WO2007129794A1 - Confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror - Google Patents

Confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007129794A1
WO2007129794A1 PCT/KR2006/003606 KR2006003606W WO2007129794A1 WO 2007129794 A1 WO2007129794 A1 WO 2007129794A1 KR 2006003606 W KR2006003606 W KR 2006003606W WO 2007129794 A1 WO2007129794 A1 WO 2007129794A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
condensing lens
glass
light
piece
brillouin scattering
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2006/003606
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hong Jin Kong
Dong Won Lee
Du Hyun Beak
Jin Woo Yoon
Jae Sung Shin
Original Assignee
Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology filed Critical Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology
Publication of WO2007129794A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007129794A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B33/00—Severing cooled glass
    • C03B33/09—Severing cooled glass by thermal shock
    • C03B33/091—Severing cooled glass by thermal shock using at least one focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam
    • C03B33/093—Severing cooled glass by thermal shock using at least one focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam using two or more focussed radiation beams
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B33/00—Severing cooled glass
    • C03B33/02—Cutting or splitting sheet glass or ribbons; Apparatus or machines therefor
    • C03B33/0222—Scoring using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
    • B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
    • B23K26/064—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B23K26/38—Removing material by boring or cutting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B23K26/40—Removing material taking account of the properties of the material involved
    • B23K26/402—Removing material taking account of the properties of the material involved involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B33/00—Severing cooled glass
    • C03B33/08—Severing cooled glass by fusing, i.e. by melting through the glass
    • C03B33/082—Severing cooled glass by fusing, i.e. by melting through the glass using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P40/00—Technologies relating to the processing of minerals
    • Y02P40/50—Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
    • Y02P40/57—Improving the yield, e-g- reduction of reject rates

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a glass-cutting apparatus and, more particularly, to a confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors.
  • a cutting technology which is one of the basic processing technologies of a piece of glass, is the technology that is most important in determining the quality of products.
  • Research into effective glass cutting is being actively conducted for the actual field of a process for manufacturing flat panel displays, such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) , Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) or Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), and the importance of glass cutting technologies is greatly increasing as a result of this research.
  • the above- described process actually greatly influences the yield of products .
  • the most widely used method is a method using a diamond wheel.
  • the cutting method using a diamond wheel is a relatively simple method and is known to be advantageous in that it enables glass to be cut, but to be disadvantageous in that, when the method is used, an additional grinding process is necessary due to the unevenness of a cut surface and various problems are caused by glass pieces generated at the time of cutting. Furthermore, when the grinding work is performed, other problems, such as product defects, are caused. Accordingly, to solve the above-described problems, a cutting method using a laser has been recently used. Compared with the method of using a diamond wheel, the cutting method using a laser is advantageous in that the cut surface is uniform, so that it does not require additional work, such as grinding, that is necessary when using a diamond wheel.
  • the method using a diamond wheel requires periodic changing of the wheel, whereas the method using a laser can reduce costs in that the laser can be used for about ten years once it is installed.
  • Japanese, Germans, etc. are competitively participating in the development of the laser glass-cutting field, and therefore development of process methods in this field is also urgently required in Korea.
  • the method using a laser there is difficulty in cutting because the energy absorption rate of glass is very low, and a piece of glass is chiefly cut while condensing is performed on only one side surface of the piece of glass.
  • a method of performing condensing on both side surfaces of the piece of glass is used, there is a problem in that precise cutting cannot be performed because variation in the location or size of a condensed focal point occur in the piece of inserted glass.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a glass-cutting apparatus, which uses one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors, so that variation in a light path due to an inserted material, such as a piece of glass, is compensated for and therefore variation in the location or size of a focal point does not occur, and so that a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is caused to reciprocate along the same path several times and therefore even glass having a low absorption rate can absorb a large amount of light, with the result that the apparatus can effectively cut the piece of glass.
  • the present invention provides a glass-cutting apparatus, including an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or the remaining direction; first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to ⁇ 0' ; and light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and to condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror.
  • the light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the remaining condensing lens (a second condensing lens) , and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass or transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and the fourth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the second stimulated
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a second condensing lens), and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and a fourth condensing lens is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and a third condensing lens is installed between the fourth condensing lens and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, the fourth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the third condensing
  • the internal light source may located between the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens. Furthermore, the internal light source may be located between the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens.
  • the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or the remaining direction; a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to y 0' ; a mirror installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; and light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or radiate light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror.
  • the light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a fifth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a sixth condensing lens), and the sixth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the fifth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the fifth condensing lens; and a seventh condensing lens is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the sixth condensing lens, and the seventh condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the mirror, onto the piece of glass.
  • the internal light source may be located between the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens. Furthermore, the internal light source may be located between the seventh condensing lens and the mirror, and may be configured to radiate light toward the seventh condensing lens and the mirror.
  • the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to ⁇ 0' ; light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and any one of the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors, configured to reflect incident light toward a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror when the incident light is S-polarized light and to transmit the incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light; a Pockels
  • the light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that one condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter or condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass, another condensing lens (a tenth condensing lens) is installed between the Pockels cell and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and the tenth condensing lens condenses light
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (an eighth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the remaining condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens), and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the eighth condensing lens, to the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the eighth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, to the piece of glass,
  • the glass-cutting apparatus further includes an amplification unit, located between the eighth condensing lens and the ninth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
  • the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on one side of a piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to ⁇ 0' ; a mirror installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass and to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, is located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and is configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, and condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and the mirror
  • the light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that one condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass.
  • one condensing lens a thirteenth condensing lens
  • the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a twelfth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens), and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the twelfth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the twelfth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through
  • the glass-cutting apparatus further includes an amplification unit, located between the twelfth condensing lens and the thirteenth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a third embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
  • a glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention is classified as an internal cavity type or an external cavity type. Furthermore, the glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented using two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors or using one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror and one typical mirror, which is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21, a first condensing lens 41, an internal light source 31, a second condensing lens 42, a piece of glass 10, a fourth condensing lens 43, a third condensing lens 44, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22.
  • the components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass 10 to the other side of the piece of glass 10.
  • the internal light source 31 may be located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 or between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43. Accordingly, the internal light source radiates light to the first condensing lens 41 or the second condensing lens 42, or radiates light to the third condensing lens 44 or the fourth condensing lens 43.
  • the internal light source 31 may be, for example, a laser head.
  • the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22 are respectively installed on both sides of the piece of glass 10, and reflect beams of incident light while setting the relative phase thereof to ⁇ 0' .
  • the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 is located opposite the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 on the basis of the piece of glass. That is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 is located on one side of the piece of glass on the basis of the piece of glass, and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22 is located on the other side of the piece of glass.
  • two condensing lens are provided on each of one side of the piece of glass 10 and the other side of the piece of glass 10. That is, the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 are provided on one side of the piece of glass 10, and the fourth condensing lens 43 and the second condensing lens 44 are provided on the other side of the piece of glass 10.
  • the second condensing lens 42 and the fourth condensing lens 43 be symmetrically arranged on the basis of the piece of glass.
  • Each of the condensing lenses performs a light transmitting function of receiving a light beam, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21 or 22, and condensing the light beam onto the piece of glass 10, or condensing a light beam, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21 or 22.
  • one condensing lens 43 may be provided, instead of the two condensing lenses 43 and 44 that exist on the other side of the piece of glass. That is, by using one condensing lens 43, light transmitted through the piece of glass 10 may be condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 22, and light reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 22 may be condensed onto the piece of glass 10.
  • the condensing lenses are described in greater detail below.
  • the first condensing lens 41 is located in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second condensing lens, condenses light, which is transmitted from the second condensing lens 42, to the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, to the second condensing lens 42.
  • the second condensing lens 42 is located in a light path between the first condensing lens 41 and the piece of glass 10, condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens 41, onto the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the first condensing lens 41.
  • the third condensing lens 44 is located in a light path between the fourth condensing lens 43 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, condenses light, which is transmitted from the fourth condensing lens 43, onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, to the fourth condensing lens 43.
  • the fourth condensing lens 43 is located symmetrically with the second condensing lens 42 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the second condensing lens 42.
  • the fourth condensing lens 43 is located in a light path between the piece of glass 10 and the third condensing lens 44, condenses light, which is transmitted from the third condensing lens 44, onto the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the third condensing lens 44.
  • the propagation of light is described with reference to FIG. 1 below.
  • a laser beam radiated from the internal light source 31 travels toward the first condensing lens 41 or toward the second condensing lens 42.
  • the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the first condensing lens 41, the laser beam is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 by the first condensing lens 41, and a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering.
  • the reflected wave passes through the first condensing lens 41 and the internal light source.
  • This pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the second condensing lens 42.
  • the pulse, which has passed through the piece of glass 10 is transmitted to the third condensing lens 44 via the fourth condensing lens 43 and is condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 by the third condensing lens 44.
  • the pulse is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and the reflected pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the third and fourth condensing lenses 44 and 43. Furthermore, the laser beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is sequentially transmitted to the second condensing lens 42, the internal light source 31, and the first condensing lens 41.
  • the radiated pulse is also condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the second condensing lens 42, and is condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22 via the fourth condensing lens 43 and the third condensing lens 44.
  • a reflected wave is generated.
  • the reflected wave passes through the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the fourth condensing lens 43.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • an internal light source 71 for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path may be further provided in the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • the internal light source 71 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. It is further preferred that the internal light source 71 be located between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42, and that the internal light source 71 be located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43.
  • the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a first condensing lens 41, an internal light source 31, a second condensing lens 42, a piece of glass 10, a third condensing lens 44, another internal light source 71, a fourth condensing lens 43, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • the two condensing lenses and the one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror which were located on the other side of the piece of glass in the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, are replaced with one condensing lens and one general mirror.
  • the function identical to that of the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be performed by a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror formed on only one side of the piece of glass.
  • the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus of the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a fifth condensing lens 45, an internal light source 31, a sixth condensing lens 46, a piece of glass 10, a seventh condensing lens 47, and a mirror 23.
  • the components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
  • the components that exist on one side of the piece of glass 10 that is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, the fifth condensing lens 45, the internal light source 31 and the sixth condensing lens 46, are the same as those that exist on one side of the piece of glass shown in FIG. 1, descriptions thereof are omitted.
  • the seventh condensing lens 47 be located symmetrically with the sixth condensing lens 46, which exists on one side of the glass, on the basis of the piece of glass 10.
  • the seventh condensing lens 47 is located in a light path between the mirror 23 and the piece of glass 10, and performs a light transmission function of receiving light reflected by the mirror 23 and condensing the light to the piece of glass 10, or radiating light, which has been transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the mirror 23.
  • the mirror 23 is installed opposite the first Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21, which exists on one side of the piece of glass 10, on the basis of the piece of glass, and reflects incident light.
  • the internal light source 31 be located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23
  • a laser beam radiated from the internal light source 31 travels toward the fifth condensing lens 45 or the sixth condensing lens 45.
  • the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the fifth condensing lens 45, the laser beam is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 by the fifth condensing lens 45, and a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering.
  • the reflected wave passes through the fifth condensing lens 45 and the internal light source 31.
  • This pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the sixth condensing lens 46.
  • the pulse which has been transmitted to the piece of glass 10, enters the mirror 23 via the seventh condensing lens 47.
  • the entering pulse is reflected by the mirror 23, and the reflected pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the seventh condensing lens 47. Furthermore, the laser beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is transmitted to the sixth condensing lens 46, the internal light source 31, and the fifth condensing lens 45.
  • the radiated pulse is also condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the sixth condensing lens 46 and then enters the mirror 23 via the seventh condensing lens 47.
  • a reflected wave is generated by the mirror 23, and the reflected wave is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the seventh condensing lens 47.
  • the beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10 is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 via the sixth condensing lens 46, the internal light source 31 and the fifth condensing lens 45.
  • the laser beam is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 again in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the fifth condensing lens 45, the internal light source 31 and the sixth condensing lens 46.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • another internal light source 72 for increasing the output of light moving along a light path that is, another laser head, be further provided in the internal cavity glass- cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 3.
  • the internal light source 72 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the mirror 23. It is further preferred that the internal light source 72 be located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the fifth condensing lens 45 and the sixth condensing lens 46, and that the internal light source 72 be located between the fifth condensing lens 45 and the sixth condensing lens 46 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23.
  • the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a fifth condensing lens 45, an internal light source 31, a sixth condensing lens 46, a piece of glass 10, a seventh condensing lens 47, another internal light source 72, and a mirror 23. Since descriptions of components other than the internal light source 72 and the diagram that shows the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 3, descriptions thereof are omitted.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the external cavity glass- cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, an eighth condensing lens 48, a ninth condensing lens 49, a piece of glass 10, an eleventh condensing lens 50, a tenth condensing lens 51, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22.
  • the components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass 10 from the other side of the piece of glass 10.
  • a polarizing beam splitter 61 and a Pockels cell 62 are additionally installed between the two condensing lenses that were installed on the one side of the piece of glass 100 and the other side of the piece of glass 100, respectively.
  • the polarizing beam splitter 61 includes an external light source 32 for radiating an S-polarized laser beam 32a.
  • the external light source may be, for example, a laser.
  • the polarizing beam splitter 61 reflects the light toward the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror when incident light is S-polarized light, and passes the light therethrough when incident light is P-polarized light.
  • the Pockels cell 62 may freely change the polarization of light in response to applied voltage, and may also adjust the time for application of the voltage.
  • the Pockels cell causes the polarization of light to be rotated by 45 degrees when voltage is applied, and passes the S-polarized light or the P-polarized light therethrough unchanged when voltage is not applied.
  • the intensity of voltage applied to the Pockels cell and the time for application of the voltage to the Pockels cell may be appropriately adjusted as described above.
  • settings are made in such a way that an appropriate voltage is applied to the Pockels cell so that the Pockels cell can be rotated by 45 degrees, and the time for application of the voltage to the Pockels cell is maintained until the beam (light) is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 and passes through the Pockels cell again. Thereafter, the light, which has passed through the Pockels cell, is P-polarized light and then the Pockels cell does not operate, so that the light can pass through the polarizing beam splitter even when it reciprocates between the two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22.
  • the operation described above may be performed when applied power is interrupted immediately after voltage is applied to the Pockels cell so that the polarization of light, which initially enters the Pockels cell, is rotated by 90 degrees and, thereby, the entering light is converted into P-polarized light.
  • the polarizing beam splitter 61 and the Pockels cell 62 may be located between the eighth condensing lens 48 and the ninth condensing lens 49 or between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the tenth condensing lens 51.
  • Each of the two condensing lenses which are respectively provided on each of one side and the other side of the piece of glass, performs a light transmission function of receiving light reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and condensing the light onto the piece of glass, or condensing the light, which has passed through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror.
  • the condensing lenses are described in greater detail below.
  • the eighth condensing lens 48 is located in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 and the ninth condensing lens, condenses light, which is transmitted from the ninth condensing lens 49, to the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, to the ninth condensing lens 49.
  • the ninth condensing lens 49 is located in a light path between the eighth condensing lens 48 and the piece of glass 10, condenses light, which is transmitted from the eighth condensing lens 48, to the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the eighth condensing lens 48.
  • the tenth condensing lens 51 is located opposite the eighth condensing lens 48 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the eighth condensing lens 48. That is, the tenth condensing lens 51 is located in a light path between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22, condenses light, which is transmitted from the eleventh condensing lens 50, to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, to the eleventh condensing lens 50.
  • the eleventh condensing lens 50 is located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens 49 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the ninth condensing lens 49. That is, the eleventh condensing lens 50 is located in a light path between the piece of glass 10 and the tenth condensing lens
  • the S-polarized laser beam 32a is radiated from the laser radiation unit 32.
  • the S-polarized laser beam 32a enters the polarizing beam splitter 61 that is located between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the Pockels cell 62.
  • the entering S-polarized light enters the Pockels cell 62 that is located between the polarizing beam splitter 61 and the tenth condensing lens 51.
  • the Pockels cell 62 causes the S polarization of entering light to be rotated by 45 degrees.
  • the polarization of the light varies because voltage is applied to the Pockels cell.
  • the light having the S polarization which is rotated by 45 degrees, enters the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 by the tenth condensing lens 51, and thus a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering.
  • the reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62, which is still placed in an ON state, via the tenth condensing lens 51 once more, and thus 45 degree rotation occurs once more. Accordingly, this pulse becomes a pulse having a P-polarized light component that is perpendicular to the S-polarized incident wave. Thereafter, the Pockels cell enters an OFF state.
  • the P-polarized light pulse passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the eleventh condensing lens 50.
  • the P-polarized light is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, passes through the ninth condensing lens 49 and the eighth condensing lens 48, and is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, so that a reflected wave is generated.
  • the reflected wave sequentially passes through the eighth condensing lens 48 and the ninth condensing lens 49, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in the direction opposite the above-described direction. Thereafter, the reflected wave is transmitted by the piece of glass 10 and passes through the eleventh condensing lens 50.
  • the reflected light is P-polarized light, so that the reflected wave passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61.
  • the reflected wave passes through Pockels cell 62.
  • the Pockels cell 62 enters the state in which the operation thereof is stopped. The reason for this is because the Pockels cell 62 can operate only for several nanoseconds or several tens of nanoseconds .
  • the Pockels cell enters an OFF state, so that the rotation of the polarized light does not occur, unlike the above description, when the reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, the reflected wave passes through the tenth condensing lens 51, is scattered by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22, and passes through the Pockels cell 62 via the tenth condensing lens 51 again. In this case, incident light is P-polarized light, so that the incident light passes through the Pockels cell 62 unchanged.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
  • an amplification unit for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path is further included in the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5. It is preferred that the amplification unit 73 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. A description thereof is given in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6 below.
  • the external cavity glass- cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, an eighth condensing lens 48, an amplification unit 73, a ninth condensing lens 49, a piece of glass 10, a eleventh condensing lens 50, a tenth condensing lens 51, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22.
  • the above-described components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
  • a polarizing beam splitter 61 and a Pockels cell 65 are additionally installed between the two condensing lenses respectively installed on one side of the piece of glass and the other side of the piece of glass, and a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating S-polarized light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter 61.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
  • the two condensing lenses and the one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror which were located on the other side of the piece of glass in the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5, are replaced with one condensing lens and one general mirror.
  • the function identical to that of the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 may be performed using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror formed on one side of the piece of glass.
  • the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a twelfth condensing lens 52, a thirteenth condensing lens 53, a piece of glass 10, a fourteenth condensing lens 54, a polarizing beam splitter 61, a Pockels cell 62, and a mirror 23.
  • the components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass .
  • a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter.
  • the components that is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, the twelfth condensing lens 52, and the thirteenth condensing lens 53, which exist on one side of the piece of glass, are the same as those on one side of the piece of glass shown in FIG. 5, a description thereof is omitted.
  • the fourteenth condensing lens 54 the polarizing beam splitter 61, the Pockels cell 62 and the mirror 23 are described below.
  • the fourteenth condensing lens 54 functions to transmit light, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, to the polarizing beam splitter 61, which is the next stage, and condense light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter 61, onto the piece of glass 10.
  • the polarizing beam splitter 61 reflects incident light toward the mirror 23 when the incident light is S- polarized light (light that enters from the light laser radiation unit) , and transmits incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light.
  • the S-polarized laser beam 32a is radiated from the laser radiation unit 32.
  • the S-polarized laser beam 32a enters the polarizing beam splitter 61 located between the fourteenth condensing lens 54 and the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, since the polarizing beam splitter has the characteristics of reflecting entering S-polarized light and transmitting P- polarized light therethrough, the entering S-polarized light enters the Pockels cell 62 located between the polarizing beam splitter 61 and the mirror 23.
  • the Pockels cell 62 causes the S polarization of entering light to be rotated by 45 degrees.
  • the light having S polarization which is rotated by 45 degrees, enters the mirror 23, and the incident pulse is reflected by the mirror 23.
  • the reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62 once more, and thus the 45 degree rotation occurs once more. Accordingly, this pulse becomes a pulse having a P- polarized light component that is perpendicular to the S- polarized incident wave.
  • the P-polarized light pulse passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the fourteenth condensing lens 54. After the condensing, the P-polarized light is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, passes through the thirteenth condensing lens 53 and the twelfth condensing lens 52, and is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, so that a reflected wave is generated.
  • the reflected wave sequentially passes through the twelfth condensing lens 52 and the thirteenth condensing lens 53, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction. After the condensing process, the reflected wave is transmitted through the piece of glass 10 and passes through the fourteenth condensing lens 54. In this case, the reflected wave is maintained in a P-polarization state, so that the reflected wave also passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61.
  • the reflected wave passes through Pockels cell 62.
  • the Pockels cell 62 enters the state in which the operation thereof is stopped.
  • the Pockels cell 62 can operate only for several nanoseconds or several tens of nanoseconds . Accordingly, the Pockels cell enters an OFF state, and thus the rotation of the polarized light does not occur, unlike the above description, when the polarized light passes through the Pockels cell 62.
  • the polarized light passes through the mirror and passes through the Pockels cell 62. In this case, incident light is P-polarized light, so that the incident light also passes through the Pockels cell 62 unchanged.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
  • an amplification unit for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path is further included in the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 7.
  • the amplification unit 74 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the mirror 23.
  • the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a twelfth condensing lens 52, an amplification unit 74, a thirteenth condensing lens 53, a piece of glass 10, a fourteenth condensing lens 54, a polarizing beam splitter 61, a Pockels cell 62, and a mirror 23.
  • the components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
  • a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating a laser beam 32a of S- polarized light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter. Since descriptions of components other than the amplification unit and the diagram showing the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 7, descriptions thereof are omitted.
  • an amplification unit or one of the difference laser heads 71 to 74 is added between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 (or the mirror 23) , so that a higher output can be achieved.
  • the present invention provides a glass-cutting apparatus having an internal or external cavity structure, using one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors, thus being capable of compensating for variation in a light path due to a piece of glass and condensing a laser beam to the same focal point without variation in the location or size of the focal point. Furthermore, a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is repeatedly condensed onto the piece of glass several times, so that even a piece of glass having a low absorption rate can be easily cut.
  • the confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors uses a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror, so that variation in a light path due to an inserted material, such as a piece of glass, is compensated for and therefore the location and size of a focal point remain constant and unchanged, and so that a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is caused to reciprocate along the same path several times and therefore even a piece of glass having a low absorption rate absorbs a large amount of light, with the result that the apparatus can effectively cut the piece of glass.
  • the present invention enables a piece of glass to be cut in two directions, so that the cutting speed of the present invention is faster than that of an existing laser-cutting method in which a laser beam is condensed only in a single direction.

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Abstract

The present invention is to provide a glass-cutting apparatus, including an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or the remaining direction; first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to Λ0'; and light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and to condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror.

Description

CONFOCAL LASER GLASS-CUTTING APPARATUS USING STIMULATED BRILLOUIN SCATTERING-PHASE CONJUGATE MIRROR
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a glass-cutting apparatus and, more particularly, to a confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors.
Background Art
Currently, with the development of glass processing, the importance of processing technology in various fields is increasing. A cutting technology, which is one of the basic processing technologies of a piece of glass, is the technology that is most important in determining the quality of products. Research into effective glass cutting is being actively conducted for the actual field of a process for manufacturing flat panel displays, such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) , Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) or Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), and the importance of glass cutting technologies is greatly increasing as a result of this research. The above- described process actually greatly influences the yield of products .
Of glass-cutting methods, the most widely used method is a method using a diamond wheel. The cutting method using a diamond wheel is a relatively simple method and is known to be advantageous in that it enables glass to be cut, but to be disadvantageous in that, when the method is used, an additional grinding process is necessary due to the unevenness of a cut surface and various problems are caused by glass pieces generated at the time of cutting. Furthermore, when the grinding work is performed, other problems, such as product defects, are caused. Accordingly, to solve the above-described problems, a cutting method using a laser has been recently used. Compared with the method of using a diamond wheel, the cutting method using a laser is advantageous in that the cut surface is uniform, so that it does not require additional work, such as grinding, that is necessary when using a diamond wheel.
Furthermore, the method using a diamond wheel requires periodic changing of the wheel, whereas the method using a laser can reduce costs in that the laser can be used for about ten years once it is installed. Japanese, Germans, etc. are competitively participating in the development of the laser glass-cutting field, and therefore development of process methods in this field is also urgently required in Korea. However, in the method using a laser, there is difficulty in cutting because the energy absorption rate of glass is very low, and a piece of glass is chiefly cut while condensing is performed on only one side surface of the piece of glass. Furthermore, even though a method of performing condensing on both side surfaces of the piece of glass is used, there is a problem in that precise cutting cannot be performed because variation in the location or size of a condensed focal point occur in the piece of inserted glass.
Although the method of cutting glass using a laser has various advantages compared to the existing method using a diamond wheel, it remains a process for which a lot of research is required, due to the above-described problems .
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a glass-cutting apparatus, which uses one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors, so that variation in a light path due to an inserted material, such as a piece of glass, is compensated for and therefore variation in the location or size of a focal point does not occur, and so that a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is caused to reciprocate along the same path several times and therefore even glass having a low absorption rate can absorb a large amount of light, with the result that the apparatus can effectively cut the piece of glass. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a glass-cutting apparatus, including an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or the remaining direction; first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to λ0' ; and light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and to condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror.
The light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
First, the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the remaining condensing lens (a second condensing lens) , and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass or transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and the fourth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the piece of glass.
Second, the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a second condensing lens), and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and a fourth condensing lens is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and a third condensing lens is installed between the fourth condensing lens and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, the fourth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the third condensing lens or condenses light, which is transmitted from the third condensing lens, to the piece of glass, and the third condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the fourth condensing lens, onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the fourth condensing lens.
The internal light source may located between the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens. Furthermore, the internal light source may be located between the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens. In addition, the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or the remaining direction; a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to y0' ; a mirror installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; and light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or radiate light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror.
The light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
The light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a fifth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a sixth condensing lens), and the sixth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the fifth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the fifth condensing lens; and a seventh condensing lens is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the sixth condensing lens, and the seventh condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the mirror, onto the piece of glass.
The internal light source may be located between the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens, and may be configured to radiate light toward the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens. Furthermore, the internal light source may be located between the seventh condensing lens and the mirror, and may be configured to radiate light toward the seventh condensing lens and the mirror. In addition, the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors installed on the respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to λ0' ; light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and any one of the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors, configured to reflect incident light toward a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror when the incident light is S-polarized light and to transmit the incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light; a Pockels cell located between the polarizing beam splitter and the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and configured to rotate and output light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter, by a predetermined angle, wherein the light is P-polarized light prior to being reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror and passing through the polarizing beam splitter; and an external light source configured to radiate light on the polarizing beam splitter.
The light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
First, the light transmission means may be configured such that one condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter or condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass, another condensing lens (a tenth condensing lens) is installed between the Pockels cell and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and the tenth condensing lens condenses light onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, to the Pockels cell.
Second, the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (an eighth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the remaining condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens), and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the eighth condensing lens, to the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the eighth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, to the piece of glass, another condensing lens (a tenth condensing lens) is installed between the Pockels cell and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and the tenth condensing lens condenses light to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, to the Pockels cell.
The glass-cutting apparatus further includes an amplification unit, located between the eighth condensing lens and the ninth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
In addition, the present invention provides a glass- cutting apparatus, including a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on one side of a piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light while setting the relative phase of beams of the incident light to Λ0' ; a mirror installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass and to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, is located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and is configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, and condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and the mirror, configured to reflect incident light toward the mirror when the incident light is S-polarized light and to transmit the incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light; a Pockels cell located between the polarizing beam splitter and the mirror, and configured to rotate and output light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter, by a predetermined angle, wherein the light is P-polarized light prior to being reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and passing through the polarizing beam splitter; and an external light source configured to radiate light on the polarizing beam splitter.
The light transmission means may be implemented in various ways as following:
First, the light transmission means may be configured such that one condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass.
Second, the light transmission means may be configured such that two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a twelfth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the remaining condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens), and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the twelfth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the twelfth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on the remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass.
The glass-cutting apparatus further includes an amplification unit, located between the twelfth condensing lens and the thirteenth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
<Description of characters of principal elements>
10: piece of glass 21, 22: stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 23: mirror
31, 71, 72: internal light source laser head 32 : external light source laser 41 ~ 54: condensing lenses 61: polarizing beam splitter 62: Pockels cell 73, 74: amplification unit
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.
A glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention is classified as an internal cavity type or an external cavity type. Furthermore, the glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented using two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors or using one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror and one typical mirror, which is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21, a first condensing lens 41, an internal light source 31, a second condensing lens 42, a piece of glass 10, a fourth condensing lens 43, a third condensing lens 44, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. The components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass 10 to the other side of the piece of glass 10.
In the present invention, the internal light source 31, as shown in FIG. 1, may be located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 or between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43. Accordingly, the internal light source radiates light to the first condensing lens 41 or the second condensing lens 42, or radiates light to the third condensing lens 44 or the fourth condensing lens 43. The internal light source 31 may be, for example, a laser head.
The stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22 are respectively installed on both sides of the piece of glass 10, and reflect beams of incident light while setting the relative phase thereof to λ0' . The first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 is located opposite the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 on the basis of the piece of glass. That is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 is located on one side of the piece of glass on the basis of the piece of glass, and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22 is located on the other side of the piece of glass. The process of setting to Λ0' the phase difference between the laser beams, which are reflected through scattering caused by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22, is disclosed in Korean Unexamined Pat. Publication No. 10-2005-24559
(entitled "Apparatus and Method for Self-phase Control in
Amplification having Stimulated Brillouin Scattering-Phase
Conjugate Mirrors) filed by the present applicant on Sep. 3, 2003.
In the present invention, as described above, two condensing lens are provided on each of one side of the piece of glass 10 and the other side of the piece of glass 10. That is, the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 are provided on one side of the piece of glass 10, and the fourth condensing lens 43 and the second condensing lens 44 are provided on the other side of the piece of glass 10.
In this case, it is preferred that the second condensing lens 42 and the fourth condensing lens 43 be symmetrically arranged on the basis of the piece of glass.
Each of the condensing lenses performs a light transmitting function of receiving a light beam, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21 or 22, and condensing the light beam onto the piece of glass 10, or condensing a light beam, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21 or 22.
Furthermore, in the present invention, one condensing lens 43 may be provided, instead of the two condensing lenses 43 and 44 that exist on the other side of the piece of glass. That is, by using one condensing lens 43, light transmitted through the piece of glass 10 may be condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 22, and light reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 22 may be condensed onto the piece of glass 10.
The condensing lenses are described in greater detail below.
The first condensing lens 41 is located in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second condensing lens, condenses light, which is transmitted from the second condensing lens 42, to the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, to the second condensing lens 42.
The second condensing lens 42 is located in a light path between the first condensing lens 41 and the piece of glass 10, condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens 41, onto the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the first condensing lens 41.
The third condensing lens 44 is located in a light path between the fourth condensing lens 43 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, condenses light, which is transmitted from the fourth condensing lens 43, onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, to the fourth condensing lens 43. The fourth condensing lens 43 is located symmetrically with the second condensing lens 42 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the second condensing lens 42. That is, the fourth condensing lens 43 is located in a light path between the piece of glass 10 and the third condensing lens 44, condenses light, which is transmitted from the third condensing lens 44, onto the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the third condensing lens 44. The propagation of light is described with reference to FIG. 1 below.
That is, a laser beam radiated from the internal light source 31 travels toward the first condensing lens 41 or toward the second condensing lens 42.
First, when the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the first condensing lens 41, the laser beam is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 by the first condensing lens 41, and a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering.
The reflected wave passes through the first condensing lens 41 and the internal light source. This pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the second condensing lens 42. Furthermore, the pulse, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is transmitted to the third condensing lens 44 via the fourth condensing lens 43 and is condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 by the third condensing lens 44.
Thereafter, the pulse is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and the reflected pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the third and fourth condensing lenses 44 and 43. Furthermore, the laser beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is sequentially transmitted to the second condensing lens 42, the internal light source 31, and the first condensing lens 41.
Meanwhile, when the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the second condensing lens 42, the radiated pulse is also condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the second condensing lens 42, and is condensed onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22 via the fourth condensing lens 43 and the third condensing lens 44. In this case, a reflected wave is generated. The reflected wave passes through the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the fourth condensing lens 43. Furthermore, the beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 via the second condensing lens 42, the internal light source 31 and the first condensing lens 41. The laser beam is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above- described direction via the first condensing lens 41, the internal light source 31 and the second condensing lens 42. This process is repeated between the two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22, and the condensing process onto the piece of glass 10 is repeated without variation in the size or location of the focal point. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, an internal light source 71 for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path, that is, a laser head, may be further provided in the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
It is preferred that the internal light source 71 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. It is further preferred that the internal light source 71 be located between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42, and that the internal light source 71 be located between the first condensing lens 41 and the second condensing lens 42 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the third condensing lens 44 and the fourth condensing lens 43.
A detailed description of the second embodiment is given with reference to FIG. 2 below. The internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a first condensing lens 41, an internal light source 31, a second condensing lens 42, a piece of glass 10, a third condensing lens 44, another internal light source 71, a fourth condensing lens 43, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22.
Since descriptions of the components other than the internal light source 71 and the diagram that shows the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 1, the descriptions thereof are omitted.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, the two condensing lenses and the one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror, which were located on the other side of the piece of glass in the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, are replaced with one condensing lens and one general mirror. In this construction, the function identical to that of the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be performed by a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror formed on only one side of the piece of glass.
The construction of the glass-cutting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 3 below. That is, the internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus of the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a fifth condensing lens 45, an internal light source 31, a sixth condensing lens 46, a piece of glass 10, a seventh condensing lens 47, and a mirror 23. The components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
Since the components that exist on one side of the piece of glass 10, that is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, the fifth condensing lens 45, the internal light source 31 and the sixth condensing lens 46, are the same as those that exist on one side of the piece of glass shown in FIG. 1, descriptions thereof are omitted.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the seventh condensing lens 47 be located symmetrically with the sixth condensing lens 46, which exists on one side of the glass, on the basis of the piece of glass 10.
Of the components that exist on the other side of the piece of glass 10, the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23 are described below. The seventh condensing lens 47 is located in a light path between the mirror 23 and the piece of glass 10, and performs a light transmission function of receiving light reflected by the mirror 23 and condensing the light to the piece of glass 10, or radiating light, which has been transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the mirror 23.
The mirror 23 is installed opposite the first Brillouin scattering-phase mirror 21, which exists on one side of the piece of glass 10, on the basis of the piece of glass, and reflects incident light.
Although, in the present invention, it is preferred that the internal light source 31 be located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23, it is further preferred that the internal light source 31 be located between the fifth condensing lens 45 and the sixth condensing lens 46 as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the internal light source 31 radiates light to the fifth condensing lens 45 or the sixth condensing lens 46, or radiates light to the seventh condensing lens 47 or the mirror 23.
The propagation of light is described with reference to FIG. 3 below.
That is, a laser beam radiated from the internal light source 31 travels toward the fifth condensing lens 45 or the sixth condensing lens 45.
First, when the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the fifth condensing lens 45, the laser beam is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 by the fifth condensing lens 45, and a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering. The reflected wave passes through the fifth condensing lens 45 and the internal light source 31. This pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the sixth condensing lens 46. Furthermore, the pulse, which has been transmitted to the piece of glass 10, enters the mirror 23 via the seventh condensing lens 47. The entering pulse is reflected by the mirror 23, and the reflected pulse is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the seventh condensing lens 47. Furthermore, the laser beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is transmitted to the sixth condensing lens 46, the internal light source 31, and the fifth condensing lens 45.
Meanwhile, when the laser beam from the internal light source 31 is radiated toward the sixth condensing lens 46, the radiated pulse is also condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the sixth condensing lens 46 and then enters the mirror 23 via the seventh condensing lens 47. In this case, a reflected wave is generated by the mirror 23, and the reflected wave is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the seventh condensing lens 47. Furthermore, the beam, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 via the sixth condensing lens 46, the internal light source 31 and the fifth condensing lens 45. The laser beam is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 again in a direction opposite the above-described direction via the fifth condensing lens 45, the internal light source 31 and the sixth condensing lens 46.
The above-described process is repeated between the one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror
21 and the one mirror 23, and the condensing process onto the piece of glass 10 is repeated without variation in the size or location of a focal point.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an internal cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, it is preferred that another internal light source 72 for increasing the output of light moving along a light path, that is, another laser head, be further provided in the internal cavity glass- cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 3.
It is preferred that the internal light source 72 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the mirror 23. It is further preferred that the internal light source 72 be located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the fifth condensing lens 45 and the sixth condensing lens 46, and that the internal light source 72 be located between the fifth condensing lens 45 and the sixth condensing lens 46 in the case where the internal light source 31 is located between the seventh condensing lens 47 and the mirror 23.
A detailed description thereof is given in greater detail with reference to FIG. 4 below. The internal cavity glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a fifth condensing lens 45, an internal light source 31, a sixth condensing lens 46, a piece of glass 10, a seventh condensing lens 47, another internal light source 72, and a mirror 23. Since descriptions of components other than the internal light source 72 and the diagram that shows the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 3, descriptions thereof are omitted.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, the external cavity glass- cutting apparatus includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, an eighth condensing lens 48, a ninth condensing lens 49, a piece of glass 10, an eleventh condensing lens 50, a tenth condensing lens 51, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. The components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass 10 from the other side of the piece of glass 10. Furthermore, in the present invention, a polarizing beam splitter 61 and a Pockels cell 62 are additionally installed between the two condensing lenses that were installed on the one side of the piece of glass 100 and the other side of the piece of glass 100, respectively. The polarizing beam splitter 61 includes an external light source 32 for radiating an S-polarized laser beam 32a. The external light source may be, for example, a laser.
The polarizing beam splitter 61 reflects the light toward the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror when incident light is S-polarized light, and passes the light therethrough when incident light is P-polarized light.
The Pockels cell 62 may freely change the polarization of light in response to applied voltage, and may also adjust the time for application of the voltage. In the present invention, the Pockels cell causes the polarization of light to be rotated by 45 degrees when voltage is applied, and passes the S-polarized light or the P-polarized light therethrough unchanged when voltage is not applied.
In the present invention, the intensity of voltage applied to the Pockels cell and the time for application of the voltage to the Pockels cell may be appropriately adjusted as described above.
That is, settings are made in such a way that an appropriate voltage is applied to the Pockels cell so that the Pockels cell can be rotated by 45 degrees, and the time for application of the voltage to the Pockels cell is maintained until the beam (light) is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 and passes through the Pockels cell again. Thereafter, the light, which has passed through the Pockels cell, is P-polarized light and then the Pockels cell does not operate, so that the light can pass through the polarizing beam splitter even when it reciprocates between the two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22.
Furthermore, the operation described above may be performed when applied power is interrupted immediately after voltage is applied to the Pockels cell so that the polarization of light, which initially enters the Pockels cell, is rotated by 90 degrees and, thereby, the entering light is converted into P-polarized light.
The polarizing beam splitter 61 and the Pockels cell 62, as described above, may be located between the eighth condensing lens 48 and the ninth condensing lens 49 or between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the tenth condensing lens 51.
Each of the two condensing lenses, which are respectively provided on each of one side and the other side of the piece of glass, performs a light transmission function of receiving light reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and condensing the light onto the piece of glass, or condensing the light, which has passed through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror.
The condensing lenses are described in greater detail below.
The eighth condensing lens 48 is located in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 21 and the ninth condensing lens, condenses light, which is transmitted from the ninth condensing lens 49, to the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, to the ninth condensing lens 49. The ninth condensing lens 49 is located in a light path between the eighth condensing lens 48 and the piece of glass 10, condenses light, which is transmitted from the eighth condensing lens 48, to the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, to the eighth condensing lens 48.
The tenth condensing lens 51 is located opposite the eighth condensing lens 48 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the eighth condensing lens 48. That is, the tenth condensing lens 51 is located in a light path between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22, condenses light, which is transmitted from the eleventh condensing lens 50, to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22, to the eleventh condensing lens 50.
The eleventh condensing lens 50 is located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens 49 on the basis of the piece of glass 10, and performs the same function as the ninth condensing lens 49. That is, the eleventh condensing lens 50 is located in a light path between the piece of glass 10 and the tenth condensing lens
51, condenses light, which is transmitted from the tenth condensing lens 51, onto the piece of glass 10, and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, onto the tenth condensing lens 51.
The propagation of light is described with reference to FIG. 5 below.
First, in the present invention, the S-polarized laser beam 32a is radiated from the laser radiation unit 32. The S-polarized laser beam 32a enters the polarizing beam splitter 61 that is located between the eleventh condensing lens 50 and the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, since the polarizing beam splitter 61 has the characteristics of reflecting entering S-polarized light and transmitting P-polarized light therethrough, the entering S-polarized light enters the Pockels cell 62 that is located between the polarizing beam splitter 61 and the tenth condensing lens 51. The Pockels cell 62 causes the S polarization of entering light to be rotated by 45 degrees. Here, the polarization of the light varies because voltage is applied to the Pockels cell. Furthermore, the light having the S polarization, which is rotated by 45 degrees, enters the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 by the tenth condensing lens 51, and thus a reflected wave is generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering. The reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62, which is still placed in an ON state, via the tenth condensing lens 51 once more, and thus 45 degree rotation occurs once more. Accordingly, this pulse becomes a pulse having a P-polarized light component that is perpendicular to the S-polarized incident wave. Thereafter, the Pockels cell enters an OFF state.
The P-polarized light pulse passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the eleventh condensing lens 50. After the condensing, the P-polarized light is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, passes through the ninth condensing lens 49 and the eighth condensing lens 48, and is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, so that a reflected wave is generated. The reflected wave sequentially passes through the eighth condensing lens 48 and the ninth condensing lens 49, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in the direction opposite the above-described direction. Thereafter, the reflected wave is transmitted by the piece of glass 10 and passes through the eleventh condensing lens 50. In this case, the reflected light is P-polarized light, so that the reflected wave passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61.
Thereafter, the reflected wave passes through Pockels cell 62. At this time, the Pockels cell 62 enters the state in which the operation thereof is stopped. The reason for this is because the Pockels cell 62 can operate only for several nanoseconds or several tens of nanoseconds .
Accordingly, the Pockels cell enters an OFF state, so that the rotation of the polarized light does not occur, unlike the above description, when the reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, the reflected wave passes through the tenth condensing lens 51, is scattered by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror 22, and passes through the Pockels cell 62 via the tenth condensing lens 51 again. In this case, incident light is P-polarized light, so that the incident light passes through the Pockels cell 62 unchanged.
The above-described process is repeated. That is, the reflection occurs between the two stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22, and the condensing process onto the piece of glass 10 is repeated without variation in the size or location of a focal point. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, an amplification unit for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path is further included in the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5. It is preferred that the amplification unit 73 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. A description thereof is given in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6 below. The external cavity glass- cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, an eighth condensing lens 48, an amplification unit 73, a ninth condensing lens 49, a piece of glass 10, a eleventh condensing lens 50, a tenth condensing lens 51, and a second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22. The above-described components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
Furthermore, in the present invention, a polarizing beam splitter 61 and a Pockels cell 65 are additionally installed between the two condensing lenses respectively installed on one side of the piece of glass and the other side of the piece of glass, and a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating S-polarized light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter 61.
Since descriptions of components other than the amplification unit 73 and the diagram that shows the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 5, descriptions thereof are omitted.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, the two condensing lenses and the one stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror, which were located on the other side of the piece of glass in the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5, are replaced with one condensing lens and one general mirror. In this construction, the function identical to that of the glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 may be performed using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror formed on one side of the piece of glass. The construction of the glass-cutting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 7 below. The external cavity glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a twelfth condensing lens 52, a thirteenth condensing lens 53, a piece of glass 10, a fourteenth condensing lens 54, a polarizing beam splitter 61, a Pockels cell 62, and a mirror 23. The components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass . Furthermore, in the present invention, a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter.
Since the components, that is, the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, the twelfth condensing lens 52, and the thirteenth condensing lens 53, which exist on one side of the piece of glass, are the same as those on one side of the piece of glass shown in FIG. 5, a description thereof is omitted.
Of the components on the other side of the piece of glass 10, the fourteenth condensing lens 54, the polarizing beam splitter 61, the Pockels cell 62 and the mirror 23 are described below.
The fourteenth condensing lens 54 functions to transmit light, which has passed through the piece of glass 10, to the polarizing beam splitter 61, which is the next stage, and condense light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter 61, onto the piece of glass 10. The polarizing beam splitter 61 reflects incident light toward the mirror 23 when the incident light is S- polarized light (light that enters from the light laser radiation unit) , and transmits incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light.
Since the Pockels cell 62 and the mirror 23 have been described in detail with reference to FIG. 5, a description thereof is omitted.
The propagation of light is described with reference to FIG. 7 below.
First, in the present invention, the S-polarized laser beam 32a is radiated from the laser radiation unit 32. The S-polarized laser beam 32a enters the polarizing beam splitter 61 located between the fourteenth condensing lens 54 and the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, since the polarizing beam splitter has the characteristics of reflecting entering S-polarized light and transmitting P- polarized light therethrough, the entering S-polarized light enters the Pockels cell 62 located between the polarizing beam splitter 61 and the mirror 23. The Pockels cell 62 causes the S polarization of entering light to be rotated by 45 degrees.
Furthermore, the light having S polarization, which is rotated by 45 degrees, enters the mirror 23, and the incident pulse is reflected by the mirror 23.
The reflected wave passes through the Pockels cell 62 once more, and thus the 45 degree rotation occurs once more. Accordingly, this pulse becomes a pulse having a P- polarized light component that is perpendicular to the S- polarized incident wave.
The P-polarized light pulse passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61 and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 by the fourteenth condensing lens 54. After the condensing, the P-polarized light is transmitted through the piece of glass 10, passes through the thirteenth condensing lens 53 and the twelfth condensing lens 52, and is condensed onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, so that a reflected wave is generated.
The reflected wave sequentially passes through the twelfth condensing lens 52 and the thirteenth condensing lens 53, and is condensed onto the piece of glass 10 in a direction opposite the above-described direction. After the condensing process, the reflected wave is transmitted through the piece of glass 10 and passes through the fourteenth condensing lens 54. In this case, the reflected wave is maintained in a P-polarization state, so that the reflected wave also passes through the polarizing beam splitter 61.
Thereafter, the reflected wave passes through Pockels cell 62. At this time, the Pockels cell 62 enters the state in which the operation thereof is stopped. The reason for this is because the Pockels cell 62 can operate only for several nanoseconds or several tens of nanoseconds . Accordingly, the Pockels cell enters an OFF state, and thus the rotation of the polarized light does not occur, unlike the above description, when the polarized light passes through the Pockels cell 62. Thereafter, the polarized light passes through the mirror and passes through the Pockels cell 62. In this case, incident light is P-polarized light, so that the incident light also passes through the Pockels cell 62 unchanged.
The above-described process is repeated. That is, the condensing process onto the piece of glass 10 is repeated between the two stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirrors 21 and 22 without variation in the size or location of a focal point.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the construction of an external cavity confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, an amplification unit for amplifying a laser beam moving along a light path is further included in the external cavity glass-cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 7.
It is preferred that the amplification unit 74 be installed in a light path between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the mirror 23.
A detailed description thereof is given in greater detail with reference to FIG. 8 below. The external cavity glass-cutting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21, a twelfth condensing lens 52, an amplification unit 74, a thirteenth condensing lens 53, a piece of glass 10, a fourteenth condensing lens 54, a polarizing beam splitter 61, a Pockels cell 62, and a mirror 23. The components are located in a light path extending from one side of the piece of glass to the other side of the piece of glass.
Furthermore, in the present invention, a laser radiation unit 32 for radiating a laser beam 32a of S- polarized light is further included in the polarizing beam splitter. Since descriptions of components other than the amplification unit and the diagram showing the propagation of light are the same as for FIG. 7, descriptions thereof are omitted.
In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8, an amplification unit or one of the difference laser heads 71 to 74 is added between the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 21 and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror 22 (or the mirror 23) , so that a higher output can be achieved.
As described above, the present invention provides a glass-cutting apparatus having an internal or external cavity structure, using one or more stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors, thus being capable of compensating for variation in a light path due to a piece of glass and condensing a laser beam to the same focal point without variation in the location or size of the focal point. Furthermore, a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is repeatedly condensed onto the piece of glass several times, so that even a piece of glass having a low absorption rate can be easily cut. Although the above description has been made with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments may be modified and changed in various ways in the present invention. Accordingly, implementations similar to the embodiments of the invention are also included in the scope of the present invention.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, the confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors according to the present invention uses a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirror, so that variation in a light path due to an inserted material, such as a piece of glass, is compensated for and therefore the location and size of a focal point remain constant and unchanged, and so that a laser beam, which has been condensed onto a confocal point, is caused to reciprocate along the same path several times and therefore even a piece of glass having a low absorption rate absorbs a large amount of light, with the result that the apparatus can effectively cut the piece of glass. Furthermore, the present invention enables a piece of glass to be cut in two directions, so that the cutting speed of the present invention is faster than that of an existing laser-cutting method in which a laser beam is condensed only in a single direction.

Claims

Claims
1. A glass-cutting apparatus, comprising: an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or a remaining direction; first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirrors installed on respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting a relative phase of beams of the incident light to Λ0'; and light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and to condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror.
2. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto a remaining condensing lens
(a second condensing lens) , and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass or transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourth condensing lens) is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and the fourth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the piece of glass.
3. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a first condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to a remaining condensing lens (a second condensing lens) , and the second condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the first condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the first condensing lens; and a fourth condensing lens is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the second condensing lens, and a third condensing lens is installed between the fourth condensing lens and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, the fourth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the third condensing lens or condenses light, which is transmitted from the third condensing lens, to the piece of glass, and the third condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the fourth condensing lens, onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the fourth condensing lens.
4. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the internal light source is located between the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens, and is configured to radiate light toward the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens .
5. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the internal light source is located between the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens, and is configured to radiate light toward the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens .
6. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the internal light source is located between the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens, and is configured to radiate light toward the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens.
7. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising another internal light source installed between the third condensing lens and the fourth condensing lens.
8. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising another internal light source installed between the first condensing lens and the second condensing lens.
9. A glass-cutting apparatus, comprising: an internal light source for radiating light in one direction or a remaining direction; a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting a relative phase of beams of the incident light to λ0' ; a mirror installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; and light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or radiate light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror.
10. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a fifth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to a remaining condensing lens (a sixth condensing lens) , and the sixth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the fifth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the fifth condensing lens; and a seventh condensing lens is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the sixth condensing lens, and the seventh condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the mirror, onto the piece of glass.
11. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the internal light source is located between the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens, and is configured to radiate light toward the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens.
12. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim
10, wherein the internal light source is located between the seventh condensing lens and the mirror, and is configured to radiate light toward the seventh condensing lens and the mirror.
13. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim
11, further comprising another internal light source installed between the seventh condensing lens and the mirror.
14. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising another internal light source installed between the fifth condensing lens and the sixth condensing lens.
15. A glass-cutting apparatus, comprising: first and second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirrors installed on respective sides of a piece of glass, and configured to reflect incident light while setting a relative phase of beams of the incident light to λ0' ; light transmission means located in a light path between a first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, or to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first or second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and any one of the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirrors, configured to reflect incident light toward a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror when the incident light is S-polarized light and to transmit the incident light when the incident light is P- polarized light; a Pockels cell located between the polarizing beam splitter and the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and configured to rotate and output light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter, by a predetermined angle, wherein the light is P-polarized light prior to being reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and passing through the polarizing beam splitter; and an external light source configured to radiate light on the polarizing beam splitter.
16. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: one condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter or condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass, another condensing lens (a tenth condensing lens) is installed between the Pockels cell and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and the tenth condensing lens condenses light onto the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror or transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, to the Pockels cell.
17. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (an eighth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the first stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, onto a remaining condensing lens (a ninth condensing lens) , and the ninth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the eighth condensing lens, to the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the eighth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (an eleventh condensing lens) is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the ninth condensing lens, the eleventh condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, to the piece of glass, another condensing lens (a tenth condensing lens) is installed between the Pockels cell and the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, and the tenth condensing lens condenses light to the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the second stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to the Pockels cell.
18. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an amplification unit, located between the eighth condensing lens and the ninth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
19. A glass-cutting apparatus, comprising: a stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror installed on one side of a piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light while setting a relative phase of beams of the incident light to λ0' ; a mirror installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass and configured to reflect incident light; light transmission means located in a light path between the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and the piece of glass, and configured to receive light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass and to condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, is located in the light path between the mirror and the piece of glass, and is configured to receive light, which is reflected by the mirror, and condense the light onto the piece of glass, and condense light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the mirror; a polarizing beam splitter located between the piece of glass and the mirror, configured to reflect incident light toward the mirror when the incident light is S- polarized light and to transmit the incident light when the incident light is P-polarized light; a Pockels cell located between the polarizing beam splitter and the mirror, and configured to rotate and output light, which has passed through the polarizing beam splitter, by a predetermined angle, wherein the light is P- polarized light prior to being reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and passing through the polarizing beam splitter; and an external light source configured to radiate light on the polarizing beam splitter.
20. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that : one condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens) is installed on one side of the piece of glass, and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, or condenses light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering- phase mirror, onto the piece of glass; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass.
21. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the light transmission means is configured such that: two condensing lenses are installed on one side of the piece of glass, one (a twelfth condensing lens) of the two condensing lens condenses incident light onto the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror and transmits light, which is reflected by the stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase mirror, to a remaining condensing lens (a thirteenth condensing lens) , and the thirteenth condensing lens condenses light, which is transmitted from the twelfth condensing lens, onto the piece of glass and transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the twelfth condensing lens; and one condensing lens (a fourteenth condensing lens) is installed on a remaining side of the piece of glass to be located symmetrically with the thirteenth condensing lens, and the fourteenth condensing lens transmits light, which is transmitted through the piece of glass, to the polarizing beam splitter and condenses light, which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, onto the piece of glass.
22. The glass-cutting apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an amplification unit, located between the twelfth condensing lens and the thirteenth condensing lens and configured to amplify incident light.
PCT/KR2006/003606 2006-05-09 2006-09-11 Confocal laser glass-cutting apparatus using stimulated brillouin scattering- phase conjugate mirror WO2007129794A1 (en)

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