Scoring of non-flat materials

Abstract

Disclosed are systems for scoring non-flat materials including non-flat glass sheets (1000). In one embodiment, a laser scoring system is described. The laser scoring system includes a laser (102) and an optical head (106). The optical head is configured to receive output from the laser and focus the output into an elongated laser beam having a beam waist and an extended focal depth (116) of greater than + / - 5 mm relative to the center of the beam waist with a power density sufficient for scoring a material having at least a portion within the extended focal depth. In one aspect the system can include a beam expander (104). The beam expander receives the output from the laser, expands the output from the laser to an expanded laser beam, and transmits the expanded laser beam to the optical head.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 61128949, filed May 27, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 220948, filed July 30, 2008, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety incorporated herein and serve as the basis for this article. technical field [0003] Embodiments described herein relate to scribing of uneven materials, and more particularly to laser scribing of large uneven glass. Background technique [0004] In the past, a number of different methods and techniques have been used to separate glass sheets. A widely used method involves the use of lasers to score and / or separate glass sheets. The laser beam moves across the glass sheet, creating a temperature gradient on the surface of the glass sheet, which is increased by a coolant (such as a gas or liquid) following at a distance behind the laser beam. Specifically, the heating of the glass sheet ...

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Problems solved by technology

However, this method is technically complex and costly

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