Rotating Mirror Laser Scanner for Vibration-Stable Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser scanning technologies face challenges in accurately and efficiently scanning laser radiation across targets, particularly in pattern transfer printing, due to issues with mirror balancing, vibration stability, and synchronization of laser sources with mirror rotation, leading to inaccuracies and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A laser scanner design featuring a mirror mounted on a holder with a rotating axis, balanced by adjusting the center of mass using specified regions, stabilized by a disk with increased inertia, and controlled by a thru-beam sensor to synchronize laser operation with mirror position, ensuring accurate and contamination-free scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the mirror is mounted on the holder with the rotating axis at the reflective plane, then the scanning accuracy is improved, but the mirror balancing becomes more difficult and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principles by providing specified regions on the holder where balancing material can be added or removed. These regions allow adjustment of the holder's mass distribution to compensate for the mirror's mass, achieving balance about the rotating axis while maintaining the axis at the reflective plane for accurate scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes in the holder's mass distribution through specified regions that allow addition or removal of material. This changes the holder's moment of inertia and center of mass position to achieve proper balancing about the rotating axis, reducing vibrations while maintaining scanning accuracy.
2Productivity
If the mirror rotation speed is increased for faster scanning, then the productivity is improved, but the synchronization control becomes more difficult and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through a thru-beam sensor that detects the mirror's angular position and provides signals to control the laser source operation. This feedback mechanism synchronizes the laser scanning with the mirror rotation, enabling accurate scanning at high speeds while preventing contamination by ensuring the laser operates only when the mirror is in the correct position.
3Productivity
If the laser source operates continuously, then the productivity is improved, but the mirror contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the laser source to operate only during specific angular ranges of the mirror rotation. The thru-beam sensor detects when the mirror is in the scanning position and enables the laser, while blocking it when the mirror is in positions where continuous operation would cause contamination, thus achieving periodic rather than continuous operation.
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 design achieves fast and accurate scanning of narrow features, reduces vibrations, and maintains mirror cleanliness, enhancing the precision and reliability of laser scanning for pattern transfer printing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror having a reflective plane configured to reflect the laser radiation from the laser source onto a target
Implementation Method 2
controlled by a thru-beam sensor to synchronize laser operation with mirror position
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Laser scanners are provided, for scanning laser radiation from a laser source onto a target. The laser scanners include a mirror having a reflective plane configured to reflect the laser radiation from the laser source onto the target, a holder with a rotating axis for mounting the mirror - with the rotating axis at the reflective plane of the mirror, and a motor configured to rotate the holder with the mirror - around the rotating axis. The configuration of the rotating mirror allows fast and accurate scanning of narrow features by the reflected laser radiation, such as thin paste-filled trenches in pattern transfer sheets for printing. Various mechanisms are provided to ensure accuracy and stability of the laser scanners, and to incorporate them within pattern transfer printing systems.