System and method for optimizing character marking performance

• US 20050177330A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• 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:
  US11/040,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/85
• 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

An optimization system is disclosed for optimizing the performance of a laser processing system that employs a limited rotation motor. The optimization system includes an input unit for receiving input parameters including stroke speed, stroke delay, jump speed and jump delay, and includes an evaluation unit for identifying one of an optimal stroke speed or stroke quality for achieving a desired processing performance.

Claims

1. An optimization system for optimizing the performance of a laser processing system that employs a limited rotation motor, said optimization system comprising:

input means for receiving input parameters including stroke speed, stroke delay, jump speed and jump delay; and

evaluation means for identifying one of an optimal stroke speed or stroke quality for achieving a desired processing performance.

2. The optimizing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation means identifies an optimal marking speed for achieving a desired marking quality.

3. The optimizing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation means identifies an optimal marking quality for achieving a desired marking speed.

4. The optimization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optimization means further includes tuning means for changing at least one of the stroke speed, stroke delay, jump speed and jump delay responsive to the evaluation means.

5. The optimization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation means includes means for determining an average marking error.

6. The optimization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said evaluation means includes means for determining a maximum marking error.

7. The optimization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system includes actual marking means for providing actual marking data to be evaluated by the evaluation means.

8. The optimization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system includes virtual marking means for providing virtual marking data to be evaluated by the evaluation means.

9. An optimization system for optimizing the performance of a laser marking system that employs a limited rotation motor, said optimization system comprising:

parameter input means for receiving input parameters including marking speed, marking delay, jump speed and jump delay;

pattern input means for receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked; and

evaluation means for identifying one of an optimal marking speed or marking quality for achieving a desired marking performance by comparing the pattern to be marked with a marked pattern data that is representative of a marked pattern to be produced by the laser marking system responsive to the pattern to be marked.

10. The optimizing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said evaluation means identifies an optimal marking speed for achieving a desired marking quality.

11. The optimizing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said evaluation means identifies an optimal marking quality for achieving a desired marking speed.

12. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said optimization means further includes tuning means for changing at least one of the marking speed, marking delay, jump speed and jump delay responsive to the evaluation means.

13. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said evaluation means includes means for determining an average marking error.

14. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said evaluation means includes means for determining a maximum marking error.

15. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said system includes actual marking means for providing actual marking data to be evaluated by the evaluation means.

16. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said system includes virtual marking means for providing virtual marking data to be evaluated by the evaluation means.

17. The optimization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said evaluation means includes error vector generation means for generating error vectors that are representative of differences between data representative of the pattern to be marked and the marked pattern data.

18. A method of tuning a laser marking system that includes a limited rotation motor, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving input parameters including marking speed, marking delay, jump speed and jump delay;

receiving data representative of a pattern to be marked and

identifying one of an optimal marking speed or marking quality for achieving a desired marking performance by comparing the pattern to be marked with a marked pattern that is produced by the laser marking system responsive to the pattern to be marked.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of identifying one of an optimal marking speed or marking quality for achieving a desired marking performance involves identifying an optimal marking speed for achieving a desired marking quality.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of identifying one of an optimal marking speed or marking quality for achieving a desired marking performance involves identifying an optimal marking quality for achieving a desired marking speed.