Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for monitoring thermal processing of a workpiece in accordance with a measured capacitance frequency distribution

US5694046A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1995
Grant dateDec 2, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23K26/125
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring thermal processing of a workpiece using a sensor electrode which can be positioned relative to the workpiece and to which an alternating electric signal is applied in order to determine a measured capacitance (C.sub.meas) present between the sensor electrode and workpiece by evaluating a change in the alternating signal as a consequence of the measured capacitance (C.sub.meas). A measured capacitance frequency distribution is formed from a number of determined measured capacitances (C.sub.meas). The measured distribution is compared with a reference distribution. If a deviation is present between the two distributions, process parameters can be appropriately readjusted. It is preferable to use a laser beam for processing the workpiece.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.