Multi-spot laser marking method and equipment

Abstract

This application discloses a multi-spot laser marking method and apparatus, relating to the field of laser marking technology. The method includes: acquiring the scanning path of a parallel beam and the activation state of a spot within each parallel beam; determining an activation sequence for each parallel beam based on the scanning path and the activation state; and, at the start of scanning, controlling the parallel beam to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and activating or deactivating the spots within the parallel beam at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked. This application, by using a parallel beam and controlling the activation state of multiple spots within the parallel beam, achieves simultaneous laser marking using multiple spots, thereby significantly improving the marking efficiency of laser marking and reducing the time required for point-by-point marking in large-scale mass production, thus improving production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of laser marking technology, and in particular to a multi-spot laser marking method and equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In current laser processing, especially in laser marking applications, the single-point laser marking method is commonly used. This method controls the laser beam to move across the material surface using a galvanometer scanning system, forming the desired marking pattern point by point. In single-point mode, the laser beam can only scan point by point; even simple patterns require traversing each marking point individually, resulting in a long overall marking process. For large-scale mass production, this point-by-point marking method significantly extends the production cycle, thus impacting production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this application is to provide a multi-spot laser marking method and device, aiming to solve the technical problem of how to improve the marking efficiency of laser marking.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of this application provide a multi-spot laser marking method, the multi-spot laser marking method comprising:

[0005] Obtain the scanning path of the parallel beam and the activation state of the light spot within each parallel beam;

[0006] Based on the scanning path and the activation state, determine the activation sequence for each parallel beam;

[0007] At the start of scanning, the parallel beam is controlled to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and the light spots in the parallel beam are activated or deactivated at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked.

[0008] In one embodiment, prior to the step of acquiring the scanning path of the parallel beam and the activation state of the light spot within each of the parallel beams, the method includes:

[0009] The pattern to be marked is converted into a bitmap, which is composed of pixel coordinates;

[0010] According to a preset scanning method, the pattern to be marked is divided into at least one scanning area, and each scanning area contains pattern elements of the pattern to be marked;

[0011] For each pattern element in the scanned area, at least one scan line is generated, the scan line being the path of the parallel beam during the scanning process;

[0012] Calculate the coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in each scan line, where each coordinate in the coordinate sequence corresponds to the position of the light spot in the parallel beam during the scanning process;

[0013] Based on the coordinate sequence, the scan lines are combined in a preset scan direction order to generate the scan path of the parallel beam.

[0014] In one embodiment, after the step of combining the scan lines according to a preset scan direction order based on the coordinate sequence to generate the scan path of the parallel beam, the method further includes:

[0015] The coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in the scan line is associated with the light spots in the parallel beam to determine the activation state of each light spot during the scanning process.

[0016] In one embodiment, before the step of dividing the pattern to be marked into at least one scanning region according to a preset scanning method, wherein each scanning region contains pattern elements of the pattern to be marked, the method further includes:

[0017] Obtain the height or width of the pattern to be marked, and the marking height or marking width of the parallel light beam;

[0018] When dividing the pattern to be marked into scanning areas, the height or width of each scanning area is less than or equal to the marking height or width of the parallel beam.

[0019] In one embodiment, the step of determining the activation sequence of each parallel beam based on the scanning path and the activation state includes:

[0020] Based on the order of each scan line in the scan path, the activation state of the light spot in the parallel beam, and the preset activation duration, calculate the activation time and deactivation time of each light spot.

[0021] The activation sequence of the parallel beam is generated based on the activation time and the deactivation time.

[0022] In one embodiment, prior to the step of controlling the parallel beam to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence at the start of scanning, and activating or deactivating light spots within the parallel beam at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form the pattern to be marked, the method includes:

[0023] Based on the size of the scanning area and the distance between two adjacent scanning lines in the scanning path, the first deflection angle of the galvanometer in the horizontal and vertical directions is calculated.

[0024] The first deflection angle is converted into an electrical signal to generate a galvanometer control signal;

[0025] The galvanometer control signal is transmitted to the galvanometer driver, which drives the galvanometer to deflect according to the first deflection angle, so as to control the parallel beam to move to the next adjacent scan line in the scanning area according to the preset scanning direction.

[0026] In one embodiment, after the step of transmitting the galvanometer control signal to the galvanometer driver to drive the galvanometer to deflect according to the first deflection angle, so as to control the parallel beam to move in the scanning area to the next adjacent scanning line according to the preset scanning direction, the method further includes:

[0027] After completing the scanning process of the current scanning area, the second deflection angle of the galvanometer from the current scanning area to the starting position of the adjacent scanning area is calculated, and the positioning control signal of the parallel beam is generated.

[0028] After the positioning control signal reaches the starting position of the adjacent scanning area, the galvanometer is readjusted to the first deflection angle, and the scanning process continues.

[0029] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the parallel beam to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence at the start of scanning, and activating or deactivating light spots within the parallel beam at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked includes:

[0030] Receive control commands generated based on the scan path and the activation sequence;

[0031] According to the control command, the activation state of the light spot in the parallel beam and the deflection of the galvanometer are synchronously controlled.

[0032] After completing the scanning of all scanning areas, stop sending the control commands.

[0033] This application embodiment also provides a multi-spot laser marking device, which includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The computer program is configured to implement the steps of the multi-spot laser marking method described above.

[0034] This application discloses a multi-spot laser marking method. It acquires the scanning path of a parallel beam and the activation state of each spot within the parallel beam. Based on the scanning path and the activation state, an activation sequence for each parallel beam is determined. At the start of scanning, the parallel beam is controlled to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and the spots within the parallel beam are activated or deactivated at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked. This application, by using a parallel beam and controlling the activation state of multiple spots within the parallel beam, achieves simultaneous laser marking using multiple spots, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of laser marking. Furthermore, it significantly improves production efficiency by reducing the time required for point-by-point marking in large-scale mass production. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the multi-spot laser marking method involved in the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a marking pattern formed on a material surface by a parallel beam composed of multiple light spots in the first embodiment of the multi-spot laser marking method involved in the present application.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the multi-spot laser marking method involved in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the third embodiment of the multi-spot laser marking method involved in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the fourth embodiment of the multi-spot laser marking method involved in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-spot laser marking device of this application.

[0041] The purpose, features, and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0042] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0043] In current laser processing, especially in laser marking applications, the single-point laser marking method is commonly used. This method controls the laser beam to move across the material surface using a galvanometer scanning system, forming the desired marking pattern point by point. In single-point mode, the laser beam can only scan point by point; even simple patterns require traversing each marking point individually, resulting in a long overall marking process. For large-scale mass production, this point-by-point marking method significantly extends the production cycle, thus impacting production efficiency.

[0044] To address the aforementioned deficiencies in related technologies, this application proposes a multi-spot laser marking method. This method acquires the scanning path of a parallel beam and the activation state of a spot within each parallel beam. Based on the scanning path and the activation state, an activation sequence for each parallel beam is determined. At the start of scanning, the parallel beam is controlled to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and the spots within the parallel beam are activated or deactivated at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked. This application, by using a parallel beam and controlling the activation state of multiple spots within the parallel beam, achieves simultaneous laser marking using multiple spots, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of laser marking. Furthermore, it significantly improves production efficiency by reducing the time required for point-by-point marking in large-scale mass production.

[0045] It should be noted that the executing entity in this embodiment can be a multi-spot laser marking control system, or a computing service device with data processing, network communication, and program execution functions, such as a tablet computer, personal computer, or mobile phone, or a multi-spot laser marking device capable of performing the above functions. The following description uses a multi-spot laser marking control system (hereinafter referred to as the "system") as an example to illustrate this embodiment and the subsequent embodiments.

[0046] The multi-spot laser marking method of the first embodiment proposed in this application can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 1 The method includes steps S10 to S30:

[0047] Step S10: Obtain the scanning path of the parallel beam and the activation state of the light spot within each parallel beam.

[0048] In this embodiment, a parallel beam refers to a laser beam emitted by a laser source that is expanded by an optical system (such as a laser beam expander, lens, etc.) to reduce the divergence angle of the original laser beam. Subsequently, it is shaped by optical elements such as lens groups or gratings to form one or more sets of parallel laser beams. These laser beams maintain a certain spacing in space, which can form one or more parallel marking lines (i.e., scanning lines) on the material surface.

[0049] A spot within a parallel laser beam refers to a small, independently controllable laser emitting unit formed after each set of parallel laser beams has been processed by an optical system (such as a lens or grating). These spots are arranged in space at a certain density, and each spot can be independently activated or deactivated. This means that each spot can be selectively turned on or off at a specific location on the scanning path, thereby forming the desired marking pattern on the material surface.

[0050] The activation state of a light spot refers to whether each light spot in the parallel beam is activated for marking when it is at a specific position on the scanning path. During the scanning process, based on the preset pattern to be marked, the system determines whether the element of the pattern to be marked exists based on the corresponding position of each light spot on the scanning path, thereby deciding whether to activate the corresponding light spot. When activated, the light spot emits laser light, forming a mark on the material surface; when deactivated, the light spot does not emit laser light, and therefore does not form a mark on the material surface.

[0051] Through such control, the light spots of each set of parallel beams can be quickly and accurately activated or deactivated during the scanning process, thereby forming continuous or discontinuous marking lines on the material surface, thus achieving rapid marking of the pattern to be marked.

[0052] It should be noted that the laser source, also known as the laser emitter, is a key component of the laser marking system, responsible for generating the laser beam. During the laser marking process, the laser emitter emits a laser according to a control signal. The laser beam is guided by an optical system to the surface of the material to be marked, thereby forming a marking pattern on the material surface.

[0053] It should be noted that a set of parallel beams, once formed, can be likened to a straight line composed of light spots. Specifically, the light spots in this set of parallel beams are arranged in a row in space, with a predetermined spacing between each spot. When scanning a material surface, they move like a straight line composed of multiple light spots. Each light spot is equivalent to a point on the straight line, and their combined action can form continuous or spaced marking lines on the material, thus achieving a fast and efficient marking process.

[0054] Step S20: Determine the activation sequence of each parallel beam according to the scanning path and the activation state.

[0055] In this embodiment, the system decomposes the pattern to be marked into elements that can be realized by light spots, such as lines, dots, or more complex shapes. These elements are then converted into instructions for the light spots to be activated at specific positions along the scanning path. The activation sequence is a set of instructions that guides the activation positions and timing of the light spots in the parallel beam during the scanning process. Determining the activation sequence means setting instructions for whether to emit laser light at a specific position and time during the scanning process for each light spot in the parallel beam. For example, if a pattern to be marked contains a continuous line, the system ensures that the light spots at the corresponding positions along the scanning path are activated in the correct order to form continuous markings. For gaps or blank areas in the pattern, the corresponding light spots are set to an inactive state.

[0056] The activation sequence also involves analyzing the coordinate sequence of each light spot along the scanning path to determine if the coordinate sequence of the light spot contains elements of the pattern to be marked. Simultaneously, based on the activation state of the light spots, the specific activation time for each light spot during the scanning process is calculated. This specific time includes calculating the arrival time, activation duration, and deactivation time of each light spot along the scanning path, ensuring that each light spot is activated at the correct position and time during the scanning process, thereby forming the predetermined marking pattern on the material surface.

[0057] Step S30: At the start of scanning, the parallel beam is controlled to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and the light spots in the parallel beam are activated or deactivated at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked.

[0058] In this embodiment, the system controls the parallel beam to move along a predetermined scanning path according to a previously generated activation sequence, while precisely activating or deactivating individual light spots within the parallel beam at the correct time and location, thereby forming the desired marking pattern on the material surface. The scanning path is the trajectory of the parallel beam on the material surface calculated by the system based on the shape and size of the pattern to be marked. Each light spot within the parallel beam corresponds to one or more specific positions on the scanning path, and the activation sequence defines the activation and deactivation order of these light spots on the scanning path.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a marking pattern formed on a material surface by a parallel beam of light composed of multiple light points. Figure 2 In this system, a parallel beam moves along a predetermined scanning path, while simultaneously activating light spots within the beam according to an activation sequence to form continuous or discontinuous marking lines. By controlling the activation state of each light spot within the parallel beam, the system can mark the target pattern (i.e., the pattern to be marked) on the material surface.

[0060] The movement of the parallel beam is controlled by a galvanometer. The galvanometer can rapidly change the direction of the parallel beam, causing it to move along the scanning path. Galvanometer control is achieved by converting the calculated deflection angle into electrical signals, which are then transmitted as control signals to the galvanometer driver, thereby driving the galvanometer to perform precise deflection.

[0061] It should be noted that a galvanometer is a fast-response mirror based on electromagnetic principles, capable of rapidly changing its angle through the force generated by an electric current. In laser marking systems, the galvanometer is used to control the direction of the laser beam, enabling it to move rapidly across the material surface, thereby achieving laser marking. A galvanometer typically consists of one or two independently controllable mirrors, each controlling the movement of the laser beam in two perpendicular directions (X-axis and Y-axis).

[0062] A galvanometer driver is an electronic device used to control the movement of a galvanometer. The galvanometer driver receives electrical signals from the system and converts them into current that can drive the galvanometer. These electrical signals are transmitted to the galvanometer driver as control signals, and the driver generates a corresponding current based on the magnitude and polarity of the input signal. This current generates a magnetic field in the galvanometer's coil, which in turn drives the galvanometer's reflector to deflect rapidly.

[0063] Please refer to Figure 3 The multi-spot laser marking method of the second embodiment of this application includes steps S110 to S150 before step S10:

[0064] Step S110: Convert the pattern to be marked into a bitmap, the bitmap being composed of pixel coordinates.

[0065] It should be noted that a bitmap is a digital image representation method, consisting of many small dots or pixels, each with its specific positional coordinates. The process of converting a pattern to be labeled into a bitmap involves discretizing the continuous lines and regions of the pattern, decomposing the pattern into pixels that can be recognized and processed by the system.

[0066] In this embodiment, the pattern to be marked typically exists in the form of a vector graphic or a bitmap. A vector graphic consists of lines and shapes defined by mathematical formulas, while a bitmap is an image composed of an array of pixels. Regardless of the type of the original image to be marked, the conversion process aims to convert the pattern to be marked into a raster image so that the system can control the activation state of the laser beam based on the pixel coordinates.

[0067] If the pattern to be labeled is a vector graphic, the conversion process includes rasterizing the pattern. Rasterization is the process of converting a vector graphic into a pixel image at a specific resolution. This means that each element in the vector graphic, such as lines and shapes, will be converted into an image representation composed of an array of pixels. During rasterization, the system determines the position of each pixel according to the set resolution and maps the vector elements onto these pixels.

[0068] Specifically, rasterization may involve determining the boundaries of each element in a pattern and converting those boundaries into pixel coordinates. For example, a straight line in a vector graphic might be converted into a series of adjacent pixels in a raster graphic. Each pixel represents a point on the path of the straight line, and its coordinates are determined by the resolution during the rasterization process.

[0069] Rasterization ensures that each element in a vector graphic is converted into a corresponding point in a pixel map, resulting in a bitmap composed of pixel coordinates.

[0070] Step S120: According to a preset scanning method, the pattern to be marked is divided into at least one scanning area, and each scanning area contains the pattern elements of the pattern to be marked.

[0071] In this embodiment, after the bitmap conversion is completed, the system divides the complete pattern to be marked into at least one scanning region according to a preset scanning method. The division of scanning regions is to optimize the scanning process. Each scanning region contains a part of the pattern to be marked, which can be called a pattern element.

[0072] It should be noted that the preset scanning methods include, but are not limited to, sequential scanning, random scanning, or partition scanning. Sequential scanning refers to marking the scanning area one by one in a certain order, such as from left to right or from top to bottom. Random scanning may involve selecting scanning areas for marking in a random order. Partition scanning refers to dividing the pattern into multiple regions and then scanning each region in a certain logical order.

[0073] When dividing the area, several factors need to be considered, including the complexity of the pattern to be marked, the marking capability of the parallel beam, and the optimization of the scanning path. For example, if the elements in the pattern to be marked are relatively simple or sparsely distributed, the scanning area can be set to be larger to improve scanning efficiency.

[0074] Step S130: For each pattern element in the scanned area, generate at least one scan line, which is the path of the parallel beam during the scanning process.

[0075] In this embodiment, for each scanning area, the system generates at least one scan line, which defines the movement path of the parallel beam during the scanning process. The scan line is a virtual trajectory of the parallel beam moving on the material surface, and it determines how the parallel beam covers the entire pattern area during the scanning process.

[0076] Specifically, the system first determines the direction of the scan lines based on a preset scanning strategy and the characteristics of the elements in the pattern to be marked. Typically, the scan lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, depending on the shape of the pattern to be marked and the desired marking effect.

[0077] For each scanned area, the system calculates the number of scan lines required and the specific location of each scan line. To avoid leaving unscanned gaps during the scanning process, the spacing between adjacent scan lines needs to be small enough. Therefore, multiple scan lines are generated for each scanned area to form the pattern to be marked.

[0078] Step S140: Calculate the coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in each scan line, where each coordinate in the coordinate sequence corresponds to the position of the light spot in the parallel beam during the scanning process.

[0079] A coordinate sequence is a series of coordinate points, each corresponding to the specific position of a light spot within a parallel beam during the scanning process. These coordinate points indicate the locations where the parallel beam should activate or deactivate the light spot during scanning to form a pattern.

[0080] In this embodiment, for pattern elements within the scanning area, the system first extracts the pixel coordinates of the pattern elements within the scanning area. Then, the system records the sequence of each scan line and identifies the start and end points of the pattern elements on each scan line, as well as any intermediate turning points or feature points. Next, the system determines the spacing between pixel coordinates based on the marking height of the parallel beam (equivalent to the length of the parallel beam) and the required marking accuracy. This spacing is typically matched to the system's resolution; that is, the spacing between light spots in the parallel beam is the same as the spacing between pixel coordinates.

[0081] Next, the system generates coordinate points incrementally at fixed intervals along the direction of the scan line, starting from the starting point, until the ending point is reached, thus confirming the coordinate sequence of one scan line. The system then continues this process, confirming the coordinate sequence on the second adjacent scan line, and so on, until all pattern elements within the scan area are covered.

[0082] In this process, the system considers the actual shape of the pattern elements. For straight lines, coordinate points are arranged equidistantly along the line; for curved lines, the system uses interpolation algorithms, such as linear interpolation, spline interpolation, or Bézier curve interpolation, to ensure the smoothness and continuity of the curve. The system generates coordinate points based on the actual shape of the pattern elements. For straight lines, coordinate points are arranged equidistantly along the line; for curved lines, the system uses interpolation algorithms, such as linear interpolation, spline interpolation, or Bézier curve interpolation, to ensure the smoothness and continuity of the curve.

[0083] Step S150: Based on the coordinate sequence, the scan lines are combined in a preset scan direction order to generate the scan path of the parallel beam.

[0084] In this embodiment, the system first determines the order of the scan lines, which is typically based on the scanning strategy of the pattern to be marked. For example, if the pattern to be marked is horizontal or vertical, the scan lines may be arranged in a left-to-right or top-to-bottom order.

[0085] Once the order and coordinate sequence of the scan lines are determined, the system arranges each scan line in a preset scanning direction to form a complete scan path. This scan path consists of multiple scan lines, each of which is part of a pattern element. The combination of all scan lines precisely covers the entire pattern element. Whether it is a straight line or a curve, it is accurately represented and marked through these ordered scan lines and the corresponding coordinate point sequence.

[0086] This scanning path is the path that the parallel beam must follow throughout the marking process, ensuring that the parallel beam can cover the entire scanning area in the correct order and direction.

[0087] It should be noted that all scan lines in the scanning area are parallel, and the spacing between scan lines is also fixed.

[0088] Furthermore, step S151 is included after step S150:

[0089] Step S151: Associate the coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in the scan line with the light spots in the parallel beam to determine the activation state of each light spot during the scanning process.

[0090] In this embodiment, the system associates the coordinate sequence calculated in step S140 with each light spot within the parallel beam. This association is to determine the activation state of each light spot during the scanning process, i.e., which light spots need to be activated to emit laser light at each specific location, and which light spots need to remain inactive. The activation state is determined by the dot matrix of the pattern to be marked, and the activation or deactivation of each light spot corresponds precisely to a pixel in the pattern to be marked.

[0091] During the scanning process, the parallel beam essentially needs to match each scan line sequentially according to a preset scanning direction. Therefore, by associating each light spot within the parallel beam with its coordinate sequence, it is possible to determine whether a pattern element exists in the coordinate sequence associated with each light spot, thereby determining whether the corresponding light spot needs to be activated.

[0092] Optionally, the coordinate sequence can include the pixel coordinates involved on all scan lines. In this case, during the association of the light spot with the coordinate sequence, it is necessary to determine which coordinate sequences correspond to the pattern elements. The system will only activate the light spot for the pixel coordinates directly corresponding to the pattern elements, while ignoring those pixel coordinates located on the scan lines but not belonging to the pattern elements.

[0093] Optionally, the coordinate sequence contains only the pixel coordinates of the pattern elements that actually exist on the scan line. In this case, only those light spots associated with the pattern elements need to be activated, while those light spots not associated with any pattern elements remain deactivated.

[0094] Furthermore, before step S120, steps S121 to S122 are also included:

[0095] Step S121: Obtain the height or width of the pattern to be marked, and the marking height or marking width of the parallel beam.

[0096] It should be noted that the height or width of the pattern to be marked usually refers to the vertical height or horizontal width, as well as the marking height or marking width of the parallel beam. These parameters are key factors in determining the maximum size of the scanning area, ensuring that each scanning area can be completely covered by the parallel beam in a single scanning operation. Vertical height refers to the height of the pattern to be marked in the vertical direction, i.e., the distance from the top to the bottom of the pattern. Horizontal width refers to the dimension of the pattern to be marked in the horizontal direction, i.e., the distance from the leftmost to the rightmost side of the pattern. Marking height refers to the size of the area that the parallel beam can effectively mark in the vertical direction, usually the focusing range of the laser beam in the vertical direction. Marking width refers to the size of the area that the parallel beam can effectively mark in the horizontal direction, which can be the diameter of a single light spot or the horizontal extension range of the laser beam.

[0097] Step S122: When dividing the pattern to be marked into scanning areas, the height or width of each scanning area is less than or equal to the marking height or width of the parallel beam.

[0098] Based on the parameters obtained in step S121, the system logically divides the pattern to be marked into multiple scanning areas, ensuring that the size of each scanning area is adapted to the marking capability of the parallel beam.

[0099] Specifically, the height or width of each scanning area must be less than or equal to the height or width of the parallel beam marking. This is to ensure that during scanning, the parallel beam can completely cover the pattern elements within the scanning area in a single pass, avoiding missing or overlapping patterns during marking. In this way, the system can optimize the scanning path, improve marking efficiency, and guarantee marking quality.

[0100] Please refer to Figure 4 The multi-spot laser marking method of the third embodiment of this application further includes steps S210-S220 in step S20:

[0101] Step S210: Calculate the activation time and deactivation time of each light point according to the order of each scan line in the scan path, the activation state of the light point in the parallel beam and the preset activation duration.

[0102] In this embodiment, the system first considers the order of each scan line in the scanning path. This is because laser marking is a sequential process that requires scanning lines one by one in a specific order to ensure the continuity and integrity of the pattern. Simultaneously, the system also considers the activation state of each light spot within the parallel beam on the scan line. This means that for each position on the scan line, the system determines which light spots should be activated to form part of the pattern and which light spots should remain deactivated.

[0103] The system also needs to consider the activation duration of each light spot. This duration is preset according to the specific requirements of laser marking, including factors such as marking speed, material absorption rate of laser light, required marking depth and sharpness, etc. For example, if the parallel beam is currently on a certain scan line, and the activation duration of the light spots within that parallel beam is set to be the same as the interval between the parallel beam moving to the next scan line, then the laser beam can continuously form patterns on the material throughout the entire scanning cycle, thereby creating continuous lines or filled areas.

[0104] The activation duration of a laser spot refers to the time the laser beam illuminates a specific point during scanning; that is, the length of time the laser beam remains on, illuminating a particular location. The interval between two scan lines typically refers to the time required for the scanning head to move to the starting position of the next scan line after marking one. When the activation duration of a laser spot is the same as the interval between the switching of two adjacent scan lines, it means that the time the laser beam illuminates each point on a scan line is exactly equal to the time it takes for the scanning head to move from one scan line to the next. This ensures that the laser beam is evenly distributed across the entire pattern during scanning, eliminating unmarked blank areas.

[0105] It's important to note that, generally speaking, the activation duration of the laser spot is the same as the interval between the switching of two adjacent scan lines. However, the activation duration can also be affected by other factors, such as laser power, the material's absorption rate of the laser, the required marking depth, or color. Therefore, the activation duration may be adjusted according to specific scanning needs and is not always the same as the scan line switching interval. Furthermore, since laser spots are typically used to create part of a continuous marking line or pattern on the same scan line, the activation duration of laser spots on the same scan line (parallel beam) is usually consistent. However, depending on specific marking requirements, the activation duration of certain laser spots can be adjusted individually to accommodate different marking depths or pattern details.

[0106] Specifically, the activation time of the light spot is determined based on the moving speed of the parallel beam and the current position of the parallel beam on the scan line. That is, the moment when the parallel beam reaches the scan line and the light spot corresponds to the position of a pattern element. The deactivation time of the light spot is usually when the activation duration ends after the light spot is activated. If the activation duration of the light spot is the same as the interval between the scanning head moving from one scan line to the next, then the deactivation time of the light spot is the moment when the scanning head begins to move to the next scan line.

[0107] Step S220: Generate the activation sequence of the parallel beam according to the activation time and the deactivation time.

[0108] First, a time series is constructed based on the activation and deactivation times of the light spots. This time series serves as the basis for the activation sequence. In this time series, each time point corresponds to the state of the corresponding light spot, i.e., activation or deactivation. Then, these states and their corresponding light spots are filled into the sequence in chronological order to ensure that at the correct time point, the state of the light spot can correctly transition from activation to deactivation, or from deactivation to activation.

[0109] While generating the activation sequence, the switching between scan lines also needs to be taken into account. This means that the state transition of the light spot must be smooth and accurate between the end of one scan line and the beginning of the next scan line.

[0110] The generated activation sequence will be converted into instructions that can be directly executed by the system. These instructions include not only the activation and deactivation times of the light spots, but may also include the index or identifier of the light spots to ensure that the system can identify and control each light spot.

[0111] An activation sequence is a set of instructions that specifies in detail when each spot of the parallel beam is activated and deactivated during the scanning process. The activation sequence is crucial in the laser marking process because it directly controls the behavior of the parallel beam, determining the shape and quality of the final marked pattern.

[0112] Please refer to Figure 5 The multi-spot laser marking method of the fourth embodiment of this application further includes steps S310 to S330 before step S30:

[0113] Step S310: Calculate the first deflection angle of the galvanometer in the horizontal and vertical directions based on the size of the scanning area and the distance between two adjacent scanning lines in the scanning path.

[0114] In this embodiment, the system first needs to determine the size of the scanning area in order to determine the area that the galvanometer needs to cover. Simultaneously, the system also considers the distance between two adjacent scan lines in the scanning path, which is the distance the galvanometer needs to move after each scan. Based on the size of the scanning area and the distance between two adjacent scan lines, the system can calculate the first deflection angle of the galvanometer in the horizontal and vertical directions. This angle is the angle by which the galvanometer needs to deflect from one scan line to the next adjacent scan line.

[0115] Specifically, the width (W) and height ( ) of the scanned area are measured or acquired. ), and the horizontal distance between two adjacent scan lines in the same scan area within the scan path ( ) and vertical distance ( If the deflection of the galvanometer is set to be linearly related to the movement of the scan line, the horizontal deflection angle can be calculated using the following formula ( ). ) and vertical deflection angle ( ):

[0116]

[0117]

[0118] in, It is the field angle of the galvanometer, that is, the maximum angle that the galvanometer can cover.

[0119] When the calculated angle is in degrees, the degrees are converted into a format that the galvanometer driver can understand, such as pulse count or a specific electrical signal.

[0120] Step S320: Convert the first deflection angle into an electrical signal to generate a galvanometer control signal.

[0121] In this embodiment, when quantizing the first deflection angle calculated in step S310 into a digital code, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be used to convert the analog angle signal into a digital signal. According to the input requirements of the galvanometer driver, the quantized angle value is proportionally converted into a corresponding electrical signal. The proportion is determined by the input range of the galvanometer driver; that is, the maximum and minimum electrical signal values ​​that the driver can accept correspond to the maximum and minimum deflection angles of the galvanometer. The conversion process may include amplifying the electrical signal to ensure that the signal strength is sufficient to drive the galvanometer.

[0122] Optionally, the electrical signal can be shaped, for example, by using a filter to remove noise or by using pulse width modulation (PWM) to generate the desired signal waveform. After signal conversion, the electrical signal is sent to the mirror driver through an appropriate interface, such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) or PCIe (PCI Express).

[0123] Step S330: The galvanometer control signal is transmitted to the galvanometer driver to drive the galvanometer to deflect according to the first deflection angle, so as to control the parallel beam to move to the next adjacent scan line in the scanning area according to the preset scanning direction.

[0124] A galvanometer driver is an electronic device used to control the movement of a galvanometer. The galvanometer driver receives electrical signals from the system and converts them into current that can drive the galvanometer. After the electrical signals are transmitted to the galvanometer driver as control signals, the driver generates corresponding currents based on the magnitude and polarity of the input signals. These currents create a magnetic field in the galvanometer's coils, causing the mirror to deflect rapidly, thereby controlling the parallel beam to move to the next scan line according to a preset scanning direction.

[0125] Furthermore, step S330 is followed by steps S331 to S332:

[0126] Step S331: After completing the scanning process of the current scanning area, calculate the second deflection angle of the galvanometer from the current scanning area to the starting position of the adjacent scanning area, and generate the positioning control signal of the parallel beam.

[0127] In this embodiment, the second deflection angle is used to position the parallel beam at the starting position of the next scanning area.

[0128] Step S332: After reaching the starting position of the adjacent scanning area based on the positioning control signal, readjust the galvanometer to the first deflection angle and continue the scanning process.

[0129] In this embodiment, after the galvanometer moves to the starting position of the adjacent scanning area according to the positioning control signal, the system readjusts the galvanometer to the first deflection angle. Typically, in different scanning areas, the preset scanning direction of the parallel beam and the interval between two adjacent scanning lines are consistent.

[0130] Furthermore, step S30 also includes steps S340 to S350:

[0131] Step S340: Receive control instructions generated based on the scan path and the activation sequence.

[0132] In this embodiment, the system receives pre-calculated control commands, which are generated based on the scanning path (i.e., the trajectory of the parallel beam on the material surface, matched according to the order of the scan lines) and the activation sequence of each light spot (i.e., the activation sequence of when each light spot is activated or deactivated). These control commands are digital signals, ensuring that the parallel beam can form the desired marking pattern at the correct time and position.

[0133] Step S350: According to the control command, synchronously control the activation state of the light spot in the parallel beam and the deflection of the galvanometer.

[0134] In this embodiment, the system uses received control commands to synchronize two key operations: first, to activate or deactivate specific light spots within the parallel beam to form the desired marking pattern on the material surface; and second, to control the deflection of the galvanometer to ensure that the parallel beam moves along a predetermined scanning path. This synchronization is crucial because it guarantees that the activation of the light spots matches the precise deflection of the galvanometer, thereby forming a mark in the correct position.

[0135] Step S360: After completing the scanning of all scanning areas, stop sending the control commands.

[0136] After all the divided scanning areas have been scanned by parallel beams according to the predetermined scanning path and activation sequence, the system will stop sending control commands, and the laser marking process will be completed.

[0137] This application provides a multi-spot laser marking device, which includes: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, which are executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the multi-spot laser marking method in Embodiment 1 above.

[0138] The following is for reference. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a structure suitable for implementing the multi-spot laser marking device of the embodiments of this application. The multi-spot laser marking device in the embodiments of this application may include various hardware and software components for implementing a scheduling method for inspection tasks. Figure 6 The multi-spot laser marking device shown is merely an example and should not impose any limitations on the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of this application.

[0139] like Figure 6 As shown, the multi-spot laser marking device may include a processing unit 1001 (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processor, etc.), which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 1002 or a program loaded from a storage device 1003 into a random access memory (RAM) 1004. The RAM 1004 also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the multi-spot laser marking device. The processing unit 1001, ROM 1002, and RAM 1004 are interconnected via a bus 1005. An input / output (I / O) interface 1006 is also connected to the bus. Typically, the following systems can be connected to the I / O interface 1006: input devices 1007 including, for example, touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, etc.; output devices 1008 including, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), speakers, vibrators, etc.; storage devices 1003 including, for example, magnetic tapes, hard disks, etc.; and communication devices 1009. The communication device 1009 allows the multi-spot laser marking device to communicate wirelessly or wiredly with other devices to exchange data. Although the figures show multi-spot laser marking devices with various systems, it should be understood that implementation or possession of all the systems shown is not required. More or fewer systems may be implemented alternatively.

[0140] Specifically, according to the embodiments disclosed in this application, the processes described above with reference to the flowcharts can be implemented as computer software programs. For example, embodiments disclosed in this application include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, the computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowcharts. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via a communication device, or installed from storage device 1003, or installed from ROM 1002. When the computer program is executed by processing device 1001, it performs the functions defined in the methods of the embodiments disclosed in this application.

[0141] The multi-spot laser marking device provided in this application, employing the multi-spot laser marking device method described in the above embodiments, can solve the technical problem of how to improve the marking efficiency of laser marking. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the multi-spot laser marking device provided in this application are the same as those of the multi-spot laser marking method provided in the above embodiments, and other technical features of this multi-spot laser marking device are the same as those disclosed in the previous embodiment method, and will not be repeated here.

[0142] It should be understood that the various parts disclosed in this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0143] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0144] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent scope of this application.

[0145] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or system that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or system. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or system that includes that element.

[0146] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method.

[0147] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A multi-spot laser marking method, characterized in that, The multi-spot laser marking method includes: The scanning path of the parallel beam and the activation state of the light spot within each parallel beam are obtained; the light spot refers to a small, independently controllable laser emitting unit formed after the parallel beam is processed by the optical system. Based on the scanning path and the activation state, determine the activation sequence for each parallel beam; At the start of scanning, the parallel beam is controlled to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence, and the light spots in the parallel beam are activated or deactivated at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form a pattern to be marked. Before the step of obtaining the scanning path of the parallel beam and the activation state of the light spot within each parallel beam, the following steps are included: The pattern to be marked is converted into a bitmap, which is composed of pixel coordinates; According to a preset scanning method, the pattern to be marked is divided into at least one scanning area, and each scanning area contains pattern elements of the pattern to be marked; For each pattern element in the scanned area, at least one scan line is generated, the scan line being the path of the parallel beam during the scanning process; Calculate the coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in each scan line, where each coordinate in the coordinate sequence corresponds to the position of the light spot in the parallel beam during the scanning process; Based on the coordinate sequence, the scan lines are combined in a preset scan direction order to generate the scan path of the parallel beam; The step of determining the activation sequence of each parallel beam based on the scanning path and the activation state includes: Based on the order of each scan line in the scan path, the activation state of the light spot in the parallel beam, and the preset activation duration, calculate the activation time and deactivation time of each light spot. The activation sequence of the parallel beam is generated based on the activation time and the deactivation time.

2. The multi-spot laser marking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the step of combining the scan lines according to a preset scan direction order based on the coordinate sequence to generate the scan path of the parallel beam, the method further includes: The coordinate sequence of the pattern elements contained in the scan line is associated with the light spots in the parallel beam to determine the activation state of each light spot during the scanning process.

3. The multi-spot laser marking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of dividing the pattern to be marked into at least one scanning region according to a preset scanning method, wherein each scanning region contains pattern elements of the pattern to be marked, the method further includes: Obtain the height or width of the pattern to be marked, and the marking height or marking width of the parallel light beam; When dividing the pattern to be marked into scanning areas, the height or width of each scanning area is less than or equal to the marking height or width of the parallel beam.

4. The multi-spot laser marking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of controlling the parallel beam to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence at the start of scanning, and activating or deactivating the light spots in the parallel beam at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form the pattern to be marked, the method includes: Based on the size of the scanning area and the distance between two adjacent scanning lines in the scanning path, the first deflection angle of the galvanometer in the horizontal and vertical directions is calculated. The first deflection angle is converted into an electrical signal to generate a galvanometer control signal; The galvanometer control signal is transmitted to the galvanometer driver, which drives the galvanometer to deflect according to the first deflection angle, so as to control the parallel beam to move to the next adjacent scan line in the scanning area according to the preset scanning direction.

5. The multi-spot laser marking method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, After the step of transmitting the galvanometer control signal to the galvanometer driver to drive the galvanometer to deflect according to the first deflection angle, so as to control the parallel beam to move to the next adjacent scan line in the scanning area according to the preset scanning direction, the method further includes: After completing the scanning process of the current scanning area, the second deflection angle of the galvanometer from the current scanning area to the starting position of the adjacent scanning area is calculated, and the positioning control signal of the parallel beam is generated. After the positioning control signal reaches the starting position of the adjacent scanning area, the galvanometer is readjusted to the first deflection angle, and the scanning process continues.

6. The multi-spot laser marking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling the parallel beam to move along the scanning path according to the activation sequence at the start of scanning, and activating or deactivating the light spots in the parallel beam at predetermined positions according to the activation sequence to form the pattern to be marked includes: Receive control commands generated based on the scan path and the activation sequence; According to the control command, the activation state of the light spot in the parallel beam and the deflection of the galvanometer are synchronously controlled. After completing the scanning of all scanning areas, stop sending the control commands.

7. A multi-spot laser marking device, characterized in that, The multi-spot laser marking device includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the multi-spot laser marking method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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