Patent ID: 7679030

Claim:
A system for removing target material associated with electrically conductive links positioned between respective pairs of electrically conductive contacts in a circuit fabricated on a substrate, said links defining a link width, said system comprising: a laser for generating a pulse train of laser pulses including at least two closely spaced laser output pulses during a first time interval; an optical switch configured to select from the pulse train of laser pulses said at least two-closely spaced laser output pulses, said at least two-closely spaced laser output pulses being a sequence of processing pulses for focusing onto a spot on the substrate, said at least two-closely spaced laser output pulses produced in rapid succession at a repetition rate exceeding a system link processing rate, each of the at least two closely time-displaced laser output pulses defining a laser spot size larger than the link width and having energy characteristics which prevent undesirable damage to a passivation layer beneath the link; a beam positioning system imparting relative movement of a laser spot position over the substrate in response to processing control signals representing one or more locations of electrically conductive links; a controller for coordinating the optical switch and the beam positioning system such that the relative movement is substantially continuous and the at least two closely-spaced laser output pulses impinge a first electrically conductive link at a first location between first contacts and encompass the link width, the at least two closely spaced laser output pulses removing target material without causing undesirable damage to the substrate or a layer of insulating material below the link.