Multiple Station Scan Displacement Invariant Laser Ablation Apparatus
First Claim
1. A multi-station laser ablation apparatus for simultaneously micro-machining a plurality of target objects, wherein the system comprises:
- a laser device for selectively generating a plurality of input laser beam pulses along a central axis;
a laser scanning mechanism including a rotating member disposed to rotate around the central axis, and an optical system that is fixedly mounted on the rotating member and arranged such that the plurality of input laser beam pulses are redirected from the central axis to a circular scan path defined around the central axis, whereby output laser beam pulses are selectively produced on the circular scan path, anda plurality of stations circumferentially disposed around the central axis, each station including means for moving a corresponding one of the plurality of target objects in a corresponding radial direction relative to the central axis such that said corresponding target object intersects a corresponding portion of the circular scan path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laser scanning mechanism and multiple processing stations are circumferentially disposed around a central axis. The laser scanning mechanism includes a rotating member driven by a motor to rotate around the central axis, and an optical system fixedly mounted on the rotating member and arranged to redirect input laser beam pulses from the central axis along a circular scan path. Each station including a mechanism for moving a corresponding target object radially across the circular scan path. The laser beam pulses output from the scanning mechanism can be used to process (e.g., ablate material from) multiple target objects simultaneously. The laser scanning mechanism redirects the input laser beam pulses such that the laser beams remain on-axis and in focus as they are scanned along the circular (curved) scan path. A system for producing photovoltaic devices utilizes the laser ablation apparatus and a direct-write metallization apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-station laser ablation apparatus for simultaneously micro-machining a plurality of target objects, wherein the system comprises:
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a laser device for selectively generating a plurality of input laser beam pulses along a central axis; a laser scanning mechanism including a rotating member disposed to rotate around the central axis, and an optical system that is fixedly mounted on the rotating member and arranged such that the plurality of input laser beam pulses are redirected from the central axis to a circular scan path defined around the central axis, whereby output laser beam pulses are selectively produced on the circular scan path, and a plurality of stations circumferentially disposed around the central axis, each station including means for moving a corresponding one of the plurality of target objects in a corresponding radial direction relative to the central axis such that said corresponding target object intersects a corresponding portion of the circular scan path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for producing a plurality of photovoltaic devices, each photovoltaic device including a semiconductor substrate having a passivation layer disposed on a surface thereof, wherein the system comprises:
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a laser device for selectively generating a plurality of input laser beam pulses along a central axis; a laser scanning mechanism including a rotating member disposed to rotate around the central axis, and an optical system that is fixedly mounted on the rotating member and arranged such that the plurality of input laser beam pulses are redirected from the central axis to a circular scan path defined around the central axis, whereby output laser beam pulses are selectively produced on the circular scan path, and a plurality of stations circumferentially disposed around the central axis, each station including means for moving a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic devices in a corresponding radial direction relative to the central axis such that said corresponding photovoltaic device intersects a corresponding portion of the circular scan path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification