Patent ID: 6685868
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B41M,D06M,D06P,G06K

Abstract:
A method comprising:positioning a colored substrate between a material and a laser; and scribing the material with a laser beam directed through the colored substrate to transfer color from the colored substrate to the material and form the colored graphic on the material and controlling an energy density per unit time during the scribing to an amount which prevents undesirable carbonization, melting or burn through of the material, where the energy density per unit time is defined as: energy&it;â€ƒ&it;density&it;â€ƒ&it;per&it;â€ƒ&it;unit&it;â€ƒ&it;time=(continuouspowerareaofspot)&CenterDot;(1speed),where continuous power is a continuous power output of the laser during the scribing, area of spot is an area of a spot formed by the laser beam on the material when the laser beam is stationary relative to the material, and speed is a speed of the laser beam relative to the material during the scribing.