System and method for virtual laser marking

• US 20050165590A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novanta Corporation (Novanta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Novanta Corporation (Novanta Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Yuhong
• Application Number:
  US11/040,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165590A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/04 Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/043 along the beam path, i.e. alignment of laser beam axis relative to laser beam apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/42 for obtaining a characteristic which is both proportional and time-dependent, e.g. P. I., P. I. D.
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/042 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

A virtual marking system is disclosed for simulating the performance of a limited rotation motor system. The virtual marking system includes a command generation unit, a limited rotation motor system unit, and an optical-mechanical modeling unit. The command generation unit is for receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked and for providing a set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked. The limited rotation motor system unit is for receiving the set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked and for providing optical element response signals that are representative of virtual positions of an optical element. The optical-mechanical modeling unit is for receiving the optical element response signals and for providing a virtual image of the pattern to be marked.

Claims

1. A virtual marking system for simulating the performance of a limited rotation motor system, said virtual marking system comprising:

command generation means for receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked and for providing a set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked;

limited rotation motor system means for receiving the set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked and for providing optical element response signals that are representative of virtual positions of an optical element; and

optical-mechanical modeling means for receiving the optical element response signals and for providing a virtual image of the pattern to be marked.

2. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said command generation means also receives a set of adjustable parameters regarding the virtual marking system.

3. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said parameters include data that is representative of mark speed, mark delay, jump speed, jump delay, laser-on delay, and laser-off delay.

4. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of motor current.

5. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of motor power.

6. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of angular position.

7. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of trajectory.

8. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical-mechanical modeling means provides a graphic representation of the virtual image of the pattern to be marked.

9. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited rotation motor system means includes mathematical modeling of an X scanner motor and a Y scanner motor.

10. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said virtual marking system is employed in a limited rotation motor system.

11. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said limited rotation motor system is used for actual laser marking.

12. A virtual marking system for simulating the performance of an X-Y limited rotation motor system, said virtual marking system comprising:

command generation means for receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked in two dimensions and for providing a set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked;

X-limited rotation motor system means for receiving the set of x direction commands for marking the pattern to be marked and for providing x-direction optical element response signals that are representative of virtual positions of an optical element;

Y-limited rotation motor system means for receiving the set of y-direction commands for marking the pattern to be marked and for providing y-direction optical element response signals that are representative of virtual positions of an optical element; and

optical-mechanical modeling means for receiving the x-direction optical element response signals and the y-direction optical element response signals, and for providing a virtual image of the pattern to be marked.

13. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said command generation means also receives a set of adjustable parameters regarding the virtual marking system.

14. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said parameters include data that is representative of mark speed, mark delay, jump speed, jump delay, laser-on delay, and laser-off delay.

15. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of motor current.

16. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of motor power.

17. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of angular position.

18. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said limited rotation motor system provides data representative of trajectory.

19. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said optical-mechanical modeling means provides a graphic representation of the virtual image of the pattern to be marked.

20. The virtual marking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said limited rotation motor system means includes mathematical modeling of an X scanner motor and a Y scanner motor.

21. A method of simulating the performance of a limited rotation motor system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked;

providing a set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked;

receiving the set of commands for marking the pattern to be marked;

providing optical element response signals that are representative of virtual positions of an optical element;

receiving the optical element response signals; and

providing a virtual image of the pattern to be marked.