Acousto-optic deflector applications in laser processing of dielectric or other materials
First Claim
1. A method for dithering a laser beam to process features in a workpiece, the method comprising:
- imparting, using a first positioning system, first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory;
imparting, using a second positioning system, second relative movement of the laser beam spot position along a dither direction relative to the processing trajectory, wherein the second relative movement is superimposed on the first relative movement, and wherein the second relative movement is at a substantially higher velocity than that of the first relative movement;
amplitude modulating, using the second positioning system, a laser beam based on a specific feature characteristic at one or more corresponding target locations on the workpiece, wherein the specific feature characteristic comprises a selected shape of a cross-section of a portion of a trench cut in a direction of the processing trajectory along a surface of the workpiece by the laser beam; and
emitting the laser beam to the workpiece during the second relative movement to effectively widen a laser beam spot at the workpiece in the dither direction.
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Abstract
A laser processing system for micromachining a workpiece includes a laser source to generate laser pulses for processing a feature in a workpiece, a galvanometer-driven (galvo) subsystem to impart a first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory with respect to the surface of the workpiece, and an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) subsystem to effectively widen a laser beam spot along a direction perpendicular to the processing trajectory. The AOD subsystem may include a combination of AODs and electro-optic deflectors. The AOD subsystem may vary an intensity profile of laser pulses as a function of deflection position along a dither direction to selectively shape the feature in the dither direction. The shaping may be used to intersect features on the workpiece. The AOD subsystem may also provide rastering, galvo error position correction, power modulation, and/or through-the-lens viewing of and alignment to the workpiece.
63 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for dithering a laser beam to process features in a workpiece, the method comprising:
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imparting, using a first positioning system, first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory; imparting, using a second positioning system, second relative movement of the laser beam spot position along a dither direction relative to the processing trajectory, wherein the second relative movement is superimposed on the first relative movement, and wherein the second relative movement is at a substantially higher velocity than that of the first relative movement; amplitude modulating, using the second positioning system, a laser beam based on a specific feature characteristic at one or more corresponding target locations on the workpiece, wherein the specific feature characteristic comprises a selected shape of a cross-section of a portion of a trench cut in a direction of the processing trajectory along a surface of the workpiece by the laser beam; and emitting the laser beam to the workpiece during the second relative movement to effectively widen a laser beam spot at the workpiece in the dither direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A laser processing system for micromachining a workpiece, the system comprising:
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a laser source to generate a laser beam for processing a feature in a surface of the workpiece; a first positioner to impart a first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory with respect to the surface of the workpiece; and a second positioner comprising an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) subsystem to effectively widen a laser beam spot along a direction perpendicular to the processing trajectory, wherein the AOD subsystem is configured to vary an intensity profile of the laser beam as a function of deflection position along the direction perpendicular to the processing trajectory to thereby selectively shape a portion of the feature in the direction perpendicular to the processing trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for dithering a laser beam to process features in a workpiece with a series of laser pulses, the system comprising:
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means for imparting first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory; means for imparting second relative movement of the laser beam spot position along a dither direction relative to the processing trajectory, wherein the second relative movement is superimposed on the first relative movement, and wherein the second relative movement is at a substantially higher velocity than that of the first relative movement; means for amplitude modulating a laser beam based on a specific feature characteristic at one or more corresponding target locations on the workpiece, wherein the specific feature characteristic comprises a selected shape of a cross-section of a portion of a trench cut in a direction of the processing trajectory along a surface of the workpiece by the laser beam; and means for emitting the laser beam during the second relative movement to effectively widen a laser beam spot at the workpiece in the dither direction.
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Specification