Patent ID: 8073036
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: B23K,H01S

Abstract:
1. A laser-based material processing system, comprising: a pulsed laser amplification system having a laser head and a head end, said amplification system comprising a source of laser pulses, and an optical amplifier to amplify said pulses; a pulse stretcher to stretch a pulse before amplification with said optical amplifier, and a pulse compressor to reduce a width of an amplified pulse; a beam steering device disposed between an output of said optical amplifier and said head end, said beam steering device configured in such a way that an amplified output beam being emitted from said head end is stabilized in one or more of position and angle by said beam steering device, said beam steering device being configured to receive one or more feedback signals from an end-use apparatus disposed beyond said head end, said one or more signals being derived from at least one position sensitive sensor; an end-use apparatus to which said pulsed laser amplification system is optically coupled, said end-use apparatus being disposed beyond said head end, said end use apparatus comprising a system controller to receive an output derived from said position-sensitive sensor and to generate a command for said controlling of said beam steering device, said command being generated in said end use apparatus and communicated to said beam steering device through a communication interface between said end use apparatus and said laser head, wherein said laser-based material processing system is configured such that said beam steering device is controllable by said system controller; and a laser controller disposed between said end-use apparatus and said beam steering device, said laser controller being in communication with said end-use apparatus and operatively connected to said at least one position sensor and said beam steering device, said beam steering device being coordinated with commands from said system controller and said laser controller.