Two-Color Laser Beam Layout for Reflective Material Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser technologies do not adequately address the beam profile created by superimposing two-color laser beams, leading to insufficient processing of materials with low absorptivity for the main heating wavelength, particularly highly reflective materials like gold, copper, or aluminum.

Innovation Solution

A laser apparatus that includes multiple first light sources for preliminary heating with blue laser beams and a second light source for main heating with infrared laser beams, allowing adjustable relative positional relationships between the irradiation positions of the first and second laser beams to enhance absorptivity and processing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a single wavelength laser beam is used for main heating, then the processing speed and power delivery are improved, but highly reflective materials cannot absorb sufficient energy due to low absorptivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemain heating powerVSAvoidabsorptivity of highly reflective materials

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary heating using a first wavelength laser beam (e.g., blue laser at 450nm) before applying the main heating second wavelength laser beam (e.g., infrared laser at 1064nm). This preliminary action increases the temperature of highly reflective materials like gold, copper, and aluminum, thereby increasing their absorptivity for the main heating beam and enabling effective processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple wavelength laser beams are superimposed, then the absorptivity of highly reflective materials is improved through preliminary heating, but the beam profile control and processing precision become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorptivity enhancementVSAvoidbeam profile control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs separate optical systems for each wavelength laser beam, allowing independent optimization and control of beam profiles for each wavelength. The first optical system processes the preliminary heating beam while the second optical system processes the main heating beam, enabling precise control of each beam's quality and their superimposition at the focal point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts the optical systems in the optical axis direction to create spatial separation between the first and second optical systems. This dimensional adjustment allows independent beam control while achieving proper superimposition at the workpiece, resolving the conflict between multi-wavelength heating and beam profile control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the optical systems are closely aligned, then the system complexity is reduced, but the beam profiles of different wavelengths cannot be independently optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical system alignmentVSAvoidbeam profile optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the optical systems to be shifted in the optical axis direction. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt beam profiles for different processing conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, balancing system complexity with optimization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables effective processing of highly reflective materials by increasing absorptivity through preliminary heating with blue laser beams, allowing for appropriate absorption and processing with infrared laser beams, thereby improving the processing of materials that would otherwise reflect the main heating beam.

Implementation Method 1

first light sources that output respective first laser beams for preliminary heating of an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPreliminary heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a second light source that outputs a second laser beam for main heating of the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMain heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20220297230A1Laser Apparatus and Control Method

Publication Date: 2022.09.22 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

A laser apparatus includes six first laser devices that output respective blue laser beams for preliminary heating of an object, and a second laser device that outputs an infrared laser beam for main heating of the object. At least one of a relative positional relationship and each of respective first irradiation positions of the blue laser beams is changeable, the relative positional relationship being a relative positional relationship between the respective first irradiation positions of the six first laser beams in the object and a second irradiation position of the infrared laser beam in the object.