US5026979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for optically monitoring laser materials processing
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1990-03-05
•
Granted: 1991-06-25
•
Expires: 2010-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A laser materials processing apparatus including means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing, means for interpreting the processing signal and generating an interpreted output, and means for controlling the materials processing based upon the interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component.
Inventors
- 👤 Angel L. Ortiz, Jr.
- 👤 John L. Schneiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:43
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/36; B23K26/38; B23K26/382; B23K26/02; B23K26/03; B23K26/032; B23K26/40; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing of a workpiece, said apparatus comprising: means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing; means for interpreting said processing signals and generating an interpreted output; and means for controlling the materials processing based upon said interpreting means interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component, said control means comprising means for determining breakthrough time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing of a workpiece, said apparatus comprising: means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing; means for interpreting said processing signals and generating an interpreted output; and means for controlling the materials processing based upon said interpreting means interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component, said control means comprising means for determining breakthrough time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a first optical sensor disposed so as to view the workpiece on a same side that a laser beam is to be applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a second optical sensor disposed so as to view the workpiece on an opposite side from a side that a laser beam is to be applied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a third optical sensor disposed so as to generate a signal representative of a length of a laser beam pulse emitted from a laser source, the laser beam pulse being utilized to perform the materials processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises a photodiode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interpreting means comprises means for spectrally analyzing data from said optical monitoring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises: means for controlling the focusing of a materials processing laser beam onto a focal plane; and means for causing relative motion between the focal plane and the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A laser materials processing apparatus for performing laser materials processing on a workpiece, said processing apparatus comprising: means for applying a laser beam to a workpiece; means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing; means for interpreting said processing signals and generating an interpreted output; and means for controlling the materials processing based upon said interpreting means interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component, said control means comprising means for determining breakthrough time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A laser materials processing apparatus for performing laser materials processing on a workpiece, said processing apparatus comprising: means for applying a laser beam to a workpiece; means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing; means for interpreting said processing signals and generating an interpreted output; and means for controlling the materials processing based upon said interpreting means interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component, said control means comprising means for determining breakthrough time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A laser materials processing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said laser beam applying means comprises; a power source; a laser beam source coupled to said power source; an output coupler; and an optical fiber coupled between said power source and said output coupler for transmitting a laser beam emitted from said power source to said output coupler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a first optical sensor disposed so as to view the workpiece on a same side that a laser beam is to be applied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a second optical sensor disposed so as to view the workpiece on an opposite side from a side that a laser beam is to be applied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises: a third optical sensor disposed so as to generate a signal representative of a length of a laser beam pulse emitted from a laser source, the laser beam pulse being utilized to perform the materials processing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said optical monitoring means comprises a photodiode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said interpreting means comprises means for analyzing data from said optical monitoring means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said control means further comprises means for focusing a materials processing laser beam onto a focal plane, and means for causing relative motion between the focal plane and the workpiece.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for monitoring laser materials processing in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for interpreting the processing signal and generating an interpreted output comprises a pulse length determination means including a pulse length comparator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3700850A
Cited
US3806829A
Cited
US4164640A
Cited
US4311142A
Cited
US4338508A
Cited
US4565736A
Cited
US4423726A
Cited
US4676586A
Cited
US4504727A
Cited
US4681396A
Cited
US4766285A
Cited
JPS62142091A
Cited
US4672215A
Cited
US4772772A
Cited
US4838631A
Cited
US4739162A
Cited
JPS63207487A
Cited
US4764655A
Cited
US4799755A
Cited
US4960970A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-24 | 1994-12-24 | 1995-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-24 | 1998-12-24 | 1999-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-24 | 2002-12-24 | 2003-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |