US Patent RE44886 Method and apparatus for improving laser hole resolution

A high resolution, high speed laser drilling system for operating on an advancing product operates to advances the product in a predetermined product advancement path at a product advancement speed. A laser-generating source provides a pulsed laser beam having a laser-on time and a laser-off time. The laser beam is reflected to direct a focal point of the laser beam onto the advancing product. The focal point of the laser beam is moved in a direction of the product advancement path during the laser-on time and is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of the product advancement path during the laser-off time. The system is therefore able to improve laser drilling resolution for a given product advancement speed.