Methods and apparatus for localized heating of metallic and non-metallic surfaces
US6670570B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2103/50
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of treating an object containing a material of metal, oxidized metal, non-metal, and the like and combinations thereof. The method includes (a) exposing an object to a controlled gas atmosphere, and (b) during at least a portion of time during such exposing, subjecting a specific area of the material to an energy beam, preferably a focused energy beam, more preferably a focused and filtered energy beam, having sufficient intensity to provide for the treating of the specific area. Such treating includes heating, welding, cutting, dicing, soldering, singulating, reducing, oxidizing, fusing, melting, and the like and combinations thereof. The energy beam source can be a laser selected from a group which includes YAG lasers, excimer lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers, X-ray lasers, free-electron lasers, ion lasers, gas mixture lasers, chemical lasers, and the like and combinations thereof. The method can further include contacting the material with a second material or several second materials. Such contacting can include welding, soldering, fusing, melting, joining, bonding, and the like and combinations thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.