Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for scribing or welding a transparent material.SOLUTION: Ultra-short laser pulse is used for scribing a transparent material and to create a multiple scribe features by the single pass of the laser beam across the material, and at least one of the scribe features is formed below the surface of the material to enable the clean cleavage. In the method for welding the transparent material, the ultra-short laser pulse is used to create the joining through the localized heating. The ultra-short pulse duration time causes the nonlinear absorption of the laser radiation, and the high repetition rate of the laser causes the pulse-to-pulse accumulation of the heat in the material. The laser is converged in the vicinity of an interface of the material, and generates the high energy fluence in the region to be welded, minimize the damage on a remaining portion of the material, and enables a beautiful weld line.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for scribing or welding transparent materials. SOLUTION: A method for scribing transparent materials uses ultrashort laser pulses to create multiple scribe features with a single pass of the laser beam across the material, with at least one of the scribe features being formed below the surface of the material. This enables clean breaking of transparent materials. A method for welding transparent materials uses ultrashort laser pulses to create a bond through localized heating. The ultrashort pulse duration causes nonlinear absorption of the laser radiation, and the high repetition rate of the laser causes pulse-to-pulse accumulation of heat within the materials. The laser is focused near the interface of the materials, generating a high energy fluence at the region to be welded. This minimizes damage to the rest of the material and enables fine weld lines. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
Scribing a transparent material comprises using a single scan of a focused beam of ultrashort laser pulses to simultaneously create a surface groove in the material and modified region(s) within the bulk of the material. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a transparent material scribed at >=2 points in a depth direction by a single scan of a focused beam of ultrashort laser pulses; (2) a method for welding transparent materials; (3) a method for creating a raised ridge at the interface between two opposed surfaces to be welded to fill a gap that cannot be bridged by welding alone; (4) an optical system for welding transparent materials comprising a laser system that produces a beam of ultrashort laser pulses; and a focusing component; (5) a method for generating visible patterns of laser-modified features below the surface of a transparent material; and (6) a method of controlling the visibility of laser-induced sub-surface markings in a transparent material.