Patent ID: 6806440
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: B23K,H01S,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 solid-state laser medium and a pumping source, the solid-state laser medium being limited in an amount of pumping power that the solid-state laser medium can tolerate over an extended period of time due to thermally-induced distortion, 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 source for pumping the solid-state laser medium during a first time interval; operating an intra-cavity 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 during the first time interval; applying the first laser output to the first target area to remove target material from the first target area; reducing to a lower current level, the current supplied to the laser pumping source to reduce thermal load within the solid-state laser medium during a second time interval; addressing the beam positioner toward a second target area, different from the first target area, on the work piece during the second time interval; increasing to a second higher current level, the current supplied to the laser pumping source for pumping the solid-state laser medium during a third time interval; 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 during the third time interval; and applying the second laser output to the second target area to remove target material from the second target area.