Patent ID: 8541714

Claim:
A system for laser processing first and second targets on a workpiece, the system comprising: a laser subsystem including an oscillator having a single tunable or adjustable pulse width, semiconductor laser and a fiber-based amplifier for generating one or more laser pulses; a first controller operatively connected to the laser subsystem to: set a laser pulse width of the one or more laser pulses to selectively provide one or more laser output pulses having one or more set pulse widths based on the first target to be processed; set a pulse shape of the one or more output pulses to selectively provide the one or more output pulses having the set pulse shape based on the first target; and reset the laser pulse width of one or more laser pulses to selectively provide one or more laser output pulses having one or more reset pulse widths based on a second target to be processed; a laser beam delivery subsystem including an optical subsystem having a lens for delivering at least a portion of the output pulses having the set pulse shape and the set and reset pulse widths to the first and second targets, respectively, based on position information; wherein the optical subsystem adjusts at least one of spot size and the focus of the laser beam on the at least one target; and wherein the lens has a scan field of at least 10 mm by 10 mm, a working distance of at least 40 mm to provide access for contacting probes and produces a spot having a spot size of 6 microns or less; a sensor subsystem including an optical sensor for sensing a laser pulse reflected from the workpiece to obtain a signal; a signal processor for processing the signal to obtain alignment information for laser processing; a liquid crystal variable retarder for optically processing the laser beam; an liquid crystal variable retarder controller for controlling the LCVR; and a positioning mechanism for providing relative motion between the workpiece and the laser beam.