Patent ID: 6781090
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B23K,H05K

Abstract:
A method for machining with a laser system through at least one layer of target material at multiple target areas on a work piece, the laser system employing a laser pumping diode and a solid-state laser, the laser pumping diode having a current-induced cumulative pumping capacity that limits the amount of pumping power that the laser pumping diode can deliver to the solid-state laser during an extended time period, comprising:addressing a beam positioner toward a first target area on the work piece; supplying current at a first higher current level to the laser pumping diode for pumping the solid-state laser; operating an intracavity acousto-optic Q-switch to generate a first laser output having at least two laser pulses at a repetition rate of at least 2 kHz; applying the first laser output to the first target area to remove target material from the first target area; reducing the current supplied to the laser pumping diode to a lower current level to reduce the load on the laser pumping diode; addressing the beam positioner toward a second target area, different from the first target area, on the work piece; increasing the current supplied to the laser pumping diode to a second higher current level for pumping the solid-state laser; operating the Q-switch to generate a second laser output having at least two laser pulses at a repetition rate of at least 2 kHz; and applying the second laser output to the second target area to remove target material from the second target area.