Patent ID: 7126619
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: B23K,B41C,B41N,G02B,H04N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An optical scanning system for laser engraving of a plurality of subrasters of data into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data, each subraster having a length dimension and a width dimension, the system comprising: a scanner capable of deflecting an input laser beam incident thereon from a first beam direction to create a scanning beam in a second direction, centered about a second axis; a beam expander centered on the second axis capable of receiving the scanning beam and forming it as an expanded and relayed scanning beam centered about the second axis; and a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting the expanded scanning beam in a third beam direction transverse to the second beam direction transverse to the first beam direction such that it is incident on the objective lens, the objective lens and mirror capable of moving along an axis defined by the first beam direction; wherein the objective lens is capable of focusing the expanded scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data oriented in the width dimension of the subraster; wherein the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the first beam axis to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data oriented in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed to define the length dimension; and wherein the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of returning to its starting position to initiate engraving of a subsequent subraster.