for retarding operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 132 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator; and hold means for holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 132 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator; and hold means for holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator, a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and one of retarding an operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch and holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator, a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and one of retarding an operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch and holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 193 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator, a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and moving said object by adjusting the running speed of said object and the irradiation time in such a manner that said object is moved during opening of said laser switch and temporarily stopped at an irradiation position where said object is irradiated with said laser beam.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 193 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator, a liquid crystal device irradiated with a laser beam emitted from said laser oscillator and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for irradiating a laser beam reflecting the pattern information on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said liquid crystal device and said laser oscillator, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said liquid crystal device and laser oscillator, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and moving said object by adjusting the running speed of said object and the irradiation time in such a manner that said object is moved during opening of said laser switch and temporarily stopped at an irradiation position where said object is irradiated with said laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 178 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; and delay means for retarding operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 178 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; and delay means for retarding operation time of said laser switch with respect to that of said liquid crystal device power switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 177 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; and hold means for holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 177 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object; a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp; and hold means for holding the operation of said liquid crystal device power switch provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 243 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp, a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and moving said object by adjusting the running speed of said object and the irradiation time in such a manner that said object is moved during opening of said laser switch and temporarily stopped at an irradiation position where said object is irradiated with said laser beam.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 243 words
A method of operating a laser marker comprising a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp, a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked, a polarizer plate for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object, a liquid crystal operation circuit and a laser operation circuit respectively connected to said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp, and a liquid crystal device power switch and a laser switch respectively provided in said liquid crystal operation circuit and laser operation circuit, for operating said transmission type liquid crystal device and said excitation lamp, said method comprising the steps of: applying a voltage to said liquid crystal device; irradiating a pulse laser beam on said liquid crystal device during an interval of operation time of said liquid crystal device; and moving said object by adjusting the running speed of said object and the irradiation time in such a manner that said object is moved during opening of said laser switch and temporarily stopped at an irradiation position where said object is irradiated with said laser beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 100 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; and an optical element for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 100 words
A laser marker comprising: a laser oscillator having an optical resonator comprised of a set of reflection mirrors opposing to each other with a laser rod interposed therebetween and an excitation lamp; a transmission type liquid crystal device disposed between said laser rod and one of said opposing reflection mirrors and applied with pattern information representative of a character to be printed on an object to be worked; and an optical element for delivering a laser beam reflecting the pattern information of said liquid crystal device out of said optical resonator and for irradiating the laser beam on said object.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4614954A Cited
US4559546A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-04-03 1992-10-03 1993-04-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-04-03 1996-10-03 1997-04-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-04-03 2000-10-03 2001-04-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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