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Apparatuses and methods for accurate structure marking and marking-assisted structure locating

  • US 9,789,462 B2
  • Filed: 06/25/2013
  • Issued: 10/17/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A laser-marking system comprising:

  • a laser source configured to emit a laser beam having one or more controllable parameters;

    a steering assembly configured to steer the laser beam onto a structure to be worked, wherein the steering assembly comprises;

    a galvanometer coupled to a mirror configured to reflect the laser beam, the galvanometer and mirror being controllably rotatable to steer the laser beam in a particular direction; and

    a transmissive optical rotary encoder coupled to a computer system and the galvanometer, and configured to measure an angular position of the galvanometer; and

    the computer system coupled to the laser source and steering assembly, and configured to;

    direct operation of the steering assembly to steer the laser beam onto a known location on the structure, the known location having a known relationship with a working location for at least one tool to work the structure, the computer system being configured to determine an initial, linear location of the laser beam on the structure based on the measured angular position, and steer the laser beam to the known location based on the determined initial, linear location; and

    direct operation of the laser source to emit the laser beam and control the one or more controllable parameters to cause the laser beam to apply a permanent marking to the structure at the known location, the permanent marking operably configured for use in positioning the at least one tool to work the structure at the working location.

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