Patent ID: 8890028

Claim:
A laser processing system, comprising: a laser generating device configured to generate a laser beam for processing a workpiece; a moving mechanism configured to move the workpiece relative to the laser beam; a numerical control device which is coupled to the moving mechanism, and configured to transmit a movement amount for moving the workpiece to the moving mechanism in a transmission cycle, coupled to the laser generating device via an interface circuit, and configured to output a laser output signal and a digital signal to the interface circuit, in predetermined transmission cycles synchronized with the transmission cycle of the movement amount for moving the workpiece, wherein the laser output signal determines an intensity of the laser beam, and the digital signal determines a transmission period and a stop period of the laser beam; an auxiliary controller configured to generate a logic signal which forcedly controls transmission or stop of the laser beam; the interface circuit interposed between the laser generating device and the numerical control device, the interface circuit coupled to an output of the auxiliary controller and comprising: a converter coupled to an output of the numerical control device, and configured to convert the laser output signal to an analog signal; a pulse signal generator coupled to the output of the numerical control device, and configured to generate a pulse signal for controlling the analog signal on the basis of the digital signal; a logical operation unit coupled to the output of the auxiliary controller and an output of the pulse signal generator, and configured to perform a logical operation between the pulse signal and the logic signal and to output a result of the logical operation; and a switching device coupled between an output of the converter and an input of the laser generating device, the switching device further coupled to an output of the logical operation unit and configured to generate a laser drive signal for alternately transmitting and stopping the laser beam on the basis of the result of the logical operation; and a sensor coupled to an input of the logical operation unit, and configured to measure an intensity of light radiated or reflected from the workpiece irradiated with the laser beam which is output in accordance with the laser drive signal, wherein the auxiliary controller is configured to generate the logic signal in accordance with the intensity of the light measured by the sensor, and wherein each one of said converter, said pulse signal generator, said logical operation unit and said switching device in the interface circuit is operated within a shorter period than the predetermined transmission cycles.