Method and apparatus for marking an article

Abstract

The invention is a method and an apparatus for marking an article and the article thus marked. It includes providing the article. Generating a plurality of groups of laser pulses. At least one of the plurality of groups is generated by modulating a beam of laser pulses to form a plurality of beamlets. Each, of the plurality of beamlets, include at least one laser pulse. It also includes directing the plurality of groups of laser pulses onto the article such that laser pulses within the at least one of the plurality of groups impinge upon the article at spot areas that do not overlap one another, wherein laser pulses within the plurality of groups are configured to produce a visible mark on the article.

Description

technical field Background technique [0001] Consumer products, such as electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, portable media players, personal digital assistants, computers, monitors, etc.), have been marked with information for commercial, regulatory, aesthetic or functional purposes . For example, electronic devices are often marked with serial numbers, model numbers, copyright information, alphanumeric characters, logos, operating instructions, decorative lines, patterns, and the like. Desirable properties of a mark include shape, color, optical density, and any other property that may affect the appearance of the mark. [0002] Numerous processes can be used to produce markings on a product or item, depending on, for example, the nature of the item itself, the desired appearance of the marking, the desired durability of the marking, and the like. Marking processes have been developed that use lasers to produce visible marks on metal articles, polymer articles, and th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the inventors have found that this throughput-enhancing method only works to a certain extent, beyond which the rapid build-up of successively directed laser pulses on the item during the marking process actually produces undesirable Defects (e.g., cracks, material warping, modified crystal structure, pits, etc.) that can cause physical or chemical damage to the item or undesirably alter the visual appearance of the item

The inventors have further discovered that this rapid accumulation of successively directed laser pulses onto an article can also degrade the appearance of the resulting marking

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