JPH10229233A - Method and device for supplying electric power to laser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively process a pulse command by accurately judging futile or excessive sections in various kinds of command waveforms. SOLUTION: When an external pulse command section outputs a pulse command to a laser power unit 1 to supply a pulse-like current to a laser oscillator 9, so as to cause the oscillator 9 to emit a laser beam LB, A pulse element rearranging section 13 disjoins each pulse command into pulse elements and rearrange the pulse elements in accordance with a definite rule. A comparing and discriminating section 15 discriminates whether or not each rearranged pulse element is involved in a limiter curve, indicating the characteristic of a laser system and, at the same time, discriminates the margin of the element and displays or transmits the margin to a host device. When the pulse element is not involved in the limiter curve, the section 15 issues the commands after rearranging the commands to the initial state, after a pulse-correcting section 17 corrects the shapes of the pulses, so that the element may be involved in the curve.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser power supply method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a laser power supply method and apparatus for supplying a pulsed current or voltage or power to a laser oscillator. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional pulse command in a laser oscillator, particularly in a pulse YAG laser oscillator, is as shown in FIG. Here, the height and the length of the pulse that enables the output of the laser power supply are generally subjected to a limiter process for the command according to the capability of the power supply and the lamp. Generally, the higher the height of each pulse, the shorter the length must be, and conversely, the longer the length, the lower the height. These are due to the following reasons.

[0003] There is a problem with the capacity of the capacitor of the power supply. That is, if the required current (voltage) is continuously output from the capacitor, the voltage of the capacitor gradually decreases, and eventually, the output as instructed cannot be performed.

There is a problem of heat generation of the power switching element. That is, if a high command is output for a long time,
The heat value of the power element exceeds the allowable amount.

Therefore, conventionally, limiter processing of each pulse in response to a command is performed as follows.

[0006] Limiter processing is performed using a table showing the relationship between height and length. For example, when the height is 50, the length is 20 msec, and when the height is 100, the length is 5 msec. To do.

The area is calculated and a limiter process is performed.
That is, a value obtained by multiplying the height and length of the command waveform is calculated, and if the value is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the limiter process is performed.

[0008]

However, even when such a limiter process is performed, for example, when the command waveform has a shape as shown in FIG.
There is a problem that it is difficult to perform a limiter process using a table. Also, when performing the limiter processing according to the area, since it is unknown which part of the command is over how much, the operator has to repeat trial and error by lowering or shortening the entire command, and it is troublesome. is there. Further, in the case of a system in which the area can be used wider when the height is low, there is a problem that unnecessary limiter processing is performed in the above-described method, resulting in waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned prior art, and to accurately determine a wasteful portion and an excess amount of various command waveforms. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser power supply method and a laser power supply method capable of effectively processing a pulse command.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser power supply method for generating a laser beam by supplying a pulsed current or voltage or power to a laser oscillator. A laser power supply method for decomposing each pulse command for composing the pulsed current or voltage or power into a plurality of pulse elements, and rearranging the plurality of pulse elements according to a certain rule. The rearranged pulse elements fall within the limiter curve indicating whether or not the pulse elements fall within the limiter curve indicating the characteristics of the laser system and how much margin is provided, or the pulse elements protrude from the limiter curve. After modifying the pulse elements to be within the limiter curve, return each pulse element to the original pulse command It instructs the source, and is characterized in.

Therefore, when the laser power supply supplies a pulsed current or voltage or power to generate a laser beam by the laser oscillator, each pulse command for generating the pulsed current or voltage or power is supplied. Is determined to be within the limiter curve indicating the characteristics of the laser system, and the operator is notified of how much margin is left or transmitted to the host machine. If not, the pulse shape is corrected so as to fit, and the command is issued after the initial pulse command sequence.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser power supply apparatus for generating a laser beam by supplying a pulsed current, voltage or power to a laser oscillator, wherein the pulsed laser power is supplied to the laser oscillator. An external pulse command unit that issues a command pulse to compose a current, voltage, or power, and a pulse element rearrangement that decomposes each pulse command from the external pulse command unit into pulse elements and rearranges each pulse element according to a certain rule Section, and comparing each pulse element rearranged by the pulse element rearranging section with a limiter curve indicating the characteristics of the laser system, to determine whether or not the pulse element is within the limiter curve and how much margin is available. And a comparison judging unit for judging and displaying, and judging that the limiter curve is exceeded by the comparison judging unit. And a pulse correction unit that corrects the pulse command shape so that the pulse element falls within the limiter curve and issues a command to the laser power supply by rearranging the sequence of the initial pulse commands. Things.

Therefore, when the external pulse command unit issues a pulse command so that the laser power supply device supplies a pulsed current or voltage or power to generate a laser beam by the laser oscillator, the pulse element rearranging unit operates as follows. The pulse command is decomposed into pulse elements and rearranged according to a certain rule. The comparing and judging unit judges whether or not each of the rearranged pulse elements is within the limiter curve showing the characteristics of the laser system, and judges and displays how much margin there is and transmits it to the host machine. If it does not fit, the pulse correction unit corrects the pulse shape so as to fit, and then returns to the original pulse command sequence before issuing the command.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the laser power supply 1 will be described. The laser power supply device 1 includes a pulse command unit 5 that issues a pulse command to a current supplied from a power source 3 such as a general commercial power source. The pulse command unit 5 generates a pulse command. Controls the laser power supply 7 and is sent to the laser oscillator 9 to generate the laser light LB. The pulse command unit 5 includes an external pulse command unit 1
1, a pulse element rearranging unit 13, a comparison determining unit 15, and a pulse correcting unit 17.

The external pulse command section 11 issues a pulse command as shown in FIG. 2, for example, to supply a predetermined pulse current. In the pulse element rearranging section 13, FIG.
Is decomposed into pulse elements A, B, and C constituting a pulse command waveform CW as shown in FIG. 3 and rearranged into a corrected waveform MW as shown in FIG. 3 according to a certain rule.
The example shown in FIG. 3 shows each pulse element A of the command waveform CW,
B and C are rearranged in descending order.

The comparing and judging section 15 judges whether the corrected waveform MW rearranged by the pulse element rearranging section 13 does not protrude from the straight line ST indicating the limiter characteristic, and also judges how much margin there is. Is displayed to the operator or transmitted to the host machine. For example, a limiter formula (for example, S = −Z · T + 12) of a system such as a power supply device and an oscillation device.
Compared with the straight line ST indicated by 0), a portion protruding from the straight line ST (a hatched portion in FIGS. 3 and 4).
Is a part to be subjected to the limiter process.

The above-described pulse correction unit 17 corrects the pulse command shape so that the protruding portion is contained within the straight line ST. For example, the length may be shortened as shown in FIG. 5 so as not to protrude from the straight line ST, or by lowering the height as shown in FIG. 6 so as not to protrude from the straight line ST. It may be.

Further, which pulse element of the pulse command is not contained in the limiter is displayed to the operator or transmitted to a host machine, so that the subsequent determination of the pulse command shape is made more efficient.

From the above results, in the pulse YAG oscillator, the command waveforms CW of the pulses are rearranged in descending order and compared with the limiter characteristics of the power supply device 1 and the laser oscillator 9, so that the command waveforms have a limiter over. In addition to being able to easily determine which part is present, correction of the command waveform CW and display and transmission of various information can be performed quickly.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the straight line ST which is a linear expression is shown as the limiter mathematical expression of the system. However, instead of this, the limiter characteristic of the power supply device 1 or the laser oscillator 9 such as a polynomial expression or various functions is used. Any approximation formula may be used. Also,
The data may be stored as a table instead of in the form of an expression.

In the above-described embodiment, the blocks A, B, and C of the command waveform CW are rearranged in ascending order. It may be in order. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given of a pulsed current, but a voltage or power may be employed.

[0023]

As described above, in the laser power supply method according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the laser power supply supplies a pulse-like current or voltage or power for generating laser light by the laser oscillator, To determine whether or not the pulse elements constituting each pulse command for generating this pulsed current or voltage or power fall within a limiter curve indicating the characteristics of the laser system, and how much margin is left. Is displayed to the operator or transmitted to the host machine, and if it does not fit, the pulse shape is corrected so that it fits, then the command is issued after the initial pulse command sequence, so any part of the pulse waveform is over limiter It is possible to determine whether or not the pulse waveform is correct, and to quickly correct the pulse waveform and transmit information without waste.

In the laser power supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the external pulse command unit issues a pulse command so that the laser power device supplies a pulsed current or voltage or power in order to generate laser light by the laser oscillator. At this time, the pulse element rearranging section decomposes each pulse command into pulse elements and rearranges them according to a certain rule, and the comparing and judging section puts each of the rearranged pulse elements into a limiter curve showing characteristics of the laser system. Judge whether or not it is settled and determine how much extra space is available and display it or transmit it to the host machine.If it is not settled, correct the pulse shape so that the pulse correction unit is settled and then change the initial pulse Since the command is issued after returning the command sequence, it is possible to determine which part of the pulse waveform is over the limiter, and the pulse It is possible to perform the modification of the form without waste quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a laser power supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a pulse command waveform.

FIG. 3 is a corrected waveform obtained by rearranging the command waveform shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a portion that deviates from a straight line indicating a limiter characteristic.

FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the length of a pulse is adjusted.

FIG. 6 is a diagram in which the height of a pulse is adjusted.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a pulse waveform that is more general than a conventional one.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a pulse waveform having a complicated shape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 laser power supply device 7 laser oscillator 9 pulse element rearranging section 11 comparison and judgment section 13 pulse correction section LB laser beam CW command waveform (pulse) A, B, C pulse element ST straight line (limiter curve)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A laser power supply method for generating a laser beam by supplying a pulsed current, voltage, or power to a laser oscillator, wherein a command is issued to configure the pulsed current, voltage, or power. Each pulse command is divided into a plurality of pulse elements, and the plurality of pulse elements are rearranged according to a certain rule, and whether the rearranged pulse elements fall within a limiter curve that is characteristic of a laser system and to what extent. After comparing and judging whether there is a margin or displaying, or by comparing and judging the pulse elements protruding from the limiter curve so as to fall within the limiter curve, returning each pulse element to the original pulse command sequence A laser power supply method, wherein a command is issued to a laser power supply after that. 2. A laser power supply device for generating a laser beam by supplying a pulsed current, voltage or power to a laser oscillator, wherein a command for configuring the pulsed current, voltage or power is provided. An external pulse command unit that generates a pulse, a pulse element rearranging unit that decomposes each pulse command from the external pulse command unit into pulse elements, and rearranges each pulse element according to a certain rule, and this pulse element rearranging unit A comparison judging unit for judging and displaying whether or not the pulse elements are within the limiter curve and how much room there is by comparing the rearranged pulse elements and the limiter curve indicating the characteristics of the laser system. If the comparison and determination unit determines that the value exceeds the limiter curve, the pulse element is included in the limiter curve. A laser power supply device, comprising: a pulse correction unit that corrects a pulse shape so as to fit in the pulse power source and issues a command to the laser power source by rearranging the sequence of the initial pulse commands.