JP2005152967A - Laser marking device for cellular phone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser marking device for a cellular phone which marks an image to the case of the cellular phone by irradiation with a laser beam, can enhance the design characteristic of the cellular phone, and can impart additional identification characteristic to the cellular phone. <P>SOLUTION: The laser marking device for the cellular phone is equipped with a laser scanning unit (22) which irradiates the case of the cellular phone (4) or a part thereof with the laser beam, a computer (21) for control which outputs a control signal to the laser scanning unit (22) on the basis of image data, and a supporting stand (3) which supports the cellular phone (4) or a part thereof in a laser irradiation region (S) of the laser scanning unit (22). Also the computer (21) for control is provided with a function to convert the image data captured therein to the image data of prescribed resolution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser marking device, and more particularly to a laser marking device for a mobile phone that stamps an image on a case of the mobile phone by irradiation with a laser beam.

In laser marking, for example, a target (work piece) made of a resin material is irradiated with laser light by a laser marking device, and the energy of the laser light absorbed by the target is converted into heat, or a photochemical reaction is caused by the laser light. This is a technique for imprinting characters and symbols on the surface of a target by decomposing, evaporating, carbonizing, changing color, or foaming the resin. The laser marking described above is used, for example, for marking characters and symbols on keys such as a keyboard of an OA device.
JP-A-52-58196 JP-A-11-27362

  By the way, mobile phones that are rapidly spreading, for example, have been devised to improve the design by the coloring and design of the case, but since they are mass-produced products, they are differentiated by design for each owner. It is difficult to do so, and individual design is required. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is a laser marking device for engraving an image on a case of a mobile phone by irradiation with a laser beam, which further enhances the design of the mobile phone. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser marking device for a mobile phone which can give a further distinctiveness to the mobile phone.

  In the present invention, a control signal based on the image data is output from the control computer to the laser scanning unit, thereby imprinting a more precise image on the case of the mobile phone. That is, the gist of the present invention is a laser marking device for marking an image on a mobile phone case by laser light irradiation, a laser scanning unit for irradiating a laser light toward the mobile phone case or a part thereof, and A control computer for outputting a control signal to the laser scanning unit based on image data; and a support base for supporting a mobile phone or a part of the case in a laser irradiation region of the laser scanning unit. The feature is in the laser marking device for mobile phones.

  According to the laser marking device for a mobile phone of the present invention, since the laser scanning unit is controlled based on the image data, an original characteristic image can be engraved on each mobile phone case. Can be further improved in design and can be given more distinctiveness.

  An embodiment of a laser marking device for mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as “laser marking device”) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a laser marking device according to the present invention. As shown, the laser marking device (2) of the present invention imprints an image on a case of a mobile phone (4). Device. In the present invention, engraving refers to drawing characters, images, etc. on a target (article to be processed) by laser marking.

  In the present invention, the target for imprinting the image is the case of the mobile phone (4), more specifically, the face of the case of the mobile phone (4) other than the dial and the display (on the opposite side of the dial). The case surface of the case or the surface of the case opposite to the display unit). In particular, the target is preferably the battery pack lid (41) of the mobile phone (4). The battery pack lid (41) can be replaced according to taste by preparing a plurality of the lids and engraving different images for each.

  The case of the mobile phone (4) including the battery pack lid (41) is made of various synthetic resins, such as propylene resin, polystyrene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polymethyl methacrylate. Various thermoplastic resins such as resin, polycarbonate resin, and transparent ABS resin are preferable. Among these, unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester (co) polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate resins and ABS resins and polycarbonate resins are preferred. The above thermoplastic resin contains pigments and certain additives, for example, carbon black and / or black iron oxide as a colorant, so that black, white, chromatic characters, You can create a design.

  More specifically, a rubber-reinforced resin obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of a rubber-like polymer and a polymer obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer as a main component, and polymerization At least one black compound selected from the group of carbon black, black iron oxide and titanium black, and a dye and / or an organic dye for the thermoplastic resin component containing a specific amount of the (meth) acrylic acid ester The thermoplastic resin composition comprising a specific amount of each can clearly develop chromatic colors such as red, yellow, blue, green, and purple when irradiated with laser light. The above-mentioned thermoplastic resin composition suitable for laser marking is disclosed in International Publication No. WO 00/24826 relating to the previous application by the present applicant.

  In the present invention, in order to form a precise image or the like, a scanning apparatus in which the scanning beam is usually controlled by a computer is preferable. The scanning type laser marking device (2) can draw a finer line drawing at a high speed and manages data such as the drawn image by a computer, which is convenient for drawing different characters and images for each target. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laser marking device (2) of the present invention comprises a laser scanning unit (4) that irradiates a mobile phone (4) case or a part thereof (for example, a battery pack lid (41)). A header unit) (22), a cooling unit (23) for cooling the laser scanning unit, a control computer (control unit) (21) for outputting a control signal to the laser scanning unit (22) based on the image data, The laser irradiation region (S) of the laser scanning unit (22) mainly includes a mobile phone (4) or a support base (3) for supporting a part of the case (for example, a battery pack lid (41)). .

  The laser scanning unit (22) includes a power supply circuit, a laser transmitter including an oscillation circuit, a beam expander, a galvano scanner composed of two reflecting mirrors that perform scanning in the X-axis direction and scanning in the Y-axis direction, and light collection. The lens is mainly composed of a lens (Fθ lens), and controls the operation of a laser transmitter and a galvano scanner based on a control signal input from a control computer (21).

  Examples of the laser that can be applied to the laser scanning unit (22) include carbon dioxide laser, YAG laser, excimer laser, harmonic YAG laser, and the like. For marking, a laser marking device using an Nd: YAG laser and an Nd: YVO4 laser is preferable, and an LD excitation method, a so-called diode pump method laser marking device is particularly preferable.

  The control computer (21) takes in the image data, performs a predetermined data conversion process on the image data, and uses the converted image data as a control signal for the laser scanning unit (22). Is used that has a function of outputting as. That is, in the control computer (21), software having a function of converting the captured image data into a predetermined resolution, for example, grayscale image data of 1.5 to 3 million pixels or binarized image data. Wear is used.

  The reason for performing the data conversion process as described above in the control computer (2) is as follows. In other words, image data with a resolution higher than necessary is output to the laser scanning unit (22) as part of the control signal as it is, and laser marking is performed on the target based on the relationship between the laser spot size and the number of dots. Compared with the improvement of the image quality of the image to be processed, the processing time becomes longer. On the other hand, if the resolution of the image data output to the laser scanning unit (22) is too low, a delicate image cannot be formed. Further, the above software may be provided with an image editing function for editing the captured image data on the display panel.

  It is preferable that the control computer (21) is configured to be able to capture photographic image data as image data. As image data of a photograph, data in various formats such as JPEG, TIF, and BMP can be captured. The control computer (21) can directly connect the camera (1) and directly input the image data of the photograph to the control computer (21). Usually, the control computer (21) is in the form of a card or a stick via a drive device. Image data recorded on the information recording medium (11) is taken in.

  In the laser irradiation region (S) of the laser scanning unit (22), a support base (33) capable of supporting the mobile phone (4) or a part of the case is provided. The support base (33) may be a base that can support the entire mobile phone (4) or a base that can support the lid (41) of the battery pack that is part of the mobile phone (4) case. Any appropriate one can be used. For example, the support base (33) is disposed on the flat plate portion on which the mobile phone (4) or the lid (41) of the battery pack is placed in a horizontal state, and on both side edges of the flat plate portion, and the mobile phone (4) or battery. The pair of clamp members sandwiching a substantially parallel peripheral edge of the lid (41) of the pack from both sides, and the pair of clamp members is configured to apply the cellular phone (4) or the lid (41) of the battery pack to the laser irradiation region ( S) has a function of positioning at the center.

  Next, an image marking method using the laser marking device according to the present invention will be described. In order to imprint an image on the case of the cellular phone (4) by the laser marking device of the present invention, first, desired image data to be imprinted is taken into the control computer (21). In that case, image data of a photograph taken by a camera (for example, a digital camera) (1) can be taken in via an information recording medium (11) in a card format. By capturing the photographed photographic image as data, a unique image can be imprinted on the case of the mobile phone (4).

  After taking the image data into the control computer (21), the control computer (21) uses the image editing function of the above software to edit the taken image data on the display panel. For example, when the image is a portrait, a background prepared in advance may be selected. Moreover, you may insert characters, such as a name. After editing the image as described above, the above-described software is used to convert the edited image data into image data with a predetermined resolution. That is, the captured image is converted into a grayscale image or a binarized image having a constant resolution. By setting the resolution of the image to a predetermined value by such conversion processing, a clear image can be efficiently drawn on the case of the mobile phone (4).

  Further, since the image is positioned on the case when the image is drawn on the case of the mobile phone (4), the processing in the control computer (21) corresponds to, for example, the center of the case of the mobile phone (4). Adjust the vertical / horizontal shift of the image relative to the reference point. Further, focusing is performed in order to accurately form a laser spot on the case surface of the cellular phone (4). Such image positioning and focusing are performed by operations on the display panel.

  Subsequently, the mobile phone (4) or the battery pack lid (41) of the mobile phone (4) as shown is placed on the support base (33) in the laser irradiation region (S) of the laser scanning unit (22). Then, by operating the control computer (21), a control signal including the converted image data is output from the control computer (21) to the laser scanning unit (22), and the battery pack is output by the laser scanning unit (22). An image is imprinted on the lid (41). When laser light is emitted by the laser marking device (2), when using binarized image data by setting the irradiation conditions, marking dots are usually formed corresponding to the black value dot signal. However, when gray scale image data is used, a marking dot having a shallow depth can be formed corresponding to a gray value dot signal.

  As described above, according to the laser marking device of the present invention, the control signal based on the image data is output from the control computer (21) to the laser scanning unit (22) to be controlled, so that each mobile phone (4 ) Can be engraved with a more precise and unique characteristic image, so that the design can be further improved compared to the mobile phone (4) standardized for each model. Discrimination can be imparted.

  Using the laser marking device (2), an image was engraved on the lid (41) of the battery pack of the mobile phone (4) as a target. As the laser marking device (2), a device available as “Laser Marking System Powerline 10E” (trade name) manufactured by Rofin was used. Such a laser marking device (2) is a device equipped with an LD excitation type Nd: YAG laser, and the image processing software “Visual Laser Marker” (trade name) is installed in the control computer (21). equipped.

  As image data to be taken into the control computer (21), a color image having a resolution of 1600 × 1200 dpi photographed by the camera (1) (a digital camera “ExiLim EX-Z3” (trade name) manufactured by Casio) was used. In capturing image data, a stick-shaped information recording medium (11) was used. The image data taken into the control computer (21) was converted into BMP data by a software function and output to the laser scanning unit (22). On the other hand, as the lid (41) of the battery pack of the target mobile phone (4), a gray lid formed of a PC / ABS resin compounded with carbon black and black iron oxide was used.

  The laser marking device (2) irradiates a laser beam having a spot diameter of 6 to 10 nm and performs laser marking based on the above image data. As a result, a photographic image is applied to the surface of the battery pack lid (41). An image almost equal to can be clearly engraved with a black line drawing. Further, the time required for engraving was about 10 seconds.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a structure of the laser marking apparatus for mobile phones based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Camera 11: Information recording medium 2: Laser marking apparatus 21: Computer for control 22: Laser scanning unit 23: Cooling unit 3: Support stand 4: Mobile phone 41: Battery pack cover S: Irradiation area

Claims (4)

  A laser marking device for engraving an image on a mobile phone case by irradiating a laser beam, the laser scanning unit for irradiating a laser beam toward a mobile phone case or a part thereof, and the laser scanning based on image data A laser marking for a mobile phone, comprising: a control computer for outputting a control signal to the unit; and a support base for supporting a mobile phone or a part of the case thereof in a laser irradiation area of the laser scanning unit. apparatus.   The laser marking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control computer is configured to be able to capture image data of a photograph as image data.   The laser marking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control computer has a function of converting the captured image data into image data having a predetermined resolution.   The laser marking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a part of the case of the mobile phone is a lid of the battery pack.

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