Mitchell R Wool

US Patent:

7633033, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Jan 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/030710

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/36

US Classification:

21912162, 21912168, 21912181, 21912183

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

US Patent:

7800014, Sep 21, 2010

Filed:

Sep 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/514810

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/40
B44C 1/22

US Classification:

21912162, 21912168, 21912169, 216 52, 264400, 264482

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses and light illumination to a coated surface. Reflected light resulting from the light illumination impinging the coated surface is directed to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The reflected light is either sensed directly from the coated surface by the photosensitive detector or the reflected light is directed along at least a portion of the common optics path to the photosensitive detector. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the coating removal apparatus is configured as a head component coupled to a body component.

US Patent:

8030594, Oct 4, 2011

Filed:

Nov 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/614220

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/02
B23K 26/04

US Classification:

21912169, 21912162, 427554

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

US Patent:

8269135, Sep 18, 2012

Filed:

Aug 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/221508

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/36
B23K 26/03

US Classification:

21912162, 21912168

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

US Patent:

8536483, Sep 17, 2013

Filed:

Mar 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/077876

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Robert L. Cargill - San Jose CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/00

US Classification:

21912168, 2191216

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus removes a coating from a surface. The apparatus has a movable scanning head and scanning optics. The scanning head is movable in one dimension, and the scanning optics adjust in two dimensions to compensate for movement of the scanning head to implement long range scanning with a uniform scanning pattern. Further, a surface roughness is determined by measuring specular and scattered reflections at various angles. For composite surfaces, the apparatus utilizes UV laser radiation and a controlled atmosphere to remove coating and alter the chemical characteristics at the surface.

US Patent:

8610025, Dec 17, 2013

Filed:

Aug 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/587828

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

General Lasertronics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/04
B23K 26/36
G01N 21/27

US Classification:

21912162, 21912168, 264400, 264482

Abstract:

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.

US Patent:

20090008827, Jan 8, 2009

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/217435

Inventors:

Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US
James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US

International Classification:

B29C 35/08

US Classification:

264400, 4251744

Abstract:

A coating removal device, comprising a head component and a body component, removes a coating from a surface. The head component has a means for detachably engaging a removable aperture adapter and for enabling an operator to change and use another aperture adapter for a different application of the device. Aperture adapters are configured for specified deflections of laser beams. In some embodiments, the device is coupled to a waste collection shroud, which achieves 100% collection of waste products without surface contact by establishing a suction flow normal to and in a direction toward a centerline of the device, despite presence of a purge flow that is ejected along with laser beams from the aperture adapter. In other embodiments, the device has a camera for enabling the operator to view an ablation processing region on a display when the device is in operation within a confined space.

US Patent:

20130220982, Aug 29, 2013

Filed:

Feb 28, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/781107

Inventors:

James W. Thomas - Los Altos CA, US
Mitchell R. Wool - Sunnyvale CA, US
Robert L. Cargill - Trinidad CA, US

International Classification:

B23K 26/36

US Classification:

21912169, 21912168

Abstract:

A laser-based method of removing a coating from a surface comprises directing a laser pulse to a first position on the surface, removing the coating from the first position by rapidly elevating a surface temperature of the first position using the laser pulse and thereby disassociating the coating from the surface and collecting the disassociated coating. In some embodiments, the coating comprises an environmentally harmful substance such as Hexavalent Chromium. In some embodiments, the coating comprises Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), Vitrified Contaminant Material (CMAS). The disassociated coating is collected by a waste collector.