Disclosed herein are a method and a device for forming a groove in a surface of a steel sheet. In the method for forming a groove in a surface of a steel sheet, in order to form grooves at a depth of 10% or less of a thickness of the steel sheet in the surface of the steel sheet by irradiating a laser beam, in the case in which laser beams are irradiated from a plurality of laser oscillators to a scan mirror, pass through the scan mirror, and are then irradiated to the surface of the steel sheet, two or more laser beams share one scan mirror with each other to minimize a thermal influence of groove portions at a high line speed of 20 mpm or more, thereby accomplishing iron loss improvement characteristics before (after) heat treatment.

The invention relates to a method for producing a sliding surface on a machine element, in particular a cam follower, wherein the machine element is first provided with a coating on at least part of the surface of the machine element, into which coating a surface structure is then introduced by laser structuring. In order to be able to introduce a surface structure that does not penetrate the coating even in the case of low layer thicknesses (s1) of the coating, the introduction of the surface structure is performed by laser interference structuring.

In a laser machining apparatus, a controller is configured to perform: supplying an initial drive current to a pump light emitting device during an initial drive current supply period; controlling a scanner to start scanning a laser beam emitted from a laser beam emitting device after a standby period has elapsed from a start of supplying the initial drive current; and supplying a prescribed drive current to the pump light emitting device after the initial drive current supply period has elapsed, a prescribed drive current value being smaller than an initial drive current value, the pump light emitting device emitting the pump light having prescribed light intensity upon receipt of the prescribed drive current, the laser beam emitting device emitting the laser beam having prescribed beam intensity when the pump light having the prescribed light intensity is incident upon the laser beam emitting device.

A technique is described for fabricating one or more optical devices in a carbon-coated optical fiber. A photosensitive optical fiber is provided having a hermetic carbon coating. Further provided is a laser having a beam output that is configured to inscribe one or more refractive index modulations into the optical fiber through the hermetic carbon layer while leaving the hermetic carbon layer intact. The laser is used to inscribe one or more optical devices into the optical fiber through the hermetic carbon layer.

A laser oscillator of a laser processing apparatus generates burst pulses each composed of a plurality of sub-pulses. The plurality of sub-pulses are generated in such a manner that the energy of the sub-pulse sequentially changes from a lower energy to a higher energy, and the burst pulses are applied to a wafer, whereby the wafer is formed therein with shield tunnels extending from the front surface to the back surface of the wafer and each being composed of a minute hole and an amorphous phase surrounding the minute hole.

One aspect refers to an electrode for a medical device including a monolithic substrate having at least one surface including a continuous pattern, wherein the continuous pattern is formed by at least one set of hollow lines, and wherein the at least one set of hollow lines forms the boundaries of repeating elements. One aspect further relates to a medical device including the electrode according to one embodiment, and to a process for preparing the electrode according to one embodiment.

One aspect refers to an electrode for a medical device including a monolithic substrate having at least one surface including a continuous pattern, wherein the continuous pattern is formed by at least one set of hollow lines, and wherein the at least one set of hollow lines forms the boundaries of repeating elements. One aspect further relates to a medical device including the electrode according to one embodiment, and to a process for preparing the electrode according to one embodiment.

Methods and apparatus for separating substrates are disclosed, as are articles formed from the separated substrates. A method of separating a substrate having first and second surfaces includes directing a beam of laser light to pass through the first surface and, thereafter, to pass through the second surface. The beam of laser light has a beam waist located at a surface of the substrate or outside the substrate. Relative motion between the beam of laser light and the substrate is caused to scan a spot on a surface of the substrate to be scanned along a guide path. Portions of the substrate illuminated within the spot absorb light within the beam of laser light so that the substrate can be separated along the guide path.

A laser etching apparatus includes a chamber, a laser port, a laser emitter, a particle grabber, and a revolving window module. The chamber is configured to receive a substrate. The laser port is disposed below the chamber in a downward direction. The laser emitter is configured to emit a laser to the substrate disposed within the chamber through the laser port. The particle grabber is disposed within the chamber and includes a body disposed over the laser port. An opening is formed through the body. The opening is configured to pass the laser therethrough. The revolving window module includes a revolving window and a driving part configured to drive the revolving window. The revolving window is disposed between the particle grabber and the laser port.

A spark plug including an insulator and a metallic member such as a metallic shell. In the spark plug, a mark such as a two-dimensional code is provided on the surface of at least one of the insulator and the metallic member, Also, a protective layer covers the mark. The protective layer is optically transparent and contains a fluorescent substance.