Patent ID: 6181728
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A laser polarization control apparatus comprising:a polarization modifying device configured to receive a laser beam and to modify the polarization of the laser beam; anda controller, connected to the polarization modifying device, configured to adjust an input to the polarization modifying device in order to control modification of the polarization of the laser beam based on alignment of a structure to be processed by the laser beam;the polarization modifying device being configured for incorporation into a laser processing system that produces the laser beam received by the polarization modifying device and that focuses the laser beam modified by the polarization modifying device onto a workpiece that includes the structure to be processed by the laser beam;wherein the controller is configured to adjust the input to the polarization modifying device so as to cause the polarization of the laser beam to be adjusted as a function of the alignment of the structure to be processed by the laser beam.