Laser Beam Splitting Across Multiple Focal Planes for Glass Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for laser processing of transparent materials face challenges in achieving high-quality severing with reduced surface roughness and improved edge stability, often encountering interference effects and difficulty in controlling material modifications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the division of an input laser beam into multiple sub-beams, focusing these sub-beams to form focus elements, and arranging them in perpendicular planes to create material modifications with reduced effective distances, allowing for increased density and controlled overlap, thereby enhancing severability and surface quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple focus elements are arranged in a single plane for laser processing, then the processing coverage is limited, but arranging them in multiple planes increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from arranging focus elements in a single plane to distributing them across multiple planes spaced apart in the feed direction. This dimensional extension allows the laser beam to process larger areas and create three-dimensional material modifications while maintaining systematic control over the focus element distribution.
2Reliability
If focus elements are arranged with larger spacing, then interference effects are reduced, but material modification density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By distributing focus elements across multiple planes separated in the feed direction, the patent achieves both reduced interference between adjacent focus elements and maintained material modification density. The spatial separation in the third dimension allows closer effective spacing while minimizing lateral interference.
3Productivity
If focus elements are moved faster through the material, then processing efficiency increases, but control over material modifications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the laser processing into multiple discrete focus elements distributed across different planes. Each focus element creates a controlled material modification, and the segmented approach allows precise control over the overall processing outcome while maintaining high processing speed through parallel action of multiple focus elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves improved severing quality with reduced surface roughness and increased edge stability by minimizing interference and enabling precise material modifications, facilitating efficient severing of transparent materials.
Implementation Method 1
dividing an input laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams by using a beam splitting element
Implementation Method 2
focusing the sub-beams coupled out of the beam splitting element to form multiple focus elements
Implementation Method 3
applying the focus elements to the material of the workpiece for the laser processing
Implementation Method 4
applying the focus elements to the material of the workpiece for the laser processing
Data Source
AI summary
A method for laser processing of a workpiece that has a transparent material includes dividing an input laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams by using a beam splitting element, focusing the sub-beams coupled out of the beam splitting element to form multiple focus elements, and applying the focus elements to the material of the workpiece for the laser processing. The focus elements are moved relative to the material in a feed direction. A first sub-quantity of the focus elements is arranged in a first plane. A second sub-quantity of the focus elements is arranged in at least one other plane. The first plane and the at least one other plane are spaced apart in the feed direction. The first plane and the at least one other plane are orientated perpendicular to the feed direction.