Patent ID: 8238007

Claim:
A method for directing a laser beam toward a target location on a workpiece in response to target location coordinate position command information, comprising: positioning the workpiece and the laser beam relative to one another in response to the coordinate position command information; sensing an actual position of the workpiece relative to the coordinate position command information; producing one or more error signals indicative of a difference between the coordinate position command information and the actual position, the difference including an error signal component representing laser beam position errors at the workpiece; producing a position correction signal in response to each error signal produced; positioning a high-speed beam steering device adapted to receive the laser beam and, in response to the position correction signal, to impart to the laser beam angular motion that deflects the laser beam in a manner sufficient to compensate for the laser beam position errors, the high-speed beam steering device having a beam deflection range limited to less than or equal to 100 microns at the workpiece; and providing a focusing lens having an entrance pupil and positioned to receive the deflected laser beam and focus it on the target location on the workpiece, the high-speed beam steering device being within 1 mm of the entrance pupil.