1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to precision, high-speed, laser-based processing of target material. Another application is laser-based micro-machining. One such application is laser-based repair of a redundant semiconductor memory.
2. Background Art
Integrated circuit memory repair systems use a laser to open links on integrated circuit memory die in order to select only properly functioning memory cells. When manufactured, memory die typically have some number of defective memory cells. To make memory die with defective memory cells usable, memory die are typically manufactured containing extra memory cells that can be used in place of defective cells. The memory cells on a memory die are typically arranged in a matrix of rows and columns of memory cells. Extra memory cells are included on the memory die by increasing the number of rows and columns of the memory matrix by including excess rows and columns of memory cells. Defective memory cells in the memory matrix are avoided (not used) by modifying memory matrix addressing to select only defect free matrix rows and columns. Links are used to modify memory matrix addressing. A laser is used to open (blast) the desired links. The system, used for modifying memory addressing, containing the laser is a “memory repair system.”
Memory die are processed to select only defect free memory cells before the wafer is diced. Typically memory wafers are 200 mm or 300 mm in diameter.
The links on memory die are typically arranged in groups of links where each group consists of a row or column of links. Within each row or column the links are spaced at equal increments, the links look like the rungs on a ladder. Link size and spacing vary significantly dependent on the manufacturer and the memory design. Link dimensions for a typical memory design may be 0.4 μm wide, 4 μm long with 3 μm space between links.
The memory repair system is given a map of link locations on the memory die and a file listing which links on each die on the wafer should be opened (blasted). Not all links on a die are blasted and the links blasted on each die are typically different. The memory repair system opens the links using a laser. A laser beam is focused onto the link to be opened and the laser is pulsed. A single laser pulse is used to open a link.
The wafer is held on a precision XY stage when laser pulses blast links on the wafer. The XY stage positions the links to be blasted at the XY (horizontal plane) location of the focused laser beam. Laser focus is maintained on the plane of the wafer during link blasting by adjusting laser focus position in the Z (vertical axis); the focused laser beam is moved only in the vertical (Z) direction during link blasting.
Each link is blasted with at single laser pulse. When blasting a group of links the laser is fired (pulsed) at approximately a constant repetition rate. Firing the laser at a constant repetition rate helps maintain a precise and constant amount of energy in each laser pulse thereby providing consistent laser energies to each link blasted.
Typically, all links in a link group are equally spaced and the laser is pulsed at a substantially constant repetition rate while blasting links. Therefore, the stage is moved at a constant velocity during link blasting in order to position each successive link of a link group at the location of the focused laser beam at the time of the next laser pulse. For example, if the laser repetition rate is 50 KHz and links are spaced 3 μm apart, then the maximum stage velocity used is (3 μm) (50 KHz)=150 mm/s. A slower velocity could also be used where the slower velocity equals the maximum stage velocity divided by an integer. Therefore, for the above example, velocities of 75 mm/s, 50 mm/s 37.5 mm/s etc. could also be used. The constant velocity move used during link blasting is referred to as a CV move.
During link blasting, small timing corrections (phase corrections) are made in laser firing time to correct for small stage positioning errors.
During blasting, the laser is fired at a substantially constant repetition rate such that each laser pulse corresponds to a single link in a group of links. Not all links in a group are typically blasted, therefore not all fired laser pulses are used to blast links. A pulse selector, typically an acoustic optic modulator (AOM), is used to route fired pulses either through the focusing lens to the link if the link is to be blasted or to a beam dump if the link is not to be blasted. The acoustic optic modulator is typically also used to reduce the laser pulse energy to the desired energy for blasting a link.
After blasting a group of links at a constant velocity the stage is moved to the next link group to be blasted. The stage move trajectory for moves between link groups is computed to position the stage at the beginning of the next group with the appropriate velocity for blasting the next group. These non-constant velocity moves between link groups are referred to as PVT (position velocity time) moves. The end point requirements for the move are a position, a velocity, at a specified time. The specified time is required in order to coordinate the stage X direction move with the stage Y direction move so that at the end of the move both axis meet the end point requirements at the same time.
Note, as explained above, there are two basic types of stage moves: 1) constant velocity moves, CV moves; and 2) non-constant velocity moves, PVT moves.
As shown in
In previous systems, laser pulses used for blasting links in memory repair systems are generated to be synchronous to the motions of the substrate. A trigger signal originating in the memory system controller and terminating at the laser is used by the laser to signal the time to either change the state of a Q switch or to pulse a seed laser to generate a laser pulse; laser pulses are generated (physically produced) on demand. Typical laser repetition rates used for memory repair are in the 30 KHz to 100 KHz range.
The capacity of redundant semiconductor memory devices is increasing, and corresponding link dimensions and pitch (center to center spacing of links) are generally shrinking. It is desirable to increase the throughput of laser-based memory repair systems, the number of links processed each second. By way of example, a motion stage may transport a substrate supporting thousands of target links at a speed of about 150 mm/sec. Each target link to be removed may have a width of about 0.4 microns or finer. An adjacent non-target link, not to be processed, may be about 2 microns or less from a target link. One or more pulses are to be used to process only each target link “on the fly,” and the corresponding focused laser output is to impinge each target link within a region centered on the link, the region having a dimension only slightly larger than a diffraction limited output corresponding to a single output pulse. For example, in
Many pulsed laser sources used for link blowing may be triggered by a control signal when a processing pulse is needed (see
Certain pulsed laser sources, for instance mode-locked lasers or passively q-switched micro-lasers, are difficult or impractical to directly control with a trigger or synchronization signal. Various pulse characteristics of such lasers are useful for link blowing and other micromachining applications. It is desirable to utilize the output of such a source without being limited by an excessive tradeoff between precision and throughput.
Consequently, there is a need for a laser processing method and system that more effectively utilizes the source output as a result of improved synchronization between the pulsed laser source and other system components. As such, such a method and system should provide for increased micromachining precision and faster processing speeds.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and system for high-speed, laser-based, precision material processing to at least partially satisfy some of the above-noted needs and solve at least some of the above-noted problems.
In carrying out the above object and other objects of the present invention, a laser-based material processing method includes providing a pulsed laser source for generating a set of laser pulses, and controllably selecting a subset of pulses from the set of laser pulses at a position beyond the laser source to obtain a pulsed laser output. The laser-based material processing method further includes synchronizing the pulsed laser output with relative movement of target material, and selectively delivering at least a portion of the synchronized pulsed laser output to the target material as a laser material processing output to process the target material.
The step of controllably selecting may include the step of receiving a control signal.
The step of synchronizing may include the step of setting phase of the pulsed laser output in response to at least the control signal to synchronize the relative movement of the target material with the pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
The step of controllably selecting may include the step of receiving a time-based input related to a pulse of the set.
The step of setting may include the step of producing, in response to both the control signal and the time-based input, a pulse selection signal to at least initiate selection of the subset of pulses.
Temporal position of the pulse in the set may be independent of the relative movement.
The set of laser pulses may be a high repetition rate laser pulse train. During the step of controllably selecting, pulses may be selected from the high repetition rate laser pulse train to produce laser output pulses having a reduced repetition rate and a desired phase.
The step of selectively delivering may include the step of selecting a portion of the laser output pulses to produce the processing output.
The step of setting may produce a subset of substantially periodic pulses that are phase-shifted relative to at least some output pulses that precede the control signal.
The step of setting may introduce a constant delay between phase-shifted pulses, to within an approximate phase jitter.
The step of setting may further include the step of substantially minimizing a delay between a pulse that immediately precedes the control signal and a first phase-shifted pulse of a subset of output pulses that immediately follows the control signal.
The target material may be a target structure, and the processing may include removing the structure with a group of pulses of the processing output.
The step of setting may cause the processing output to impinge a region which is centered within 10% of a center of the target structure during motion of the pulsed laser output relative to the target structure, whereby an improvement in at least one of laser processing throughput and precision results relative to a non-phase shifted laser material processing output.
The method may further include amplifying a portion of the set of laser pulses to produce a series of amplified laser output pulses.
The method may further include selecting at least a portion of the amplified laser output pulses to produce laser material processing pulses and directing the selected laser material processing pulses to the target material.
Further in carrying out the above object and other objects of the present invention, a laser-based material processing system includes a pulsed laser source for generating a set of laser pulses, and a laser output control that controllably selects a subset of pulses from the set of laser pulses at a position beyond the laser source to obtain a pulsed laser output. The laser-based material processing system further includes a mechanism for synchronizing the pulsed laser output with relative movement of target material. A beam delivery and focusing subsystem delivers at least a portion of the synchronized pulsed laser output to the target material as a laser material processing output to process the target material. A positioning subsystem moves the target material relative to the pulsed laser output.
The system may be a high-speed, laser-based micromachining system for modifying the target material.
The target material may be a target structure, and the processing may include at least partially removing the structure.
The laser output control may set a phase of the pulsed laser output in response to at least a control signal.
The laser output control may receive the control signal and a time-based input related to a pulse of the set and, in response to the control signal and the time-based input, may at least initiate selection of the subset of the set.
The system may further include a detector which detects pulses generated by the laser source to obtain the time-based input.
The system may further include an optical amplifier for amplifying pulses selected by the laser output control, and an output modulator for selectively directing amplified pulses to the beam delivery and focusing subsystem.
The system may further include a wavelength shifter that receives the amplified pulses, the amplified pulses having a first wavelength, and shifts the first wavelength to a shorter wavelength.
The first wavelength may be about 1.064 microns and the shorter wavelength may be about 0.532 microns.
The laser source may generate a substantially periodic pulse train having a MHz repetition rate, and the control may select a subset of the pulse train to obtain a reduced repetition rate.
The reduced repetition rate may be substantially less than the repetition rate of the pulse train.
The reduced repetition rate may be in a typical range of 20 KHz up to a predetermined rate that is sufficiently high to avoid substantially limiting throughput of the material processing system.
The reduced repetition rate may be in a typical range of about 20 KHz to 500 KHz.
The control may select groups of pulses of up to about 200 pulses per group, each group being selected so that groups of output pulses occur at a repetition rate substantially less than the repetition rate of the pulse train.
Spacing between pulses within a group may correspond to the repetition rate of the pulse train.
The system may further include an optical amplifier to amplify each selected group of pulses.
The system may further include an output modulator to selectively direct at least one group of amplified pulses to the beam delivery and focusing subsystem.
The pulsed laser source may be a mode-locked solid state laser.
The pulsed laser source may be a mode-locked laser that generates pulses at a repetition rate of about 10 MHz-200 MHz.
Movement of the target material relative to a laser material processing output may be about 8 mm/s to about 200 mm/s.
The control may include an electro-optic or acousto-optic device.
The output modulator may select a portion of the amplified pulses to be directed to the beam delivery and focusing subsystem.
One aspect of the invention features a method of laser processing a target material. The method includes synchronizing relative movement of the target material and a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
Another aspect of the invention features a laser processing system for processing target material.
Another aspect of the invention features a method of laser-processing target material. The method includes receiving a trigger or control signal; setting the phase of laser output pulses based on the trigger signal to synchronize relative movement of a target structure with a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material; and selectively delivering at least one output pulse to the target material to process the target material.
Another aspect of the invention features a laser processing system that includes a sub-system for synchronizing relative movement of target material and a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
a and 2b are a schematic block diagram and associated timing diagrams, respectively, showing some elements for controlling laser output in a prior laser material processing system;
a and 3b are a schematic block diagram and associated timing diagrams, respectively, showing some elements for controlling laser output in an embodiment of the present invention;
a and 4b are a schematic block diagram and associated timing diagrams, respectively, showing several elements of a laser processing system corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
a-5c show timing diagrams that exemplifies pulse generation and control of the pulsed laser system of
a is a schematic block diagram showing several elements of a laser processing system corresponding to another embodiment of the present invention; and
b shows timing diagrams that exemplifies pulse generation and control of the pulsed laser system of
Laser-Based Memory Repair Methods/Systems
The following representative patents and published applications generally relate to methods and systems for laser-based micro-machining, and, more specifically, memory repair. These patents and publications are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,059, entitled “Laser Processing” (hereafter the '059 patent).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,288, entitled “High-Speed Precision Positioning Apparatus” (hereafter the '288 patent).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,458, entitled “Energy-Efficient, Laser-Based Method And System For Processing Target Material” (hereafter the '458 patent).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,473 entitled “Method And System For Precisely Positioning A Waist Of A Material-Processing Laser Beam To Process Microstructures Within A Laser-Processing Site” (hereafter the '473 patent).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,259 entitled “Controlling Laser Polarization” (hereafter the '259 patent).
Published U.S. Patent Application 2002/0167581, entitled “Methods And Systems For Thermal-Based Laser Processing A Multi-Material Device” (hereafter the '581 application).
Published U.S. Patent Application 2004/0134896, entitled “Laser-Based Method And System For Memory Link Processing With Picosecond Lasers” (hereafter the '896 application).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,412 entitled “Laser Processing” (hereafter the '412 patent).
At least the following cited portions of the above patent documents are particularly pertinent to understand the various features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention:
Exemplary embodiments related to high speed motion control and positioning, including beam waist positioning in three dimensions, are found in the drawings and text of at least the '288 and '473 patents. Both the '288 and '473 patents generally describe exemplary motion segments used in link blowing systems provided by the assignee of the present invention. Precision X,Y,Z positioning systems suitable for link processing and other laser-based micromachining applications are described in the '288 and '473 patents. For example, FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 and the corresponding text of the '473 patent disclose a beam delivery and focusing system used in various link blowing systems produced by the assignee of the present invention.
The '059 patent generally relates to laser processing of links. FIG. 5 and the associated text describe a system that includes an acousto-optic modulator for pulse selection and energy control.
Additional related information can be found at least in the '059 patent, the '458 patent, the '581 published application, and the '896 published application.
Overview
The present disclosure makes reference to “picking” or “selection” of a single pulse, a group of pulses or, more generally, to “picking” or “selection” of consecutive or non-consecutive pulses from a series or set of pulses. Unless stated otherwise, “picking” and “selection” are to be regarded non-limiting and synonymous. For example, in the following description and accompanying drawings “pulse picking” or “pulse selection” may be carried out with an optical switch placed before an amplifier, or with optical switches both before and after an amplifier. In certain embodiments, a single optical switch may be used for picking/selection after an amplifier, provided certain conditions disclosed herein for proper operation are satisfied.
The present disclosure also refers to “synchronizing relative movement” and corresponding “control,” “synchronization” or “trigger” signals. Unless otherwise stated, the relative movement may be associated with, and corresponding signals derived from, at least one of acceleration, velocity, and position information.
The present disclosure also makes reference to a “burst” of pulses. The term is intended to be descriptive rather than limiting, and with reference to a relative rather than absolute time scale. As will become apparent from the disclosure, a burst is generally regarded as a group of closely spaced, short pulses that appear in rapid succession if displayed at a certain time scale. The width of a pulse within the group, the temporal spacing between two pulses within the group, or the duration of the group are generally substantially less than a time period corresponding to an inactive period.
Unless otherwise stated, the terms “repetition rate” and “repetition frequency” are to be regarded as synonymous, and refer to the number of single pulses, or groups of pulses, occurring within a time interval.
”Target material” is intended to be descriptive rather than limiting, and generally refers to a material (or combination of materials) that is to be impinged or intentionally affected with a laser processing beam. The target material may be a portion of a substrate, a workpiece, a structure supported by and transported with the substrate, a portion of a semiconductor device, and the like.
One aspect of the invention features a method of laser processing a target material. The method includes synchronizing relative movement of the target material with a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
At least one embodiment of the invention includes a method of laser-processing a target material. The method includes: generating a series or set of laser pulses; providing a control signal; selecting at least one pulse or subset of pulses from the set to produce a pulsed laser output based on the control signal; and selectively delivering at least a portion of the pulsed laser output to the target material as a laser material processing output to process the target material.
Another aspect of the invention includes providing a laser processing system that, when operated, carries out the above method.
The method may also include setting the phase of a laser processing output based on at least the control signal to synchronize relative movement of a target material and a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
Setting the phase may include accepting the control signal and a time-based input related to a pulse in the first series; and producing, in response to both the signal and input, a pulse selection signal to at least initiate selection of at least one pulse of the first series.
The temporal position of a pulse in the first series of pulses may be independent of the relative movement.
In at least one embodiment the series may be a high repetition rate laser pulse train, and the method may include selecting pulses from the high repetition rate laser pulse train to produce laser output pulses having a reduced repetition rate, and having desired phase.
In at least one embodiment the step of selectively delivering includes the step of selecting a portion of the laser output pulses to produce a laser material processing output.
Setting the phase of laser output pulses based on the trigger signal may produce a series of substantially periodic pulses that are phase shifted relative to at least some output pulses that precede the trigger signal.
Setting the phase may introduce a constant delay between phase shifted pulses, to within an approximate phase jitter.
Setting the phase may include substantially minimizing a delay between a pulse that immediately precedes the trigger signal and a first phase-shifted pulse of a series of output pulses that immediately follows the trigger signal.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the target material may be a target structure and processing may include removing the structure with a group of pulses as a laser-processing output. Setting the phase may cause the laser-processing output to impinge a region which is centered within 10% of the center of the target structure during motion of the laser output relative to the target structure, whereby an improvement in at least one of laser processing throughput and precision results relative to a non-phase shifted laser material processing output.
At least one embodiment of the present invention method may include amplifying at least a portion of output pulses to produce a series of amplified laser output pulses.
An embodiment may also include selecting at least a portion of the amplified pulses to produce laser material processing pulses; and directing the selected processing pulses to the target material.
One aspect of the invention includes a high-speed, laser-based micro-machining system for modifying target material.
Another aspect of the invention features a laser processing system for processing a target structure.
Another aspect of the invention features a system for laser processing a target material. The system includes a mechanism for synchronizing relative movement of the target material with a pulsed laser output that is used to process the target material.
Another aspect of the invention features a laser processing system that is used to process the target material. The system includes at least one controller that coordinates relative movement of the target material with a pulsed laser output.
In at least one embodiment a controller sets the phase of a series of laser output pulses based on the trigger signal.
At least one system of the present invention may include: a pulsed laser source; at least one modulator that selects pulses from the laser source, a controller operatively coupled to a modulator for synchronizing relative movement of target material and a pulsed laser output based on a trigger signal; a beam delivery and focusing system for directing the pulsed laser output to the target material; and a positioning sub-system for positioning the target material relative to the pulsed laser output.
In at least one embodiment, a controller is a laser output controller that accepts a trigger signal and a time-based input related to a pulse of the laser source and, in response to the signal and input, at least initiates selection of at least one pulse emitted from the source.
The time-based input may be a signal obtained at output of a detector that detects pulses emitted by the source.
The system may further include an optical amplifier for amplifying pulses selected by the modulator, and an output modulator for selectively directing amplified pulses to a beam delivery and focusing system.
The system may further include a wavelength shifter, for instance a frequency doubler, that accepts the amplified pulses, the amplified pulses having a first wavelength, and shifts the wavelength to a frequency doubled shorter wavelength.
The first wavelength may be about 1.064 microns and the shorter wavelength about 0.532 microns.
The pulsed laser source may emit a series of pulses, for instance a substantially periodic pulse train having a MHz rate, and the at least one modulator may select at least one pulse of the pulse train so that output pulses occur at a reduced repetition rate.
The reduced repetition rate may be substantially less than the rate of the pulse train.
The reduced rate may be in a typical range of 20 KHz up to a predetermined rate that is sufficiently high to avoid substantially limiting the throughput of the material processing system.
The reduced rate may be in a typical range of about 20 KHz to 200 KHz.
The at least one selected pulse may be a group of up to about 20 pulses, each group being selected so that groups of output pulses occur a rate substantially less than the rate of the pulse train.
The spacing between pulses within the group may correspond to the rate of the pulse train.
An optical amplifier may amplify each group of selected pulses.
An output modulator may be included to selectively direct at least one group of amplified pulses to a beam delivery and focusing system.
The pulsed laser source may be a mode-locked solid state laser.
The laser source may be a mode-locked laser that emits pulses at a rate of about 20 MHz-100 MHz.
The motion of the target material relative to a laser processing output may be about 8 mm/s to about 200 mm/s.
The modulator may be an electro-optic or acousto-optic device.
An output modulator may select a portion of the amplified pulses.
In various embodiments of the present invention, and in contrast to previous methods, laser pulses emitted at the output of a laser source are not directly generated in response to a control signal.
a is a simplified schematic diagram that shows some elements for laser control in a system corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention. In at least one embodiment of the invention a free running laser source 11 provides laser pulses 105 for removing links in memory repair systems. The laser 11 continuously generates pulses 105 at a constant repetition rate, and with fixed phase. For example, a mode locked laser 11 generates pulses at a fixed pulse repetition rate with a fixed phase. Typically the pulse repetition rate is greater than 20 MHz, typically at least a factor of ten greater than a present link processing requirements.
As will become apparent from the present disclosure, a laser system of the present invention may include a mode locked laser followed by an optical amplifier.
Furthermore, suitable combinations of optical, electronic, and electro-optic components are provided in a subsystem 10 to satisfy specific laser material processing application requirements. Some elements may be operated by a system controller 50, under computer control. The components may include, but are not necessarily identical to, elements of subsystem 10′ of
Synchronization of laser pulses to the motion of the target material, or a substrate or other surface that supports the material, is accomplished by selecting pulses from the free-running, mode locked laser pulse train (i.e., 105 in
Selecting pulses from a free running pulse train 105 results in increased uncertainty in the actual time that the pulse will be delivered to the target material, effectively increased pulse time jitter. This increase in pulse time jitter translates into a small increase in positional error when removing a link if the stage 27 is moving at a constant velocity during processing. The corresponding increased pulse time jitter is approximately equal to the time between laser pulses of the free-running laser 11. For example, if a substrate supporting the target material 17 and a supporting positioning stage 27 are moving at 150 mm/s and the laser free running repetition rate is 50 MHz, then the time between laser pulses is 1/(50 MHz)=20 ns. The substrate/stage motion during 20 ns when moving at 150 mm/s is (20 ns)*(150 mm/s)=3 nm. If a link is 0.4 μm wide then 3 nm corresponds to ((3 nm)/(0.4 μm))*(100)=0.75% of the width of the link, an acceptable motion during linkprocessing.
Reference is made to the '473 and '288 patents for further description of motion segments and profiles, including constant velocity segments commonly used during laser processing of links, herein sometimes referred to as link “blasting. ” For example, FIGS. 10a-10b of the '473 patent and the corresponding text in columns 13-14 thereof relate to profiles and relative motion.
The small increase in blast position error caused by the increase in pulse time uncertainty (increased jitter) can be effectively eliminated by synchronizing the stage/substrate motions to the laser repetition rate. This is achieved by adding an additional constraint on stage move profile generation. This additional constraint requires that the first blast position of a blast segment occurs at such a time that the appropriate time/phase relationship exists with the laser to result in minimal laser pulse time uncertainty. Using this method of synchronization allows for synchronizing a free-running laser or laser amplifier system of any repetition rate to the motions of the substrate/stage with minimal pulse time uncertainty and therefore minimal position uncertainty.
a shows elements of a laser system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in further detail. In the case where the laser system also includes one or more amplifiers 111, pulses may be selected either before or after the optical amplifier 111. Selecting pulses before the optical amplifier 111 may be beneficial. Selecting pulses before the optical amplifier 111, referred to as “down counting” in the '896 application, may reduce the average power after the amplifier 111 thereby resulting in a smaller amplifier.
When pulses are selected before the optical amplifier 111 there may be additional special requirements on pulse selection in order to maintain optimal operation of the amplifier 111 and to generate pulses with desired pulse energies. When selecting pulses before the optical amplifier 111, it may be desirable to select pulses at a constant repetition rate and modify the phase of the selected pulses to synchronize the pulses to the motion of the substrate/stage. Selecting pulses at a constant repetition rate before the optical amplifier 111 prevents the optical amplifier 111 from storing energy and then producing unacceptably high-energy pulses for the first pulses of a new pulse train. If pulses are selected at a constant repetition rate and the phase of the selected pulses is modified to synchronize the pulses to the motion of the substrate/stage then an additional laser pulse selector, typically an acoustic optic modulator (AOM) 116 or other suitable optical switch, may be required. The switch 116 is placed after the optical amplifier 111 to select pulses of the continuous, reduced repetition rate output pulse train 115 exiting the optical amplifier 111. This second or output pulse selector 116 is typically also used to reduce the laser processing output pulse energy, the energy that is to impinge the link, to a desired value for blasting a link, or for other material processing operations.
In embodiments where pulse selection is done after an optical amplifier or where an optical amplifier is not used, then the laser pulse selector 104 can be the only pulse selector required in the system. A second pulse selector, typically an acoustic optic modulator (AOM) 116, is not required. However, the acoustic optic modulator (AOM) 116 may be of general use to reduce or otherwise regulate the pulse energy to the desired value for blasting a link, and the arrangement may still be required, or at least desirable, for obtaining improved precision.
In various embodiments, a “burst,” exemplified by closely spaced pulses 110a (i.e.,
“Pulse Picking”—Laser Pulse Train with Amplification
Referring to
An optical switch will generally require “pre-optics” and “post-optics” (not shown) that transform collimated input beams to specified focused beams, with the reverse operation on the switch output. These well known elements are generally used throughout the industry.
Selected pulses for processing are transmitted to a beam delivery and focusing subsystem as a pulsed laser output for processing at least one target link (or other target material). The beam delivery and focusing (optical) system (details not shown in
By way of example, a group, sometimes referred to as “burst,” of 3 pulses 110a are shown in
The output pulses 110a in this example have a temporal spacing corresponding to consecutive pulses of pulse train 105 (50 KHz= 1/20 usec). For instance, a spacing of 40 ns corresponds to a 25 MHz rate. The number of pulses in a group 110a is generally dependent upon at least the spot size and energy per pulse, as well as other material properties. Increasing the delay between pulses can be of benefit in some material processing applications. Accordingly, the pulse picker 104 may then be operated to select non-consecutive pulses. Similarly, a suitable modulator 116 may be operated to select non-consecutive pulses.
Further, the example associates a single group 110a with a single link; the three groups corresponding to three consecutive links in a row. In certain material processing applications, for instance microstructuring or drilling, the groups may generally be associated with target material. By way of example, the three groups, or other predetermined number of groups, may be used to process target material or a region thereof.
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, servo tracking errors associated with the motion control system are compensated by setting the phase of a sequence of pulses 110 or 115 based on at least the trigger signal 101. The phase of subsequent pulses at the output of the pulse picker 104 is effectively shifted and thereby synchronized with the trigger signal 101. The phase adjustment provides capability for accepting a trigger signal for each pulse (or group of pulses) used to process a target link.
The following paragraphs further illustrate preferred, non-limiting, principles of operation of the pulsed laser material processing system of
Phase Jitter Compensation, Synchronization, and Triggering
By way of example, an average repetition rate of output pulses, whether a single pulse 110b (i.e.,
The process of producing the output at a decreased repetition rate is sometimes also referred to as “down counting” in the '896 application.
In practice, the actual timing of each pulse 110b or group 110a is slightly modified in time to synchronize the output to other components of the laser processing system. This modification in time results in phase jitter. The maximum amount of this phase jitter from one pulse 110b to the next pulse is typically less than 5%. Therefore, by way of example, the output repetition rate is specified to be 9.5 KHz to 31.5 KHz for nominal 10-30 KHz operation, or about 19 KHz to 52.5 KHz for nominal 20-50 KHz operation, or 19 KHz to 210 KHz for nominal 20-200 KHz operation.
As previously pointed out and shown in
In some embodiments, a wavelength shifter 117, for instance a frequency doubler or tripler, may be used to produce a green or UV processing output. At least the '412 patent and the '896 application describe short wavelength processing and associated benefits in more detail.
Though “first pulse suppression” is a commonly practiced technique with pulsed lasers, it is noted herein that the first few triggered laser pulses are typically not used to process the targets. These first few pulses are intended to allow at least one of the laser 102 and the amplifier 111 to stabilize. Generally, a “free-running” mode locked pulse train, in normal operation, will not require added time for stabilizing. The number of unused pulses depends on when the laser 102 was last triggered and the system configuration.
In at least one embodiment, the amplifier 111 amplifies a selected output of the mode locked laser 102, a relatively small number of the available pulses 130,105. As pointed out above, the amplifier 111 may require a continuous pulse stream to remain in stable operation. As shown in
This method of pulse picking corresponding to
Various embodiments relate to synchronizing laser processing output pulses with other system components. Suitable modifications or adjustments, for instance, adding constraints to motion profiles such that a first laser processing position in a constant velocity motion segment occurs at an appropriate time and in phase with a laser output as previously described.
The phase is set using the trigger control signal 101. Before the trigger signal 101 arrives, the pulse picker 104 is selecting every nth pulse. After the trigger signal 101 arrives, the pulse picker 104 is again selecting every nth pulse but the phase of the pulses has changed. The phase can be adjusted one of two ways.
1) The phase can be adjusted by increasing the delay between two pulses at the time of the trigger signal 101 (i.e.,
2) The phase can be adjusted by decreasing the delay between two pulses at the time of the trigger signal 101 (i.e.,
The second method is most preferred; the phase should be adjusted by decreasing the delay between two pulses at the time of the trigger signal 101.
a, 5b and 5c show timing diagrams corresponding to the system of
Adjusting the phase by reducing the time between pulses is most preferred because it allows a user or designer to effectively control the timing for every laser pulse. Control of every laser pulse is done by setting the laser repetition rate to be slightly less than the repetition rate desired by the system and then sending a trigger pulse 101 for every desired laser pulse. For example, the laser repetition rate can be set to 20 KHz ( 1/20 KHz=50 μs) by setting the pulse picker 104 to select every 1250th pulse. Then, the laser trigger signal 101 can request laser pulses at a 30 KHz rate ( 1/30 KHz=33.3 . . . μs) by sending trigger signal pulses every 33.3 . . . μs. This causes the pulse picker control logic to reset with every trigger pulse 101 and for the pulse picker 104 to emit pulses at a 30 KHz rate.
“Pulse Picking”—Pulse Train Without Amplification After Pulse Picking
a illustrates synchronization in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. By way of example, a mode locked laser 202 having a repetition rate of 25 MHz (105, 130 in
Additional Embodiment—Use of Commercial Laser
Various embodiments of the invention may be carried out with commercial laser systems that are adaptable for practicing various features and combination of features described herein. A picosecond laser produced by Lumera Laser GmbH was modified to carry out operation substantially as shown in
Output Energy Control
In at least one embodiment, the output energy may be precisely controlled over a wide dynamic range. Preferably, the energy control will be operable over a wide dynamic range and be usable for both alignment and laser processing operations. The AOM 116,216 of
In a preferred arrangement, as shown in the above-noted co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/317,047, a plurality of bulk attenuators are used so that the RF equipment may be operated with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Such an arrangement is particularly useful for precise ablation of target materials with short or ultra-short pulses, notwithstanding a possible requirement for subsequent dispersion correction if femtosecond pulses are used. Applications may include picosecond link processing, picosecond or femtosecond laser marking, as well as conventional laser processing with nanosecond or longer pulses.
In accordance with the present invention, other non-conventional laser sources may also be provided for improved micromachining. A mode-locked diode laser having a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror may provide for picosecond width pulses at GHz repetition rates. High repetition rate, passively q-switched micro-lasers that produce sub-nanosecond outputs are also available.
Though specific emphasis herein is directed to “free-running” sources, it is possible to operate active sources with a controller to emulate free-running operation, perhaps for improved stability, and utilize embodiments of the present invention to controllably select pulses for laser processing.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/645,621, filed Jan. 21, 2005. This application hereby incorporates the following U.S. patents and patent applications in their entirety herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,791,059; 6,744,288; 6,727,458; 6,573,473; 6,381,259; 2002/0167581; 2004/0134896, and U.S. Ser. No. 11/317,047, filed Dec. 23, 2005, entitled “Laser-Based Material Processing Methods, Systems and Subsystem for Use Therein for Precision Energy Control. ” These patents and publications are assigned to the Assignee of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60645621 | Jan 2005 | US |