Laser Beam Release Control Using Head Position and Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser systems lack effective safety mechanisms to prevent laser beams from accidentally hitting regions outside the working area, which can damage protective cabins and pose a risk to surrounding personnel, relying heavily on passive or sensor-equipped active protection systems.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that captures the translational and rotational positions of a working head using a movement unit and issues or revokes laser beam release based on a serial test of these positions, ensuring safe operation without sensor reliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive protective cabin or sensor-equipped active protection system is used, then laser beam safety protection is improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/sensor-based protection systems with a software-based control method. The control unit continuously monitors the position and orientation of the working head through software algorithms, calculating whether the laser beam application point lies within the protective cabin's protective region. This software-based approach eliminates the need for complex sensor systems while maintaining safety protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs self-monitoring of the laser system's own working parameters (position and orientation of working head). By using the existing control unit to monitor itself rather than requiring external sensor systems, the patent reduces hardware complexity while maintaining reliability of laser beam protection.
2Reliability
If sensor-equipped active protection system is used, then laser beam safety protection is improved, but loss of time due to sensor response and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the position and orientation of the working head without interruption throughout the laser processing operation. This continuous monitoring ensures real-time detection of any potential safety issues without the time delays associated with discrete sensor measurements and signal processing, maintaining both safety and operational efficiency.
3Reliability
If protective cabin with large protective region is used, then laser beam safety protection is improved, but space utilization and operational flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic calculation of the protective region based on the current position and orientation of the working head. The control unit continuously updates the protective region boundaries according to real-time working parameters, allowing the system to adapt to different working positions and orientations. This dynamic approach maintains safety protection while maximizing operational flexibility compared to static protective region definitions.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit for use in a laser system for working a workpiece by a laser beam is configured to capture, based on at least one translation axis position, a translational position of a working head which can be changed by a movement unit, capture, based on at least one rotation axis position, a rotational orientation of the working head which can be changed by the movement unit, and issue or revoke a laser beam release for an application of the laser beam to the workpiece. The laser beam release depends on a serial test of the translational position and the rotational orientation of the working head.