US5410125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods for producing indicia on diamonds
Assignee: Harry Winston SA
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Filing: 1991-10-08
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Granted: 1995-04-25
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Expires: 2011-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing a marking on diamond, pearl, precious or semi-precious stone. For producing the marking, the region on the surface to be marked is irradiated with an ArF excimer laser whose output beam is passed through a mask which defines the marking. Identification or security marks may be created. The same process can be used to produce strong and durable extrusion dies having irregular cross sections, and cross sections which vary with depth through the die material.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald H. Winston
- 👤 Necip Alev
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:38
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44B; B44B7/00; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/064; B23K26/066; B28; B28D; B28D5/00; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/24; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/30; B23K2103/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of producing an identification mark on a diamond gemstone, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the diamond gemstone to be identified; and placing the identification mark on the diamond gemstone by directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the diamond gemstone with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the identification mark in a pattern defined by the mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of producing an identification mark on a diamond gemstone, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the diamond gemstone to be identified; and placing the identification mark on the diamond gemstone by directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the diamond gemstone with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the identification mark in a pattern defined by the mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the laser energy source irradiates the diamond gemstone with at least one energy pulse at a wavelength of about 193 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of irradiating includes passing the laser radiation through cut-out areas in the mask.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of irradiating includes passing the laser radiation through areas of different transmissivities in the mask.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, said mask being spaced away from the surface of the diamond gemstone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, said mask being directly on or adjacent the surface of the diamond gemstone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, said mask being imaged onto the surface of the diamond gemstone at a reduced size through means for optically reducing the mask pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4, said mask being made of one of the group of materials which are substantially transmissive at the wavelength of the laser radiation, the group including fused quartz, silica and sapphire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy of the laser source is adjusted to remove only a thin layer from the surface of the diamond gemstone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said layer removed from said surface has a thickness ranging from approximately several angstroms to several microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the entire identification mark is created while holding the diamond gemstone in a single fixed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, including the step, before placing the identification mark on the diamond gemstone, of applying a coating of material to the surface of the diamond gemstone to be marked, which material is detectable only under predetermined lighting conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the material is a fluorescent material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the material is a phosphorescent material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 including the step, before placing the identification mark on the diamond gemstone, of applying a coating of material to the surface of the diamond gemstone to be marked, which material is optically or electrically or magnetically detectable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the material is molybdenum carbide, nickel carbide, titanium carbide or iron carbide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of similarly directly irradiating at least a second portion of the diamond gemstone to form at least a second identification mark.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy of the laser source is adjusted to partially transform a portion or the diamond gemstone from one form of elemental carbon to another form of elemental carbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy of the laser source is adjusted to partially graphitize the diamond gemstone at the portion being marked.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the darkness of the mark so produced varies with the degree of graphitization caused by the laser radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A diamond gemstone bearing an identification mark, the identification mark produced in accordance with the method of claim 1.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of producing a marking on a diamond, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the diamond to be marked; directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the diamond with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the mark in a pattern defined by the mask, said step of irradiating including passing the laser radiation through cut-out areas in the mask;, positioning a second mask between the output of the source of laser energy and a .second portion of the surface of the diamond to be marked, the second portion being a subset of the first portion of the surface of the diamond to be marked; and directly irradiating the second portion of the surface of the diamond with the laser energy source through the second mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create a second mark in a pattern defined by the second mask.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of producing a marking on a diamond, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the diamond to be marked; directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the diamond with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the mark in a pattern defined by the mask, said step of irradiating including passing the laser radiation through cut-out areas in the mask;, positioning a second mask between the output of the source of laser energy and a .second portion of the surface of the diamond to be marked, the second portion being a subset of the first portion of the surface of the diamond to be marked; and directly irradiating the second portion of the surface of the diamond with the laser energy source through the second mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create a second mark in a pattern defined by the second mask.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A diamond gemstone bearing an identification mark, the identification mark produced in accordance with the method of claim 22.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of manufacturing a die insert for use in an extrusion die, the die insert having a die extrusion opening therethrough, comprising the steps of: providing a source of ultraviolet laser energy having an output; positioning a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to a cross-section of the die extrusion opening, between the output of said source of ultraviolet laser energy and the die insert; and directing a beam from the output through said mask onto said die insert for producing the extrusion opening therein.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of manufacturing a die insert for use in an extrusion die, the die insert having a die extrusion opening therethrough, comprising the steps of: providing a source of ultraviolet laser energy having an output; positioning a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to a cross-section of the die extrusion opening, between the output of said source of ultraviolet laser energy and the die insert; and directing a beam from the output through said mask onto said die insert for producing the extrusion opening therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of positioning a reduction lens between said mask and the die insert.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps: positioning a second mask having a different cut-out area corresponding to a second cross-section of the die extrusion opening between the output of said source of ultraviolet laser energy and the die insert; and directing a beam from the output through said second mask onto said die insert for producing the extrusion opening therein, wherein the cross-section of die extrusion opening varies in the direction in which material is to be extruded.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of identifying a diamond gemstone, comprising the steps of: providing an ultraviolet laser having an output; positioning a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to a predetermined identification mark to be placed on the diamond gemstone, between the output of said laser and the diamond gemstone; positioning a reduction lens between said mask and the diamond gemstone; and placing the predetermined identification mark on the diamond gemstone by directing a beam from said laser output through said mask and through said reduction lens onto the diamond gemstone, whereby the predetermined identification mark is produced thereon.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of identifying a diamond gemstone, comprising the steps of: providing an ultraviolet laser having an output; positioning a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to a predetermined identification mark to be placed on the diamond gemstone, between the output of said laser and the diamond gemstone; positioning a reduction lens between said mask and the diamond gemstone; and placing the predetermined identification mark on the diamond gemstone by directing a beam from said laser output through said mask and through said reduction lens onto the diamond gemstone, whereby the predetermined identification mark is produced thereon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A diamond gemstone bearing an identification mark, identification mark produced in accordance with the method of claim 27.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
A die for extruding fibers, wires, filaments and the like having a complex cross-section, comprising a die insert made of diamond having an extrusion opening with a cross-section corresponding to the complex cross-section of the fiber, wire, filament and the like, the die insert being produced by directing an ultraviolet laser beam onto the die insert through a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to the cross-section of the extrusion opening and positioned between the excimer laser and the die insert.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
81 words
A die for extruding fibers, wires, filaments and the like having a complex cross-section, comprising a die insert made of diamond having an extrusion opening with a cross-section corresponding to the complex cross-section of the fiber, wire, filament and the like, the die insert being produced by directing an ultraviolet laser beam onto the die insert through a mask having a cut-out area corresponding to the cross-section of the extrusion opening and positioned between the excimer laser and the die insert.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing an identification mark on a pearl, precious or semi-precious stone, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the pearl, precious or semiprecious stone to be provided with the identification mark; and placing the identification mark on the pearl, precious or semi-precious stone by directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the pearl, precious or semiprecious stone with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the identification mark in a pattern defined by the mask, without at the same time causing microcracking of the surface of the pearl, precious or semi-precious stone.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of producing an identification mark on a pearl, precious or semi-precious stone, the method comprising the steps: positioning a mask between an output of a source of laser energy in the ultraviolet range and a portion of a surface of the pearl, precious or semiprecious stone to be provided with the identification mark; and placing the identification mark on the pearl, precious or semi-precious stone by directly irradiating the portion of the surface of the pearl, precious or semiprecious stone with the laser energy source through the mask so as to permit the radiation itself to create the identification mark in a pattern defined by the mask, without at the same time causing microcracking of the surface of the pearl, precious or semi-precious stone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pearl, precious or semi-precious stone bearing an identification mark, the identification mark produced in accordance with the method of claim 30.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | 1999-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-24 | 2002-10-24 | 2003-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-24 | 2006-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |