METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a head adapted to provide energy waves to an interaction region, the energy waves removing material from the structure, the head comprising a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region, the containment plenum comprising an interface portion 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; and
an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the head.
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Accused Products
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
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing a surface of an inhabitable structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a head adapted to provide energy waves to an interaction region, the energy waves removing material from the structure, the head comprising a containment plenum which confines and removes material from the interaction region, the containment plenum comprising an interface portion 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; and an anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to the head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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 providing energy waves 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 an interface portion which substantially surrounds the interaction region; and means for anchoring said apparatus, said anchoring means being releasably coupled to the structure and releasably coupled to said means for providing the energy waves. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. 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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releasably coupling an anchoring mechanism to the structure and to a head; providing energy waves from the head to the surface, the energy waves interacting with the structure in an interaction region to remove material from the structure; and confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification