Method and apparatus for material processing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a laser base unit which irradiates an interaction region of the surface with laser light, the laser light removing material from the structure, the laser base unit comprising a laser generator and a laser head coupled to the laser generator, the laser head comprising a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region, the containment plenum comprising a rubber seal which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby facilitating confinement and removal of material from the interaction region and providing reduced disruption to activities within the structure;
an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the laser head; and
a controller electrically coupled to the laser base unit, the controller transmitting control signals to the laser base unit in response to user input.
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Abstract
An apparatus processes a surface of an inhabitable structure. The apparatus includes a laser base unit which irradiates an interaction region with laser light, the laser light removing material from the structure. The laser base unit includes a laser generator and a laser head coupled to the laser generator. The laser head includes a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region. The containment plenum includes a rubber seal which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby facilitating confinement and removal of material from the interaction region, and providing reduced disruption to activities within the structure. The apparatus further includes an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the laser head. The apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the laser base unit. The controller transmits control signals to the laser base unit in response to user input.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a laser base unit which irradiates an interaction region of the surface with laser light, the laser light removing material from the structure, the laser base unit comprising a laser generator and a laser head coupled to the laser generator, the laser head comprising a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region, the containment plenum comprising a rubber seal which contacts the structure and which substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby facilitating confinement and removal of material from the interaction region and providing reduced disruption to activities within the structure;
an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the laser head; and
a controller electrically coupled to the laser base unit, the controller transmitting control signals to the laser base unit in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure with reduced disruption to activities within the structure, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating laser light;
means for providing the laser light to an interaction region of the structure to remove material from the structure;
means for confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region, said confining means comprising a rubber seal which substantially surrounds the interaction region; and
means for controlling the laser light in response to user input.
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19. A method of processing a surface of an inhabitable structure with reduced disruption to activities within the structure, the method comprising:
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remotely generating laser light;
providing the laser light to the surface, the laser light interacting with the structure in an interaction region to remove material from the structure;
confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region, the material confined by a rubber seal which substantially surrounds the interaction region; and
controlling the laser light in response to user input.
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Specification