Patent ID: 8525070

Claim:
A laser irradiation apparatus comprising: a laser oscillator; and an articulated beam propagator configured to propagate a laser beam produced by the laser oscillator, an optical system configured to shape a beam shape of the laser beam emitted from an end of the articulated beam propagator into a linear shape on an irradiation surface; wherein the articulated beam propagator comprises: at least first and second articulated portions; a plurality of pipes, wherein one end of a first one of the plurality of pipes is connected to one end of a second one of the plurality of pipes through the first articulated portion, and wherein the other end of the first one of the plurality of pipes is connected to one end of a third one of the plurality of pipes through the second articulated portion; at least first and second course changers of the laser beam, the first and second course changers located in the first and second articulated portions respectively; and a lens included inside the first one of the plurality of pipes, wherein the lens is disposed so that the first and second course changers are conjugated to each other.