MARKING OF A WORKPIECE BY LIGHT ENERGY

摘要

The technique of marking (including machining) a workpiece by light energy, e.g. a pulsed laser beam, to create a pattern of marks on the workpiece is improved by converting a primary beam into a plurality of individual beamlets that are arranged in an array corresponding to the desired pattern and are each focused independently of the other beamlets. A pattern of a chosen size can be made using a primary beam of lower power than has previously been possible, or alternatively, the same beam power can be used to make a larger mark. The invention also provides for utilization of the previously wasted energy of those beamlets not used to form the patterned array, by redirecting these beamlets either to reinforce one or more of those beamlets that do form the array or to form a second pattern of marks on the workpiece.