WO2009035209A1

WO2009035209A1 - Method of sorting marking objects

Info

Publication number: WO2009035209A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyu-Dong Sung; Byung-Duk Woo; Mi-Jin Choi
Original assignee: Eo Technics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-09-11
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: KR20090026936A

Abstract

Provided is a method of sorting marking objects that are to be marked on a substrate by changing set values of a marking parameter for controlling a laser system. The method includes: sorting the marking objects into a first marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the first set value, and a second marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the second set value; first marking all the marking objects constituting the first marking group; and second marking all the marking objects constituting the second marking group, wherein any one of the first marking and the second marking is first performed and then the other is performed.

Description

METHOD OF SORTING MARKING OBJECTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method of sorting marking objects, and more particularly, to a method of sorting marking objects, which are marked by using set values of a marking parameter, into groups and sequentially marking the groups. Background Art

[2] In general, laser systems are devices that mark letters or figures by deflecting a laser beam by a predetermined angle by using a laser beam position control unit so that the laser beam can be emitted to a predetermined position on a substrate.

[3] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional laser system. FIG. 2 illustrates marking objects.

[4] Referring to FIG. 1, a laser beam, oscillated by a laser oscillator 10, is incident on a reflecting mirror 16, reflected by the reflecting mirror 16 to a laser head 30, and emitted by a galvano scanner 31 to pass a scan lens (f- q lens) 35 and reach a substrate 40, such that the marking objects, that is, letters or figures, are marked on the substrate 40. The galvano scanner 31, for emitting the laser beam to a desired position on the substrate 40, includes an x mirror 32 and a y mirror 33 of which an angle, that is, a position, is controlled by a control unit 20.

[5] Referring to FIG. 2, letters or figures desired to be marked on the substrate 40 are called marking objects. The marking objects may include letters, e.g., letters 55, a figure, e.g., a rectangle 51 or a circle 53, a barcode, and so on. In order to ensure the best marking quality, set values of marking parameters may be changed to control the conventional laser system. Examples of the marking parameters include the power or frequency of a laser beam generated and emitted by the laser oscillator 10, and the driving speed of the galvano scanner 31. The set values of the marking parameters are adjusted for the best marking quality according to the marking objects, the type of the substrate 40, the source of the laser oscillator 10, and the spot size of the laser beam.

[6] A marking order of a conventional method of sorting marking objects is determined by an order in which the marking objects are generated. For example, if the marking objects are generated in an order of the rectangle 51, the circle 53, and the letters 55 in an operating program for controlling the conventional laser system, that is, a program for controlling the elements of the conventional laser system and generating the marking objects, the marking objects are marked in an order of the rectangle 51, the circle 53, and the letters 55 by using a laser beam. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [7] However, if an order of set values of a marking parameter corresponding to the marking objects, for example, set values of the power of the laser beam 1, is different from an order in which the marking projects are generated, the conventional method increases not only a marking time but also a waiting time. For example, if the rectangle 51 and the letters 55 are set to be marked by using a laser beam with a power of 1 W and the circle 53 is set to be marked by using a laser beam with a power of 2 W, the conventional method comprises marking the rectangle 51 by using a laser beam with a power of 1 W, performing a waiting operation until the power of the laser beam is changed to a new power and the new power is stabilized, marking the circle 53 by using a laser beam with a power of 2 W, performing a waiting operation until the power of the laser beam is changed to a new power and the new power is stabilized, and marking the letters 55 by using a laser beam with a power of 1 W. When the rectangle 51 and the letters 55, requiring the same power of the laser beam, are first marked and then the circle 53 is marked, one waiting operation is necessary. However, when the marking objects are marked in an order in which the marking objects are generated, two waiting operations are necessary. In general, while a marking time taken to mark a simple figure or a letter is several m s or ms, a waiting time is approximately 1 second. Accordingly, a ratio of the waiting time to the marking time is considerably high. As the number of waiting operations is increased, a total marking time is increased dramatically.

[8] Accordingly, since the conventional method performs marking in an order in which marking objects are generated irrespective of the set values of a marking parameter, the number of waiting operations is increased, thereby increasing a total marking time and lowering production efficiency. Technical Solution

[9] The present invention provides a method of sorting marking objects so as to reduce a marking time taken to mark all marking objects and improve production efficiency by reducing a waiting time for which a waiting operation is performed until a new set value of a marking parameter is stabilized.

[10] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sorting marking objects that are to be marked on a substrate by changing set values of a marking parameter for controlling a laser system, wherein the set values of the marking parameter include a first set value and a second set value different from the first set value, the method comprising: sorting the marking objects into a first marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the first set value, and a second marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the second set value; first marking all the marking objects constituting the first marking group; and second marking all the marking objects constituting the second marking group, wherein any one of the first marking and the second marking is first performed and then the other is performed.

[11] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sorting marking objects that are to be marked on a substrate by changing set values of a marking parameter for controlling a laser system, wherein the set values of the marking parameter include a first set value and a second set value different from the first set value and the marking objects are marked by using a laser beam including one or more output shots, the method comprising: sorting the output shots into a first marking group, which includes output shots corresponding to the first set value, and a second marking group, which includes output shots corresponding to the second set value; first marking the marking objects by emitting all the output shots constituting the first marking group to the substrate; and second marking the marking objects by emitting all the output shots constituting the second marking group to the substrate, wherein any one of the first marking and the second marking is first performed and then the other is performed.

[12] The method may further comprise comparing the first set value with the second set value, after the sorting.

[13] If the first set value is less than the second set value, the first marking may be first performed, and if the second set value is less than the first set value, the second marking may be first performed.

[14] The marking parameter may comprise the power of a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator. Advantageous Effects

[15] Since the method involves sorting marking objects, which are marked by using set values of the same marking parameter, into groups, and sequentially marking all marking objects, which can be marked by using one set value, and marking all marking objects, which can be marked by using another set value, a waiting time for which a waiting operation is performed until a set value of the marking parameter is changed to a new set value and the new set value is stabilized, is reduced, thereby reducing a total marking time and improving production efficiency. Description of Drawings

[16] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[17] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional laser system;

[18] FIG. 2 illustrates marking objects;

[19] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sorting marking objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[20] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sorting marking objects, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode

[21] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

[22] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sorting marking objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[23] Referring to FIG. 3, a marking parameter for controlling a laser system is the power of a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator. In particular, a set value of the power of the laser beam may be changed by adjusting a current of a laser power supply, which corresponds to a control unit 20 for controlling a galvano scanner 31 and a laser oscillator 10 of FIG. 1, for controlling the laser oscillator 10.

[24] Marking objects, including a rectangle 51, a circle 53, and letters 55, shown inFIG. 2, are generated in an operating program that controls the laser system in an order of the rectangle 51, the circle 53, and the letters 55. It is assumed that the rectangle 51 and the letters 55 have the best marking quality when they are marked by using a laser beam with a power of 1 W, and the circle 53 has the best marking quality when it is marked by using a laser beam with a power of 2 W. That is, a first set value and a second set value of the power of the laser beam, that is, the marking parameters, are 1 W and 2 W, respectively. Also, the marking objects may be marked by emitting a single output shot, or two or more output shots having the same set value in order to completely mark one marking object.

[25] In operation SI l, the marking objects are sorted into a first marking group including marking objects corresponding to the first set value of the marking parameter, and a second marking group including marking objects corresponding to the second set value of the marking parameter. That is, the marking objects are sorted so that the rectangle 51 and the letters 55, marked by using the laser beam with the power of 1 W, constitute the first marking group, and the circle 53, marked by using the laser beam with the power of 2 W, constitutes the second marking group.

[26] In operation S 12, it is determined whether the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group. Since the rectangle 51 and the letters 55 constituting the first marking group have the best marking quality when the power of the laser beam is 1 W and the circle 53 constituting the second marking group has the best marking quality when the power of the laser beam is 2 W, it is preferable that the rectangle 51 and the letters 55, constituting the first marking group requiring the lower power of the laser beam as compared to that of the second marking group, should be first marked. This is because when a lower current is first applied and then a higher current is applied to the laser power supply in order to achieve a desired power, the laser system can be normally used for a long time without failure.

[27] If it is determined in operation S 12 that the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group, the method proceeds to operation S 13. In operation S 13, all the marking objects constituting the first marking group are marked. That is, the rectangle 51 and the letters 55 constituting the first marking group are marked by using the laser beam with the power of 1 W. Marking objects in the same marking group may be marked in an order in which the marking projects are generated, or may be marked in an arbitrary order determined by a user executing the operating program.

[28] In operation S 14, the set value of the power of the laser beam is changed to a new set value, and a waiting operation is performed until the laser system is stabilized according to the new set value. When the rectangle 51 and the letters 55 constituting the first marking group are completely marked by using the laser beam with the power of 1 W, a current of the laser power supply is increased to emit a laser beam with a power of 2 W. The circle 53 constituting the second marking group is not immediately marked under the new set value, but a waiting operation is performed until the laser beam with the power of 2 W is output. It has been seen from many experiments that a desirable waiting time is approximately 1 second.

[29] In operation S 15, all the marking objects constituting the second marking group are marked. The circle 53 constituting the second marking group is marked by using the laser beam with the power of 2 W. Although the number of marking objects constituting the second marking group is 1 in FIG. 3, the present invention is not limited thereto. When the number of marking objects constituting the second marking group is more than 1, the marking objects may be marked in an arbitrary order determined by the user executing the operating program, like in the first marking group.

[30] Otherwise, if it is determined in operation S 12 that the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is not less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group, the method proceeds first to operation S15, and then to operation S 14 and operation S 13. That is, after all the marking objects constituting the second marking group are first marked, all the marking objects constituting the first marking group may be marked after a predetermined waiting time.

[31] The method of sorting the marking objects in FIG. 3 can drastically reduce a waiting time taken to change a set value of a marking parameter to a new set value. For example, since a conventional method of sorting marking objects sorts marking objects on the basis of an order in which the marking objects are generated, not on the basis of a set value of a marking parameter, it is highly possible that an unnecessary waiting time is increased. For example, since the conventional method comprises marking the rectangle 51, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, marking the circle 53, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, and marking the letters 55, a total marking time includes two waiting operations. However, since the method of FIG. 3 comprises marking the rectangle 51, marking the letters 55, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, and marking the circle 53, a total marking time includes one waiting operation. Accordingly, the method of FIG. 3 can drastically reduce a waiting time for which a waiting operation is performed until a set value of a marking parameter is changed to a new set value and the new set value is stabilized, thereby reducing a total marking time and improving production efficiency.

[32] Also, since marking objects, which can be marked by using a laser beam with a lower power, are first marked and then marking objects, which can be marked by using a laser beam with a higher power, are marked, the method of FIG. 3 can stably use the laser system for a long time.

[33] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sorting marking objects, according to another embodiment of the present invention. [34] The method of FIG. 3 is characterized in that when marking objects are marked by using a plurality of output shots, the plurality of output shots have the same set value, and also characterized in that one marking object is completely marked and then a next marking object is marked. However, the method of FIG. 4 is characterized in that each of the marking objects is completely marked by using a plurality of output shots, and the plurality of output shots used to mark the each of the marking objects have different set values as shown in Table 1.

[35] Table 1 [36] [Table 1] [Table ]

[37] The method of FIG. 4 is not performed by marking one marking object and then marking a next marking object, but is performed by marking output shots circularly. [38] Referring to FIG. 4, in operation S21, output shots constituting marking objects are sorted into a first marking group including output shots corresponding to the first set value and a second marking group including output shots corresponding to the second set value. That is, the marking objects are sorted so that the first output shot of the rectangle 51, the second output shot of the circle 53, and the first output shot of the letters 55 which are emitted by using a laser beam with a power of 1 W constitute the first marking group, the second output shot of the rectangle 51, the first output shot of the circle 53, and the second output shot of the letters 55 which are emitted by using a laser beam with a power of 2 W constitute the second marking group.

[39] In operation S22, it is determined whether the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group, like in operation S 12 of the method of FIG. 3. If it is determined in operation S22 that the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group, the method proceeds to operation S23. In operation S23, all the output shots constituting the first marking group are emitted to a substrate. In operation S24, the set value of the power of the laser beam is changed from 1 W to 2 W and a waiting operation is performed until the laser system is stabilized according to the new set value. In operation S25, all the output shots constituting the second marking group are emitted to the substrate.

[40] Otherwise, if it is determined in operation S22 that the power of the laser beam corresponding to the first marking group is not less than the power of the laser beam corresponding to the second marking group, the method proceeds first to operation S25, and then to operation S24 and operation S23. That is, after all the output shots constituting the second marking group are emitted, all the output shots constituting the first marking group may be emitted after a predetermined waiting time.

[41] Since a conventional method of sorting marking objects comprises emitting the first output shot of the rectangle 51, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, emitting the first output shot of the circle 53, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, emitting the first output shot of the letters 55, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, emitting the second output shot of the rectangle 51, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, emitting the second output shot of the circle 53, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, and emitting the second output shot of the letters 55, a total marking time includes five waiting operations. Since the method of FIG. 4 comprises emitting the first output shot of the rectangle 51, emitting the second output shot of the circle 53, emitting the first output shot of the letters 55, performing a waiting operation for 1 second, emitting the second output shot of the rectangle 51, emitting the first output shot of the circle 53, and emitting the second output shot of the letters 55, a total marking time includes only one waiting operation. Accordingly, the method of FIG. 4 can drastically reduce a waiting time for which a waiting operation is performed until a set value of a marking parameter is changed to a new set value and the new set value is stabilized, thereby reducing a total marking time and improving production efficiency.

[42] Although marking objects are marked by using two set values of one marking parameter in FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention is not limited thereto. When marking objects are marked by using three or more set values of a marking parameter, the number of marking groups may be determined by the number of set values of the marking parameter.

[43] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

[1] A method of sorting marking objects that are to be marked on a substrate by changing set values of a marking parameter for controlling a laser system, wherein the set values of the marking parameter include a first set value and a second set value different from the first set value, the method comprising: sorting the marking objects into a first marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the first set value, and a second marking group, which includes marking objects corresponding to the second set value; first marking all the marking objects constituting the first marking group; and second marking all the marking objects constituting the second marking group, wherein any one of the first marking and the second marking is first performed and then the other is performed.

[2] A method of sorting marking objects that are to be marked on a substrate by changing set values of a marking parameter for controlling a laser system, wherein the set values of the marking parameter include a first set value and a second set value different from the first set value and the marking objects are marked by using a laser beam including one or more output shots, the method comprising: sorting the output shots into a first marking group, which includes output shots corresponding to the first set value, and a second marking group, which includes output shots corresponding to the second set value; first marking the marking objects by emitting all the output shots constituting the first marking group to the substrate; and second marking the marking objects by emitting all the output shots constituting the second marking group to the substrate, wherein any one of the first marking and the second marking is first performed and then the other is performed.

[3] The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising comparing the first set value with the second set value, after the sorting.

[4] The method of claim 3, wherein, if the first set value is less than the second set value, the first marking is first performed, and if the second set value is less than the first set value, the second marking is first performed.

[5] The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the marking parameter comprises the power of a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator.