The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1999
John Walvoord, Orlando, FL (US);
Linda Woody, Sumterville, FL (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
An automated soldering technique and device are provided that are robust and reliable. A laser is used to heat metallic components to be soldered, and a wavelength of the laser is chosen based in light absorption characteristics of the metallic components. The laser wavelength can be, for example, about 825 nanometers. A soldering location at which the laser forms a beam spot is located at a predetermined distance away from a focus of the laser beam, so that the beam spot is defocused and has a uniform intensity across its area. The beam spot can be sized to simultaneously encompass a plurality of solder joint locations. The beam spot size and path across a plurality of solder joint locations are selected so that those portions of the solder joint locations which are touched by the beam have the same heat sinking properties. A camera is also provided coaxially with the laser beam, and a dichroic prism is positioned between the laser beam and the camera. The dichroic prism deflects laser light toward the soldering location, and passes visible light from the soldering location to the camera.